Guntersville, AL

Randy Beard

Randy Beard, a seasoned legal professional, earned his law degree from the University of Alabama. He stands as a co-founder and the senior partner of Beard & Beard, alongside his brother, Will Beard. With an impressive legal career spanning over four decades, Randy has actively practiced law for more than forty years. His expertise has been instrumental in over 2,500 civil cases across Marshall and various other counties in North Alabama. Randy is a highly experienced courtroom attorney, boasting a remarkable portfolio of over 250 jury trials. His extensive litigation experience includes participation in numerous class action lawsuits, all the way to achieving verdicts. Mr. Beard maintains a diverse legal practice with a specialized focus on handling cases involving severe personal injuries, wrongful deaths, and disability claims stemming from automobile and large truck accidents. He has built a distinguished reputation for successfully representing clients in numerous multi-million dollar disputes against insurance companies and major corporations, addressing issues such as fraud, bad faith, and other wrongful conduct.

Will Beard

Now Retired: Will Beard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama. He furthered his education by earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from Cumberland School of Law. Will's educational background reflects his commitment to a comprehensive understanding of law and business, equipping him to excel in the legal field. In 1973, Will Beard, in partnership with his brother Randy Beard, established the distinguished firm of Beard & Beard Attorneys. Throughout his legal career, Will has excelled in several key practice areas, including automobile accidents, worker's compensation, social security disability claims, medical malpractice, products liability, and domestic law. Within his civil practice, Will has been a tireless advocate for countless individuals and families, securing judgments, awards, and settlements totaling millions of dollars.

Jim Beard

Following his graduation from the University of Alabama, Jim Beard pursued his legal education at the Cumberland School of Law, earning the distinguished Juris Doctor degree. Throughout his legal career encompassing various litigation domains, Jim has honed his expertise in key areas, including automobile accidents, personal injury, worker's compensation, insurance claims, and social security disability claims. Beyond these specialties, Jim offers dedicated representation to individuals grappling with divorce and custody matters, as well as those confronting criminal charges. Jim Beard, an accomplished trial attorney, brings a wealth of legal expertise to his practice. He is a proud member of the Alabama Association for Justice, underscoring his commitment to advocating for justice and the rights of his clients. Jim's dedication extends beyond state borders, as he holds licenses to practice law in both the Northern and Middle Districts of the United States District Court, further enhancing his ability to represent and protect his clients' interests. With a deep-rooted passion for the law and a robust understanding of the legal landscape, Jim Beard is a trusted advocate who consistently strives for excellence in the pursuit of justice. His multifaceted legal background and federal court admissions exemplify his unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier legal representation.

P.J. Harris

P.J., a native of Guntersville, has a strong foundation in the legal field. He earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University, graduating with honors, Cum Laude, in 1994. His passion for law emerged during his time at the Cumberland School of Law, where he simultaneously started his journey with Beard & Beard. During this period, he played a pivotal role in investigating and initiating a nationwide class action against IBP/Tyson Foods for antitrust violations. After graduating in 1997, P.J. returned to Guntersville and officially joined the firm. He has since tried numerous cases in both state and federal courts throughout Alabama. P.J.'s legal experience is extensive, covering a wide range of cases, from divorces to capital murder trials. He has been involved in hundreds of civil jury cases, including those related to auto accidents and employment disputes. Notably, in a recent employment dispute trial in Marshall County, P.J. secured a $350,000 verdict for his client. P.J. has been retained and appointed for various criminal cases, including the defense of a client facing capital murder charges. Additionally, he prosecutes for other municipalities in and around Marshall County. While P.J. is well-versed in many areas of law, he dedicates most of his time to courtroom proceedings. He handles diverse cases, including personal injury, wrongful death, insurance disputes, workers' compensation, employment disputes, general business litigation, and divorce cases. In his spare time, P.J. is a 3rd generation farmer on his family's farm, granting him unique insights into the challenges faced by farmers and how to best represent their interests. He is qualified to advocate for the needs of all farmers. Furthermore, his engineering background equips him to represent clients dealing with complex causation issues that require engineering experts.

Jasmine M. Matlock

Attorney Jasmine Matlock is a Founding Partner at M&H Legal Services. She is a highly experienced trial attorney, recovering millions for clients in personal injury, products liability, business litigation, consumer and business fraud, and insurance disputes. She works for families and businesses in North Alabama. Born and raised in North Alabama, she learned the importance of relationships and trust. Initially a social worker, her experience with the family court system led her to law. She attended the University of Alabama School of Law, where she won competitions, received recognitions, and had a legal research article published. She clerked for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Lyn Stuart and a prominent personal injury firm. She has appeared on national news outlets and been featured in publications like Law360 and Newshub. Matlock has been named a Rising Star in Civil Plaintiff’s Litigation for 2021, 2022, and 2023, and Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers for 2022 and 2023. She serves as Committee Chair for the Huntsville Bar Association Women’s Section and is involved in the Alabama Association for Justice. She is a parent of one daughter, one son, and four step-children, and enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and dogs.

Jeff McLaughlin

Jeffrey McLaughlin started the firm in 1995. He grew up in Guntersville and graduated from Guntersville High School in 1978. He attended Birmingham Southern College and graduated with a B.A. in 1982. He then taught history, government, and biology for four years at John Carroll High School in Birmingham before graduating from law school at Harvard in 1990. After practicing in Birmingham as a law clerk for Federal Judge Seybourn Lynne and also at the law firm of Maynard Cooper & Gale, he returned home in 1995 to open up his own law practice. McLaughlin served as the Representative for Marshall County (District 27) in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2001 - 2010. In the Legislature, McLaughlin served on the Education Appropriations Committee, the Constitution and Elections Committee, the County and Municipal Government Committee, and formed and chaired the Tennessee Valley Caucus. Some of his more notable accomplishments in the Legislature include the Landlord Tenant Act, a series of bills protecting the Tennessee River and recapturing TVA in lieu of tax dollars for the Tennessee Valley region. In 2011 Governor Bentley appointed McLaughlin to serve as an Alabama delegate to the Uniform Law Commission. In the same year, he was also elected to serve as a member of the Alabama Law Institute. And in 2012, McLaughlin was selected as an editor of the “Alabama Lawyer” magazine. In addition to serving as counsel for the City of Arab and Marshall County Personnel Board, the Town of Grant selected him to serve as their Municipal Judge. Jeff and his wife, Stacy, have three children, Frank, William, and Mary Crawford. They live in Guntersville where he is active in numerous civic and community activities including the Marshall County Foster Parents Association, Lake City Civitans, and St. Williams Church. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys tinkering with all the old junk in his garage and keeping up with three active children.

Rodney Edmondson

Rodney Edmondson has served as a partner at the law firm of McLaughlin & Edmondson, LLC in Guntersville, Alabama since 2001. Prior to his joining the firm, he was an Assistant District Attorney for the District Attorney’s Office in Marshall County, Alabama. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1999 and is a member of both the Alabama Bar Association and the Marshall County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in all Alabama state and federal courts including the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Rodney has been actively involved in numerous civic and community organizations including United Way of Marshall County where he served as President for two terms and has been a member for more than 12 years, CAJA, James’ House Homeless Shelter, Marshall County Leadership Challenge, and Tennessee Valley Family Services, Inc. Rodney is frequently called on to serve as an instructor teaching other lawyers in their required continuing legal education. Rodney earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from Jones School of Law in Montgomery in 1999 after receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Faulkner University, Montgomery, Alabama in 1996. He also served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps for six years before entering the practice of law. He was raised in Marshall County, where he graduated from Boaz High School. He currently lives in Arab with his wife and is a deacon serving his church family at Guntersville Church of Christ.