I think that people have a right to know something about the lawyer they hire, so this is my story.

I was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. My parents were hard-working people who struggled to get by. They worked hard at low-wage blue collar jobs from the time they were teenagers. They did such a good job taking care of me that I didn't understand until much later how hard it had been for them. They taught me to work hard, and made sure I understood that a person's net worth has nothing to do with his or her real worth.

Because my parents weren't wealthy or well-educated, they had to take a lot of crap from people - employers, bill collectors, landlords, etc. I still remember my mother crying after talking to a bill collector on the phone.

As a result, I don't like bullies. I don't like people or organizations that push others around or think they are above the law. I don't like people who feel the need to put others down because of their economic status, race, age, gender, language, culture or sexual orientation. The very best part of my job is when I can help to hold those kind of bullies accountable. Sometimes the best way to handle a bully is to push back.

Right after high school I moved to California and became a rich and famous rock guitarist - or at least that was the plan. Actually, I spent a few years playing with local bands in the bars, nightclubs, basements and gyms of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Sometimes we actually got paid. But the job market for wanna-be rock stars was dismal, so I started taking some college courses.

I eventually worked my way through college by helping developmentally disabled adults who were adjusting to life in the community after years of institutions. My career in social services later led me to a position with a Job Corps program, helping young people from urban areas finish school and learn a trade. I'm proud to say that I was actively involved in a successful effort to bring union representation to my workplace. I enjoyed helping to empower the people I worked with. I always root for the underdog.

I went to law school at Temple University because I wanted to keep helping people. I also wanted to make more money than I could make in social services - hey, I'm honest. At Temple, I participated in the nationally recognized trial advocacy program, and earned membership in the Moot Court Honor Society.

I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania with my wife and son, the future President of the United States. I still play guitar, but mostly at home.

I think that my background helps me to understand my clients, and I think that makes me a better lawyer. Unlike many members of the bar, I am not a third or fourth generation lawyer. I was the first in my immediate family to finish high school, let alone college or law school. I know what it means to struggle. I know what it feels like to be powerless. I know how hard it can be to fight back.

I have been blessed with the tools and experience to help good people fight back, and it is my privilege to do so.

E-mail: grb@attorneybarron.com

George Barron, Esquire
Attorney and Counselor at Law
88 North Franklin St.
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Telephone (570) 824-3088
Fax (570) 825-6675