For attorney and city prosecutor Shane Tompkins, the law isn’t just a career choice, it’s a family legacy.
Tompkins, 38, was born and raised in Vicksburg but has been a resident of Columbus for the past decade. As he tells the story of how he left South Mississippi and ended up in Columbus by way of Jackson, he eagerly leans forward in his chair and excitement lights up his face.
The young prosecutor was introduced to the legal profession as a boy. His mother was a paralegal in Vicksburg and, as a child, Tompkins would spend his afternoons doing his schoolwork surrounded by countless leather-bound books containing pages and pages of Mississippi law. In an instant, his love affair with the law was born.
“It just kind of transferred into my professional career,” he said. “It’s what I knew best.”
When he graduated from high school, Tompkins moved to Jackson where he attended Millsaps College. From there, he went on to pursue his law degree at Ole Miss, graduating in 2000.
He met and married his wife, Julie, and the two lived in Jackson for two years, where Tompkins practiced at a large corporate firm. While he enjoyed the law, he wasn’t sure if corporate law was the field for him.
“I wanted to practice law but at that age, I didn’t really know what I wanted to specialize in,” Tompkins said. “At such a large firm, I felt like I was lost in the shuffle.”
Then one day, while working on cases he felt no emotional attachment to, Tompkins had an epiphany.
“I really wanted to have a say in the type of practice I had and the type of cases I took,” he said. “I wanted to control my own destiny.”
With that, the Tompkinses moved to Columbus and the young lawyer became a partner in the Studdard Law Firm with Joe Studdard and William Starks.
He and his wife settled in Southside Columbus and had two children while Tompkins dove head-first into establishing himself in workers compensation, small claim disputes and family law. He also dabbles in personal injury claims.
Since his time in Columbus, Tompkins has quickly made a name for himself. While he ran unsuccessfully for county prosecutor, he was recently appointed to the position of city prosecutor in July. He assumed the role on Aug. 1.
August was a big month for Tompkins, professionally. He not only started his job as prosecutor, but also opened his own firm, Tompkins Law Firm.
In the few short months he has served as prosecutor, Tompkins said the job has opened his eyes to what law enforcement officers deal with every day.
“What’s taken for granted is how hard patrolmen and investigators have to work,” he said. “Most defendants don’t just come in and confess. You’ve got to build the case.
“That’s been the biggest surprise to me; how hard they work.”
Tompkins said he first ran for the county prosecutor’s office under the notion that he wanted to help people.
“Even though I was unsuccessful in that election, being a prosecutor was a real goal of mine,” he said. “I was lucky enough to be appointed.”
While he may now be on the other side of the aisle as prosecutor, Tompkins said he still feels like he is helping people and making a difference in the community.
“I think since I was a defense lawyer, I have a better feel (for the job). I know that may sound silly coming from a prosecutor, but it allows you to see the big picture and apply common sense to the cases that come through.
“You want to try to do something that will make a difference and you want to do your job well. That’s what my goal is: To look at these cases and do what’s best for the community and at the same time not be a zealot.”
While Tompkins is mum on his future political aspirations, he is adamant that whatever job he does, he wants to follow in his parents’ footsteps and make a difference.
“I really like helping people from all different walks of life,” he said. “You can be that person, that factor that helps them get closure.
“I saw my mom and dad do so much for the community. I feel like that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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