As Managing Attorney of California Sports Lawyer, President of the TJSL Alumni Association and Director of the Center for Sports Law & Policy, former SBA President Jeremy Evans ‘11 has accomplished what he considers to be the American Dream. “What is the American Dream but to live free and make your own decisions?” Evans said of running his own practice where he represents athletes, businesses, and models. “Being a solo practitioner provides me the opportunity to better serve my clients and the community.”
Evans has always loved sports and movies. “Because of that it seemed appropriate for me to work in a field where I represent individuals and companies in the sports and entertainment industries. I played baseball in high school and Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise is one of my favorite movies so it makes sense that I specifically represent baseball players and race car drivers. Representing female models is an added bonus,” he added jokingly.
“I took the path like many before me and went from undergrad to law school to various internships, but my focus has always been that of service and leadership.” Which is something that Evans, who is the youngest of eight siblings says his mother instilled in him at a very early age. “After graduation, while working as a law clerk for the Superior Court of California, state budget cuts forced me to leave that position. I remember my supervisor coming into my office to inform me of my last day and I had a smile on my face. She asked, “Why are you smiling Jeremy? We love you, but we have to let you go.” Evans replied, “You just gave me the kick in the pants that I needed. I am going solo, I have been thinking about it for a while. She returned the smile and the rest is history.”
Within the San Diego legal community, Evans has made a name for himself as founder and director of the TJSL National Sports Law Negotiation Competition, Chair of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section, Director of the Diversity Fellowship Program, and Co-Chair of the Career Development Program at the San Diego County Bar Association. He serves on the Editorial Board and is a contributor with the San Diego Lawyer Magazine. He is also the official legal correspondent for ESPN Radio on the “The Tirey Show.”
Evans’s dedication has earned him numerous awards, including being named Top Attorney 2014, Best at Bar 2014, and most recently one of San Diego Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2015.
In light of his accomplishments, Evans says what matters most is the journey. “What I have learned while obtaining my goals is that the goal itself is not the end game. The goal is the experience. What brings a smile to my face is looking back on the people I have met: the humor, the good times, and the feeling of a job well done. Today, I say with great confidence, that I have been blessed by the Man Upstairs by being placed in the company of great people.”
Evans’s advice to current students and recent graduates is, “There is nothing more important in this world than relationships: genuine relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and your community. You should ask yourself, who did you help? Who did you encourage? What mark did you leave on this world? Always be respectful and professional. Find your passion, go after it, and do not let up.”
As a TJSL student, Evans honed his leadership skills as the Student Bar Association President, being a member of the Sports Law Society, Christian Legal Society, and the San Diego County Bar Association.
Looking back at his journey through law school, what stands out for Evans are the great memories. “Thomas Jefferson School of Law consists of smaller class sizes therefore allowing closer relationships to form with fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni,” Evans said. “What Thomas Jefferson School of Law does best is focus on the individual student and shines a light on what makes those individuals great. TJSL will forever hold a special place in my heart for the opportunity the law school provided me to become the attorney I am today and to meet some of my very best friends.”
