Claude M. “Mickey”
Kicklighter Jr.

Mickey often jokes that he began his legal career by default. Always an avid fan of sports, he was determined to become a doctor when he began his studies at Macon’s Mercer University. He changed that dream because he wanted to keep playing football – and the college intramural team schedule interfered with the chemistry lab schedule. Instead, he majored in Political Science and minored in English and Psychology and then headed back to Mercer University to attend law school. 

“Football came first. That’s my story and it’s partially true,” says Mickey. 

However, the most compelling reason that he chose to pursue a career in law – despite all the lawyer jokes the world routinely produces – was his desire to help people. “You want to be able to help people and change things and then you realize that you have to make money doing it as well,” said Mickey. “But you still get to help people and change things.”

It was Mickey’s wish to help people, in addition to a lifelong love of football, that led him to represent two college football players who had gotten cut from the team in their senior year and were trying to play for the NFL.  “They were looking to get qualified to play in the NFL and asked if we would help.” Mickey assisted both young men and they ultimately signed with the Dallas Cowboys. “Professional football is ruthless, and that experience gave me so much appreciation for football players. Prior to that, like any fan, I would get angry when a football player was holding out on a contract, trying to negotiate, and not committing. Fans look at that as disloyal. But the NFL is the most merciless industry I have ever been associated with and I have a lot of sympathy for the players from that experience. I understand why they are holding out for a better contract. The peak performance of their careers typically only lasts about three years.”

Working as an agent for NASCAR drivers was also a job Mickey fell into. A mutual friend was a crew member for a NASCAR driver who needed a sponsor for a race and Mickey knew a business owner who was interested in sponsoring a race car. “We arranged a meeting, and we had a deal in about 20 minutes to get that car decaled with the business name,” said Mickey. Working with NASCAR drivers and teams made him empathetic for them, too. “These guys leave home on Tuesday morning and then a lot of times, they are not home until Sunday night. It’s a hard gig and there is not a lot of home life.”

One of the biggest lessons Mickey has gained from these experiences was that professional athletes are “just like everybody else. We all just have different strengths and weaknesses.”

Mickey’s familiarity with insurance cases from working as an insurance defense attorney provides him with a unique perspective that he applies to personal injury cases. He understands not only what the insurance company is going to look to disapprove, but what his clients need to prepare themselves for from the other side. “It gives me insight into how the insurance company is going to approach this case,” said Mickey. “There will be questions about that knee injury from high school and that surgery you had 20 years ago. I know this will happen and I can prepare my client that the insurance company will dig to find any past incidents or injuries that can work for their side. Sometimes you have to pull teeth to get the whole history, because people don’t remember or they don’t think it will be important. Having practiced law from the public and private sector, from defense and prosecution, it gives me perspective … and that is a perspective I can use to help out clients.”

A Personal Injury Law Firm with Proven Experience

The many years that Mickey spent working in a variety of different legal positions makes for more than colorful stories; it also provides the kind of knowledge that clients need when they are filing a lawsuit. “This practice allows me to help people and that is the reason I got into this, it’s the reason anyone goes to law school,” he said.

Being the founder and managing partner of a firm is a whole different ball game. 

Mickey usually works six days a week. “Being your own boss means you work harder,” said Mickey. “But we are blessed with an amazing staff.”

Together with associate attorney, Brian “B.J.” Fussell, they handle personal injury and construction defects cases, family law and criminal defense; the legal team at Kicklighter Law includes chief of staff and senior paralegal, Mandy Hargrove; legal assistant, Colleen Eddy; advanced certified paralegal, Lisa Reeves; administrative assistant, Ashley Lindsey; and his wife of nearly 30 years, Kimberley Kicklighter, who is director of support and financial management.

“We care about our clients, and we care about each other,” said Mickey. “This business is a family.”

With his wife Kimberly at the office, the business truly is about family. The couple married in 1992 and have three daughters; one now practicing law herself, another having her master’s in biomedical engineering; and their youngest daughter is currently in college studying accounting and finance.