Get to Know Joe

July 07, 2021 | Community

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Pollock Begg Partner Joseph R. Williams took the helm as the 113th president of the Allegheny County Bar Association on July 1, 2021. Williams will serve a one-year term, representing the ACBA’s nearly 6,000 member attorneys and working to promote the legal profession and community.

Joe is widely known as a respected litigator and experienced collaborative law practitioner. But that’s not all.  Joe continues to shatter expectations. He is one of the youngest people to serve as ACBA President in the organization’s 151 years and is the first millennial to hold the post.  Learn more about this bellwether:

Why did Joe run for ACBA President? The opportunity to pay it forward.  He credits his meteoric rise in the legal community and at Pollock Begg to his ACBA involvement.  Too, some of Joe’s best friends are ACBA members.

Joe aspired to a career in law since … forever. Like most people, Joe spent the summer of 1995 glued to the O.J. Simpson trial. Participating in mock trial in high school cemented his legal longings. He started prepping for the LSAT during his junior year at Bethany College and the rest is history!

What will you find on the radio in Joe’s car? Most likely 80s and 90s pop and rock selections. (Now fodder for the “oldies” station.)

 Why does Joe love practicing law? He’s a problem solver. He appreciates the challenge of helping clients overwhelmed by the uncertainty of divorce create a pragmatic plan for moving forward.

Joe’s preferred cuisine? A serving of sushi or a poke bowl.

There are myriad movies set against a legal backdrop. Joe’s favorite? “A Time to Kill.” Outside of the legal realm, Joe is a fan of the Jurassic Park franchise.

What literature has spoken to Joe? He has fond memories of his mother reading with him as a child and says the lessons held within the pages of The Berenstain Bears series still stay with him.

How will Joe survive the year ahead and balance his duties as president with his busy law practice? Anybody who knows him will tell you that Joe is keenly organized and an incredible multi-tasker.  Joe also credits the talented teams at Pollock Begg and the ACBA for making him look good.

Read more about Joe’s professional achievements in his official biography.

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