Austin Jackson, better known as The Augusta Guy from his television ads, is not just your typical personal injury lawyer. He truly cares about each and every client and strives to help in whatever way he is able. Starting his own practice a little more than 10 years ago, Austin has done a great job establishing a name for himself in Augusta.
Wondering how Austin became “The Augusta Guy?” When looking into placing television ads a few years ago, he met with an ad agency that helped him narrow down this tagline. As Austin says, “Everyone likes to have a guy.” This can be the best local mechanic, the best local accountant or the best local moving company. “I am that guy in Augusta for personal injury work,” he adds.
He’s different from other personal injury lawyers you see on TV because he truly is local. When potential clients call, they can be assured that they are speaking to someone in town and who can directly help them. “If I don’t meet the client in person I try to give them a call, introduce myself, and say thank you for choosing us,” says Austin.
He also surrounds himself with a high level of talented staff including two additional lawyers with the legal skills to handle the influx of cases. He emphasizes that communication is key when it comes to how his firm handles clients. “Any relationship that falls apart is because they don’t communicate well so I want to make sure I communicate enough with our clients,” he says. “We take that very seriously.” Once the person becomes a client, parameters are set up with expectations about how often Austin and his co-workers will be talking and meeting with him or her.
Basically, Austin is trying to do the right thing for people, keeping their best interests in mind. A few years ago, he had a client who was a victim of hit and run where someone ran over her ankle, causing it to break. Austin went the extra mile, aiding the police in that town to find out who did it. He represented the woman, a retired school teacher, and to this day, they are still in touch. “She sent me a nice letter and knitted a hat and blanket for my son, Charlie, this year,” he adds.
In addition to running his own law firm, Austin also has a passion for flying and is trying to pass on that passion to the next generation. He partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta to start “Aviation Academy” last year. “I wanted to get young kids who are not exposed to flying but not just flying,” he says. “There are so many opportunities for aviation careers that don’t follow the traditional education path.”
The Aviation Academy is a six-week program that includes tours, guest speakers, some classroom time and simulator experiences. By the end of the six weeks, the kids get to fly in a plane. The first program in 2023 was for 13-14 year olds and current session is made up of 16-18 year olds. This is key because you can fly solo at age 16 and get your pilot’s license at 17, according to Austin. “The hope is to turn this into something that helps these kids get their pilot’s license, which in turn can benefit them if they go into the military or are seeking college scholarships for aviation-related fields,” explains Austin.
Helping people and being The Augusta Guy seem to go hand-in-hand when it comes to Austin Jackson. Both his professional and personal life seem to exhibit this in every way.
