Our Interview With Jordan Guthrie, Partner at King Law Offices

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Jordan Guthrie is an attorney at King Law Offices and is a Partner based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, working out of the firm’s Spartanburg and Gaffney offices. He focuses on criminal law and serves as Chair of the Criminal Law Practice Area Group. He earned his BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and his JD from the Charleston School of Law, where he led the Historical Preservation Society. Originally from New Bern, NC, Jordan now resides in Moore, SC, with his family.

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What motivated you to pursue a career in law? 

It seemed like something I was well-suited for.

What do you wish you had known about the law school application process before you applied? 

Nothing that comes to mind, it was a pretty straightforward process.

A lot of students struggle with the law school personal statement. What did your brainstorming, writing, and editing process look like, and what do you think made yours stand out from the crowd? 

I can write well. All I did was express why I wanted to go to the school in question in a way that made me an attractive candidate.

What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the LSAT? 

I didn’t study for it at all and wished that I had.

How much work experience did you gain before applying to law school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process? 

I was 24 when I applied and had been working since I was 12. My military background probably carried me a long way in the application process.

Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the law school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences? 

No, I got into the school of my choice.

What led you to specialize in Criminal Law? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty? What activities/events/opportunities would you recommend for students wanting to pursue Criminal Law? 

The rules of my bar don’t allow me to claim a specialization but my concentration became criminal law because overall I enjoyed it the most and showed an interest in growing the practice area within the firm. If a student is interested in a specific area of law I would recommend that they speak to attorneys practicing in that area and pursue opportunities to be exposed to the field.

What are some emerging fields of law that you would recommend potential students to start thinking about if they want to future-proof themselves in the industry? 

I don’t know how but AI is going to cause issues that will probably create new niche practice areas. Family law isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

What are the biggest sacrifices you’ve had to make to pursue a career in law? 

A literal lifetime of student loan debt.

Bonus question: How much would we have to pay you to take the LSAT again? 

$100 or 5lbs of prime grade boneless ribeye.

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