Biography

Nick M. Bajalia, Sr. is a native of Valdosta, Georgia. He attended Valdosta State College between 1971 and 1973. In 1972, during his sophomore year at Valdosta State College, he joined Tau Kappa Epsilon Social Fraternity. After completing his sophomore year at Valdosta State College, he transferred to the University of Georgia in 1973, and enrolled in the Terry School of Business Administration.

While attending the University of Georgia, Mr. Bajalia founded and formed “Communiversity”, which is the equivalent of the Big Brother – Little Brother Program on the University of Georgia Campus. He served as a Big Brother to a needy youth during his entire time as a student at the University of Georgia. He graduated, with honors, from the Terry School of Business Administration at the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1975.

After graduating from UGA, Mr. Bajalia attended the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, from where he graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1979. During his third year of law school, he was asked to serve as the personal Law Clerk for the Honorable R. Macey Taylor, United States Magistrate, United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama.

Mr. Bajalia became a member of the State Bar of Georgia in 1979 and The Florida Bar in 1981. He first worked as an associate for the law firm of Coleman & Kitchens in Valdosta, Georgia. In 1980, he became a partner, and the law firm became known as Coleman, Kitchens & Bajalia. Later, he became associated with the law firm of Blackburn, Bright, Edwards and Dodd in Valdosta, Georgia. Mr. Bajalia founded and opened Bajalia Law Firm on May 3, 1982.

Mr. Bajalia is a member of the Episcopal Church. He is married to the former Monique Andrews. They have six (6) children and several grandchildren.

Education

• Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
• University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
• Valdosta State University 1971-1973

Published Works

• “Diversity in the Family Law Field”, University of Georgia School of Law, Family Law Society Spring Career Panel, February 7, 2017.
• “Civil Rights in Today’s Society”, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Cook County, Georgia, February 20, 2010.
• Chairperson, People’s Law School, sponsored by the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, Valdosta, Georgia, April 23-June 25, 2005.
• “Family Law: Divorce, Alimony, Custody & Adoption Issues”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, June 11, 2005.
• “Automobile Accidents & Insurance”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, May 21, 2005.
• “The Criminal Process”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, April 30, 2005.
• “How the Foundational Structure of Our Laws Have Shifted In a Manner To Hinder and Unintentionally Set Back the Civil Rights Movement and the Ideal of Equality Among All People”, presented at Annual Christmas Banquet of Greater Pleasant Temple Baptist Church, Valdosta, Georgia, December 16, 1995.
• Chairperson, People’s Law School, sponsored by the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, Valdosta, Georgia, May 13-July 15, 1995.
• “Professional Negligence – Doctors, Lawyers and Beyond”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, June 24, 1995.
• “Automobile Accidents”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, June 17, 1995.
• “How to Choose a Lawyer”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, May 13, 1995.
• “How a Lawsuit Works”, Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, presented at the People’s Law School, Valdosta, Georgia, May 13, 1995.
• “Ethical Considerations in Gathering Factual Information and Preserving the Evidence”, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, presented at the Meeting of the Minds-Making the Most of Settlements Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia, December 9, 1994.
• Seminar Co-Chairman, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Fall Workshop, Secrets of Our Success Seminar, St. Simons Island, Georgia, October 21-22, 1994.
• Brief Bank Index, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Published May, 1994.
• “Justice Through Power,” THE VERDICT, Vol. 17, No. 4, July/August, 1992.

Professional Associations

• National Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1981 to Present
• Georgia Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1981 to Present
• American Association for Justice, 2017 to Present Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, 1991 to Present
• Southern Trial Lawyers Association, 2018 to Present
• State Bar of Georgia-General Practice & Trial Section State Bar of Georgia – Torts & Insurance Practice Section
• State Bar of Georgia – Criminal Law Section
• State Bar of Georgia – Legal Economics Section
• State Bar of Georgia – Dispute Resolution Section
• Valdosta Bar Association, 1979 to Present
• Valdosta Bar Association, Past Secretary
• Valdosta Bar Association, Past Chair for Law Week Celebration
• Committee Georgia Civil Justice Foundation, 1995 to Present
• American Bar Association (ABA), 2017 to Present
• American Bar Association (ABA) – Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
• American Association for Justice (AAJ), 2017 to Present
• American Association for Justice (AAJ) -, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section
• Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), 1991-1996; 2017-Present
• Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) – Motor Vehicle/Product Liability
• Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) – Trucking
• The National Trial Lawyers, 2016 to Present
• Best Attorneys of America, 2018 to Present
• American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys (AIOPIA) (By invitation only), 2016 to Present
• American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys (By invitation only), 2017 to Present
• Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2018 to Present
• American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys (AAPDA) (Founding Member), 2014 to Present
• American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys (By invitation only), 2017 to Present
• Valdosta Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2004 to Present
• Georgia Legal History Foundation, 2024 (Lifetime Member)

Certified Legal Specialties

• Certified Mediator – General Civil Mediation, Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, 2017
• Certified Mediator – Domestic Relations Mediation, Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, 2017
• Certified Mediator – Specialized Domestic Violence Mediation, Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, 2020
• Certified Arbitrator, Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, 2017