Swearengen, James C.

Colin E. Kemmerly

Born and raised in New Orleans Louisiana, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama in 1986. After college, I received my law degree from Loyola School of Law in New Orleans. In 1989 I began my legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney of New Orleans. At the District Attorney's Office I represented victims and successfully prosecuted crimes in Juvenile Court through 1st degree murder jury trials in Orleans Parrish Criminal District Court. In 1995 I moved to Mobile and, after admission to the Alabama State Bar, began working at Gardberg, Clausen, & Kemmerly, P.C. I have remained with the Firm since that time, concentrating my practice on representing clients seeking social security benefits from the Social Security Administration and veterans seeking compensation and pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I handle administration actions at all stages of the administrative process, including appeals through representation in Federal District and Appellant Courts and veterans appeals before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, D.C. I am admitted to practice in all state courts in Louisiana and Alabama, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Eastern District of Louisiana, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. I am a member of the Louisiana State Bar, Alabama State Bar, Mobile Bar Association, and the Court Of Appeals For Veterans Claims Bar Association. I am an active participant in the Mobile Bar Associations Volunteer Lawyer's Program. I am also a member of the National Organization of Veterans' Advocates.