James W. Evans
The attorneys at Mette Evans & Woodside join the entire community of Harrisburg in mourning the passing of Jim Evans. While Jim's civic achievements as a founder of Harrisburg Community College and prime mover in the work of the Harristown Development Corporation have been publicly celebrated and treasured, his colleagues at the law firm he helped form remember Jim for the personal contributions he made to each of their careers. Jim was a renowned trial lawyer, known for his ability to be aggressive without being offensive, and for his capacity to command the courtroom with a knowledge of the subject at hand that was based on long hours of careful research. Yet even greater than those courtroom skills were Jim's gifts for teaching and mentoring the many trial attorneys who worked with him over the years.
Part of Jim's gift as a leader of other attorneys was his humility -- he always sought and valued the opinions of his younger colleagues, recognizing that everyone had different talents to bring to the table. In seeking out those other opinions and contributions, Jim enriched not only his own practice, but those of every lawyer who worked with him. Later in his career, he often volunteered to act as "second chair" to young attorneys trying their first cases. Notwithstanding the gems of advice written on a note pad or whispered in the ear during trial, Jim unfailingly gave full credit to the younger lawyer when a successful result was achieved. Not surprisingly, Jim's generous spirit and inclusive attitude engendered tremendous loyalty among the lawyers who worked with him over the years. We at Mette, Evans & Woodside hope to carry that attitude forward, with Jim's name on our letterhead as a constant reminder of a great lawyer and friend.
