Selma native Brandon Wooten opened the doors of the Wooten Law Firm Thursday located at 309 Church St., and celebrated the event with a ribbon cutting and holiday open house.

“It means a lot, especially because this is my native community of Selma,” Wooten said. “Everybody here has really been embracing me and been very supportive and have helped me on my journey of establishing my own law practice.”

At the open house Selma Mayor George Evans said he was “proud to see [Wooten] return home to Selma.”

And Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard agreed.

“I’m glad to have him in my courtroom,” Ballard said.

Wooten has worked in Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Washington D.C., but said he felt called to come back to Selma.

“I really wanted to establish my own law practice, and I felt like honestly, here [in Selma] my client base would be best,” Wooten said of deciding to open his practice in town. “I know Selma has a certain stigma attached to it where a lot of people don’t come home after working in Birmingham or getting a taste of D.C. — they want to work there and they don’t want to come back here. So I knew that this would be an excellent market for me, and a market that would better allow me to help people and work for the people.”

Wooten’s practice is located in a refinished home in Old Town, and he said he chose the location specifically for its beauty and character.

“It’s the Old Town historic district and I think it’s one of the most beautiful district’s I’ve seen, and I’ve been in D.C. and Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and various places,” Wooten said. “The homes here are really great. This home in particular was built in 1900. Beautiful wood floors, the carving, everything — it adds a lot of character. When I saw the doors, I knew that this is where I wanted to be.”

Wooten, who specializes in criminal defense and family law as well as personal injury, automobile accident and work place injuries, said Birmingham has more of a business district atmosphere whereas in his hometown of Selma there’s a more family-oriented feeling of support.

“If anybody needs help or has any legal concerns or questions, I’d be more than happy to help them out and tell them whatever knowledge I have and give them a consultation to let them know if they have a case and what’s the best way to go according to the law,” he said.  “That’s what I moved back here for — to help the people, and that’s what I plan on doing.”