In a perfect world, Mark Litchford would be able to teach and practice law. While that’s not practical now, it’s a dream he could someday achieve. A Crossville, Tenn., native, Litchford’s first love is teaching. It was also his first job following college. For three years, he taught geometry and algebra to 10th and 11th graders at Boyd-Bucanan, a private Christian school located in Chattanooga. He also taught a class on the life of Jesus to seventh graders.
Although Litchford was passionate about teaching, while earning his master’s in education, he took a law class at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. His teacher, Dr. Vicki Petzgo, ignited a fire in him that changed the course of his life.
“She’s a pretty dadgum good teacher. I don’t know if she’s even aware of it, but her class set me in the direction of law,” Litchford says.
Litchford has attended the McCallie School of Chattanooga and then David Lipscomb University of Nashville, Tenn., for his undergraduate and master’s degrees. But he chose the Cecil C. Humphries School of Law at Memphis University for his Juris Doctor.
While attending law school, Litchford was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and an active participant in the Mock Trial and Advanced Moot Court competitions. He also was the recipient of the CALI Award, which is given to the student with the top overall grade in Property I, and the Cicero Award for outstanding oral argument performance in Legal Methods.
Prior to starting work at Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison as an associate, Litchford clerked for the firm during the summer of 2007. Since 2008, he’s handled a range of civil litigation matters, including business and corporate law, financial services and transactions, taxation, governmental and administrative law, real estate, bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, labor and employment, and personal injury and wrongful death.
While Litchford, 33, enjoys litigation, he hopes to someday be able to develop a transactional practice, specifically one related to getting new businesses off the ground.
“Many people my age are starting to establish their own businesses. I would love to help them. And then, moving forward, I’d like to assist with their taxes. Basically, I want to develop continuing relationships with businesses as they’re growing,” he says.
Although ambitious, Litchford has his hands full - and not just at work. He and his wife, Amanda, are the proud parents of two children, including David, 2, and Mia, born Nov. 6, 2011. He calls parenthood “great.”
“I’ve been wondering what it would be like to have two children. And I love it. If I go somewhere, one of the kids goes with me. It’s been more fun than I anticipated it would be,” he says.
While Litchford’s job keeps him busy, and his time with his family is replete with responsibilities, he does find time to play. More precisely, he finds time to play golf. Litchford is part of a group of eight friends from David Lipscomb who have formed an annual gentleman’s tour.
“We treat it like the PGA Tour, meaning we have a running points system and a trophy at the end of the year. Our wives are friends, and we all have kids now, so we’ll do our big golf thing in the morning and then go to the pool,” he says.
Litchford has also been trying his hand at doing home improvements, and although he’s built a screened in porch, he says he’s not DIY expert. “I won’t even suggest I know what I’m doing. At this point, it’s trial by error,” he says.
Even though work, family and friends provide a full life, Litchford makes room for community and professional engagement. He’s on the board of the McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center (he and his wife are the doting owners of two Labradors - one black and the other yellow), has served on the board of the Young Lawyers Division of the Chattanooga Bar Association, and is also a member of the Tennessee and American Bar Associations.
In addition, he and his wife attend services at East Brainerd Church of Christ.
Litchford is at a stage in his life during which he’s still finding his footing. Although his feet are firmly planted at home, he appears to still be looking for the perfect match between his work and his professional aspirations. Time will tell if Litchford continues to grow as a litigator or is able to develop a transactional practice along the lines of his interests in businesses. What’s more, it will be interesting to watch and see if he’s able to mount a return to teaching. Litchford says it’s not feasible at this point in time, but he hopes to someday “teach a law class or two.”
Some people have dreams that are out of reach. But others have achieved what Litchford hopes to do. So, with his ambition and talent, it seems likely he will someday exist in what for him is a perfect world.