Ryan McCollum, a Raleigh personal injury attorney and Army veteran who grew up in Warren, Ohio, embraced the blue-collar ethic that underpins his practice at Whitley law firm.
McCollum said, “LeBron James comes from Akron. It’s right next door to where I used to live, and the mentality is that everything is earned, or nothing is given.” “That kind of get up, go to work attitude and do my jobs helped me in the Army. It continues to help today.”
“You work as a foreman at a steel mill with great pride, just like my grandfather,” he said. “Your work represents you as a human being, and that is something I believe can be applied to any profession.” When I sign my name to something in the legal field, I want it to be something I am proud of. It’s also something I will stand behind.
West Point
McCollum recalls being fascinated by Navy Seals stories and movies since elementary school. When he was given the opportunity to attend West Point after graduating high school, McCollum jumped at it.
McCollum served in the legendary 82nd Airborne Division. He led a 32-man platoon of reconnaissance scouts in Iraq during a combat deployment to support the Battle of Mosul. McCollum said, “I’ll always cherish the experience of leading my platoon through a combat deployment in support of the Battle for Mosul.”
If I can perform at my highest level under these conditions and stakes, then I can attend law school. I can pass the bar. I can prepare for this hearing. “I gained confidence from that experience that I could succeed in anything I set my mind to.”
McCollum quit the Army in order to start a family with his wife and go to law school. He received his Juris Doctorate from Campbell University School of Law.
He said that in law, just as in the army, you have to be able count on those around you. “You must be able not only to trust the other attorneys, but also your staff. This type of trust is essential. “I need to know that you will do your part if we work together and come up with a plan of action.”
“I have always said that litigation is similar to a military operation. There are different phases to this operation and different benchmarks. We must do our investigation, submit the complaint, and survive the 12B6. All of this must be done with an end in sight. You then go on to the sub-tasks, and sub-goals that are nestled within this greater goal. “If you win the case, that’s like winning the war.”
Camp LeJeune Litigation
McCollum’s personal injury practice involves representing Marines, their families, and civilians at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune, in Jacksonville, NC from 1953 to 1987. These individuals may have been exposed tap water contaminated by harmful chemicals linked to cancer. In 2022, the Camp LeJeune Justice Act was signed into law. It created a procedure for suing the U.S. Government to recover damages. Whitley Law handles a number of these cases.
McCollum noted that these cases were particularly touching for him as a veteran. One of McCollum’s Camp Lejeune customers is actually the grandfather of a West Point classmate.
McCollum explained, “I believe the thing we would both agree on is that we signed a blank check for the United States, to serve, protect and defend the Constitution.” When you sign that blank check, you are thinking about war and training. You also think about the possible risks. You don’t consider the possibility of being poisoned at home by your drinking water. This is not included in the check. “There’s a strong sense of betrayal among our Camp LeJeune customers.”
The article Ryan McCollum: Nothing given, everything earned first appeared on Attorney at Law Magazine.