Key Factors in Choosing the Right Attorney: Respect and Proven Success
When selecting legal representation, two critical factors often influence the decision-making process: Does your attorney command respect from judges and others in the courtroom? And, has your attorney demonstrated success in cases similar to yours? Trae Sims, a former prosecutor with extensive experience, has built a reputation for both, having worked with nearly every judge in the region.
Trae’s legal career spans more than 20 years and includes more than a decade of work with law enforcement, with several years of service as Prosecutor and Assistant City Attorney to the City of Madison, Mississippi, and later as General Counsel to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety/Mississippi Highway Patrol, the state’s law enforcement agency. As well, Trae also has more than a decade of complex civil litigation experience.
Trae’s primary practice area is criminal defense in state and federal courts, including a wide range of criminal matters such as DUI, drug possession, theft, fraud, assault and violent crimes. Trae also represents government officials facing state or federal inquiries, investigations or prosecutions. In addition, Trae utilizes his extensive experience as a prosecutor managing investigations to offer internal investigation services to businesses, organizations and public institutions in Jackson, Mississippi and the surrounding areas.
- A Former Prosecutor
Trae handled thousands of criminal cases, both misdemeanor and felony. His prosecutions included DUI, narcotics, conspiracy, larceny (theft), embezzlement, fraud, search and seizure among many other types of criminal matters. In his role as legal counsel to the Madison Police Department, Trae provided legal training to police officers related to enforcement of all types of criminal matters, search and seizure, probable cause, and constitutional rights while also managing claims and litigation matters involving the police department. He has been a frequent lecturer in the areas of prosecution strategies and law enforcement legal training as well as an advisor to the State of Mississippi regarding the 2014 Mississippi DUI statute revisions, which introduced adult non-adjudication of DUI charges. Trae was appointed and re-appointed to the Mississippi Legislative DUI Advisory Committee tasked with advising the Mississippi Legislature on DUI enforcement matters, and was also an active member of the Mississippi Prosecutors’ Association, serving as Chair of the City-County Committee as well as on other committees. He also regularly provides training to prosecutors, judges and court clerks as an invited lecturer at their professional conferences.
- Former General Counsel to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety/Highway Patrol
During Trae’s service to the state as General Counsel to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety/Highway Patrol, his responsibilities included providing legal counsel to the Commissioner and administrative team in the areas of law enforcement, training, personnel, policy, legislation, regulatory compliance, risk management, drivers license laws and litigation matters. In addition, he oversaw legal training for sworn law enforcement throughout the agency and provided daily legal guidance on enforcement issues to troopers and agents in the field. Trae also managed state and federal regulatory compliance and general litigation matters, including administrative, trial, and appellate court appearances on behalf of the agency.
Trae completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science and German Language at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was active in student government. He obtained his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law, where he served as Chair of the Moot Court Board.
Trae is a member of the Mississippi Bar, where he chairs the Government Section, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Criminal Justice Act Panel (federal criminal defense attorneys), and the Capital Area Bar Association.
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