History

After being elected as Circuit Court Judge for the 10th Judicial District in 1982, the late David F. Harrod retired from the bench and became a founding partner of a new law firm in 1988, then known as Carter, Harrod & Cunningham. Over the years, several attorneys would come and go, but David Harrod stayed with the firm and continued to grow the firm’s presence in the community for the remainder of his career.

In 2002, Bridget J. Willhite joined the firm as an associate, where she was fortunate enough to learn many invaluable lessons from her new mentor, David Harrod. Among these lessons, Bridget learned the importance of being a “door lawyer” in a small town practice. As Bridget would learn, a “door lawyer” is a lawyer who leaves their door open for any client that might walk through, offering to help anyone they are able to. While the firm would see many changes over the years, this would remain constant: The doors would always be open to help any client with any issue they could. We always have been and will always aim to be “door lawyers” for our community.

In 2005, Bridget was named partner of the firm, and the firm became officially known as Carter, Harrod & Willhite, PLLC. Shortly after Bridget was made partner, however, David Harrod was diagnosed with a terminal illness that would ultimately claim his life. Rather than let the firm’s professional obligations fall to the backburner, Bridget and David worked to ensure that there would be no clients left behind in the transition process. On May 7, 2006, David Harrod died peacefully in his home, and Bridget was left alone to carry on the legacy left to her by her mentor. With a heavy heart, Bridget continued pushing forward, applying the principles she learned from David Harrod, and building her own legacy in the process.

In 2012, James F. Mitchell, or “Jimmy,” was brought on to the firm where he proved to be an invaluable member to the team. Expanding on the areas of practice Bridget had established herself in, Jimmy was able to provide a unique perspective as a former farmer and construction laborer. Jimmy was named partner in 2020 and a new firm name, Willhite & Mitchell, PLLC, was created.

Bridget and Jimmy know that what wins a case isn’t just reading, writing, and memorizing the law. They know that the law is a “people” business, and understanding your clients, their needs, their goals, and their limits is just as valuable as understanding the laws that apply to their situations. It is always a goal at Willhite & Mitchell, PLLC to help our clients in any way possible. Our door is always open. Let us be your door lawyer.

Get in touch

At Willhite & Mitchell, PLLC, we know that finding the right attorney to represent you is an incredibly difficult decision. That’s why we want to do anything we can to make that decision easier for you. For all new potential clients, we offer affordable consultations to walk you through your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget.

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Our Team

Bridget J. Willhite

Partner

An Athens native and a public servant at heart, Bridget joined the firm in 2002, and became a partner in 2005. Since then, Bridget has been the driving force behind the firm, carrying on the torch of professionalism left to her by former mentor and law partner, David F. Harrod. When Bridget isn’t busy helping clients, being active in community organizations, raising two teenage kids and three dogs along with her husband Grant, or going on ridiculously long bike rides, you can find her reading a book or just enjoying a beautiful day at the lake.

James F. Mitchell, III

partner

A farmer, turned construction worker, turned lawyer, James Franklin Mitchell III, or “Jimmy” for short, handles a wide range of complex transactional and litigation matters with a holistic perspective developed from his diverse educational and work background. Originally joining the firm in September 2012, Jimmy became partner after building a reputation for straightforward and efficient representation, often going above and beyond for his clients’ needs. When Jimmy is not doing work for a client, you can find him working on the family farm, rock climbing, or spending time with his wife Kelsie, their children James and Eliza, and their blue heeler, Merle.