In the latest episode of Jackson Walker Fast Takes, host Courtney White interviews veteran and litigation partner Justin Lee, who discusses how his military service as a helicopter pilot influences his legal practice in aviation law and highlights the importance of supporting veterans through their transition to civilian careers.

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Episode Transcription

Courtney White: Hi everyone, I am Courtney White, and this is Jackson Walker Fast Takes. Veterans Day is celebrated in November every year and here at Jackson Walker we are extremely proud of our veterans and want to celebrate their service to our country and their leadership that has helped shaped our firm into what it is today. I asked my colleague to join this podcast to share more on his service to our country and how those experiences have shaped his legal practice here at Jackson Walker. Justin Lee is a partner in the litigation section of our Dallas office. Justin, welcome to the podcast.

Justin Lee: Thanks for having me, Courtney.

Courtney White: So, Justin, can you tell us what branch of the military did you serve in, and how long did you serve?

Justin Lee: I was in the United States Army from 2004 to 2012, or just a little bit over eight years.

Courtney White: Awesome. And this is another side question. I saw that you went to Texas A&M like I did. So, I was wondering, were you in the Corps in undergrad as well?

Justin Lee: I was. I was in Corps of Cadets and ROTC at Texas A&M. Gig ’em!

Courtney White: I love it. I love it. So, what did you do in the military and what skills did you develop?

Justin Lee: So, I was a helicopter pilot, flew the CH-47 Chinook, which is the big one. I did that the entire time I was in. I flew a couple of other types of aircraft during flight school, during the training.

In terms of skills that I learned, I think the biggest thing I learned was I learned about the aviation field, and that’s something I’ve been able to continue to use as an attorney. And then beyond that, I certainly learned how deal with different types of personalities.

Courtney White: Yes.

Justin Lee: You certainly learn to deal with difficult people and then if you don’t ever deal with difficult people, that means you’re the one that’s difficult to deal with.

Courtney White: That is a great point. I’d also love to know, because you’ve already discussed it a little bit, but how do your skills from the Armed Services transfer to the work that you do today?

Justin Lee: So, in terms of specific work, I do a lot of work in the aviation and aerospace industry. And so, learning and having a background as a pilot and having knowledge about aircraft and the aviation field has certainly helped as you work with clients, and you work with experts to try to solve problems. Having that background and that knowledge really does give you a leg up working in aviation law. And then from a bigger perspective, working at a law firm is not too unlike serving in a military unit. There is a hierarchy, there are projects that require team effort and for people to get along, and so learning some of those skills as a younger version of myself in the military has certainly helped me become, I think, a more efficient attorney and learning how to work with different types of personalities.

Courtney White: I definitely agree with that. I’d love to know a little bit more about your practice and your journey to Jackson Walker.

Justin Lee: Sure, so, I do about 30 percent of my work in the aviation field. It’s a lot of product liability work for manufacturers, for engines and other components for both helicopters and airplanes. I also do a lot of commercial litigation, and so having a little bit of diversity in my practice I think helps keep me sane. So that’s really my practice. In terms of how I wound up at Jackson Walker, I did work here as a summer associate. I split between Jackson Walker in Dallas and another firm in Houston. I really liked all the people at Jackson Walker and felt like it was a place where I belonged. And it certainly didn’t hurt that Jackson Walker is one of the few large firms that does have an aviation group. And so being able to have those sorts of opportunities really made Jackson Walker a no-brainer for me.

Courtney White: Is there anything you would like to leave with our audience regarding your military service and your life now?

Justin Lee: I always say this, that I consider myself very lucky. Not only did the taxpayers pay me to learn how to fly a helicopter, which is cool in and of itself but, through the post 9-11 GI Bill, the military afforded me the opportunity to go to law school debt free – which I know you know this as a fellow attorney, that’s an uncommon thing nowadays. So being able to have that opportunity was really wonderful. And so, I think for me, we’re lucky to live in a country where we take care of our military and we take care of our veterans and I’ll always be grateful to, like I said, the taxpayers for being willing to foot the bill and help me do the things that I wanted to do and then to be able to continue a second career as an attorney without the burden of a bunch of debt.

Courtney White: Yes, yes, that is an absolute blessing. So, Justin, I want to thank you for coming onto the podcast, and from someone who comes from a family of veterans, including my father and brother: thank you for your service. I sincerely mean that to our country.

Justin Lee: Thank you, Courtney.

Courtney White: And for more information and additional JW Fast Take podcasts and webinars, please visit jw.com/fast.

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The music is by Eve Searls.

The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm, its clients, or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Meet Justin

Justin Lee is a partner in the Trial & Appellate Litigation practice of Jackson Walker’s Dallas office. Justin represents entities and individuals across a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, aviation, real estate, energy, financial services, and technology infrastructure. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Justin served as a helicopter pilot in the United States Army—logging more than 1,500 flight hours and over 600 hours of combat time—and worked on the staff for a Member of the United States Congress. He deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, to Pakistan for humanitarian relief operations, and was an instructor pilot in the Boeing CH-47 “Chinook” helicopter.