Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Jalen Johnson is celebrating a milestone this month.

Johnson became an attorney seven years after graduating as the valedictorian at Selma High School. Johnson graduated from Cumberland School of Law and Samford University in 2023 with a Juris Doctorate degree.

“By the grace and source of God, dreams do come true,” Johnson said. “After 200 multistate bar examination questions, six essays, two performance tests and over two months of bar prepping, I have finally accomplished my dream of becoming an attorney. I thank God for choosing me to be the first in my family.” 

Johnson said his parents, Selma City Councilman Michael Johnson and Maxine Tarver, girlfriend, Olivia Still, both were supportive throughout the process.

“Thank you to the best parents ever, Michael Johnson and Maxine Tarver,” Johnson said.  “ I can’t thank God enough for choosing me to be your son. You both go over and beyond expectations and are an integral reason for my success. I thank Olivia Still for her patience, love, and support throughout this journey.”

Johnson said the journey started by completing the dual enrollment program at  Wallace Community College Selma, earning an Associate of Arts Degree. Johnson graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of Alabama in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice.

For Johnson, the Selma-Dallas County Public Library and Hickory Pit also contributed to his ambitions of becoming an attorney.

“I thank Becky Nichols and her staff at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library for their hospitality and providing me a comfortable second home to study for over two months,” Johnson said. “Thank you to the owner and staff of Hickory Pit for the many breakfasts that fueled my study sessions.”