Member Highlight – Agent: Joseph Tullos
After focusing on litigation early in his career, Joseph Tullos made an intentional decision to transition to a transactional practice. A native of the Pine Belt area, Joseph received a law degree from the University of Mississippi in 2007 and an LL.M. with a concentration in Business Transactions from the University of Alabama in 2015. With this varied background, he now enjoys a diverse practice as a member of Jackson, Tullos & Rogers, PLLC, in Hattiesburg.
In the process of shifting into small business representation and estate planning and administration, Joseph quickly realized that real estate work is a necessary part of those areas of practice. “Getting to see clients through a transactional process, whether that be a simple residential closing or a complex commercial transaction, provides fulfillment,” he says. “Real estate practice also often involves solving problems in the chain of title, and that scratches the intellectual itch that was a draw to law school in the first place.” One of the most unusual situations he has encountered in his real estate work involved “sovereign citizens” contracting to purchase high-value properties with unique methods of payment.
Joseph gives much credit to his partners – including Robert T. Jackson, Sr., who has been practicing for more than fifty years – for his firm’s strong, long-term client relationships. “For a firm in a small city,” he says, “I believe we punch above our weight in terms of legal services we are able to deliver.” At this stage of his career, Joseph has learned that timely responses to phone calls and emails can save a great deal of stress and risk. His recommendations to young attorneys would be to “seek experience over compensation” and “never hesitate to ask for advice.”
“Maintaining a growth trajectory for law practice while maintaining work-life balance is what I consider one of my greatest professional accomplishments,” Joseph concludes. He is married to Elizabeth, and they have three young children, all boys. He enjoys spending time with family, preferably in the outdoors, and is currently working with his wife on a small cabin in the woods.