The oldest law firm in Selma and one of the oldest in Alabama has seen changes since its formation in 1891, the year Philip Henry Pitts joined N.H.R Dawson to form Dawson & Pitts.

Through the years a succession of Pitts kept the firm thriving, including Pitts’ son, Arthur and his son, W. McLean.

Fast-forward a few decades and the firm is undergoing its latest metamorphosis with the announcement that former Dallas County Circuit Judge Tommy Jones has been named a partner in the firm.

Although the name of the firm has changed from Pitts, Pitts and Williams to Pitts, Williams and Jones, current firm patriarch Henry Pitts said the firm’s focus will remain as it always has — serving their clients to the best of their ability, regardless of how small, or how large, their case may be.

“Going back to my grandfather and my dad, we’ve always been people lawyers,” said Pitts, who has been practicing law since 1963. “We give the best legal representation from the smallest person all the way up the largest person. We don’t turn down someone just because they have a minor deal — we take on all that.”

Working with and for Pitts is familiar to Jones, who was circuit court judge for 18 years before being defeated for reelection in 2012.

“This is my second tour of duty,” said Jones, who graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 1983. “I first came back to Selma in 1984 after law school and was here with Henry and Gary Thompson until 1986 and left in ’86 and opened up my practice and did that until ’94 when I was elected.”

Jones said he did a lot of soul searching after the election, and even considered moving to the Gulf Coast before divine intervention and some recruitment by Pitts and his law partner, Rick Williams, convinced him to rejoin the firm.

“I gave some serious consideration to relocating, and then Rick and Henry, over the course of the summer of 2012, talked to me about an opportunity to come here and do as much or as little as I wanted to do,” Jones said. “I feel like God was leading me back to here, and I firmly believe that. The way things have played out for me here, it’s clear to me this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Williams, who earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University before graduating from the University of Alabama Law School, said having his good friend Jones be his law partner is a blessing for the firm and also for Selma.

“We’re glad he thought enough of our firm to come practice with us, because he had a lot of opportunities to practice law from Birmingham to Mobile, or wherever he wanted to be, so it was an honor for him to come practice law with us,” Williams said. “The two years he’s been here before becoming a partner have really been good, and I think he’s enjoyed it. We’re looking forward to a bright future.”

One of the most important things for Pitts is the firm’s legacy, and it holding on to what was started 124 years ago by his great-grandfather.

“I’m just so pleased that both Rick and Tommy have agreed that they will always perpetuate the law firm of Pitts and Pitts, something I really want, something I really cherish,” Pitts said.

Williams added, “I’m from Selma, been here my whole life, and this law firm is not going anywhere. I mean it’s been here since the 1800s, and we’re just blessed to be in Selma. I know Selma gets some negative publicity, but we love it here. It’s home for me and my family and children and we’re looking forward to a lot of good things coming for our community and we hope to be part of the positive energy and blessings that are going on in Selma right now.”