Karlos F. Finley

Email Address: karlos@botelerwolfe.com

I am a third generation Mobilian. I am the descendent of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the service of our community. My grandfather arrived in Mobile in 1916 as a young doctor who had recently graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School. Looking to put down roots, Dr. James A. Franklin (Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc.) served the medical needs of citizens of Mobile for 53 years. My parents Mr. James H. Finley and Joycelyn Franklin-Finley started out as educators. My father became a pharmacist and opened the first African American chain of drug stores (Finley’s Drug Stores) in the State of Alabama. My mother remained a teacher and taught in the Mobile Public School System for more than 25 years. They, together along with other progressive thinkers, led the Civil Rights movement of the late 1960′s and early 1970′s in Mobile with a goal of bringing about a more unified community. As a child I attended Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic School until my family moved north to Michigan in the mid 70′s. We returned home to Mobile in 1982 and I graduated from John L. Leflore High School in 1983.

Upon graduation from high school, I enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. I served honorably from 1983 to 1988. While serving on the USCGC Buttonwood, I received a meritorious commendation for relief efforts during Hurricane Opal and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal while serving aboard the USCGC Westwind. I was Honorably discharged and entered the private sector with Chevron USA, Lafayette, LA as an Able Seaman. After several years I again returned home to Mobile and went to work at Scott Paper Company/Kimberly-Clark Corporation. During my ten years in the paper industry, I served as a member of the United Way Executive Committee for its annual campaign and helped to coordinate the annual Day of Caring. I have always had a passion for helping children and I have actively participated in the Moorer YMCA’s Mentoring Program.

In 1999 I earned my Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Cum Laude, from the University of Mobile. I then enrolled at Miles Law School in Birmingham, Alabama where I served as Student Bar Association Vice-President in 2004 and President in 2005, and graduated class Valedictorian. While in law school, I worked as a Judicial Law Clerk to Circuit Judge Eugene R. Verin, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County, Alabama. I also served as a member of the Bessemer Cut-Off Domestic Violence Task Force, the Bessemer Child Advocacy Center and participated in the Kawanis Club’s Elementary Reading Initiative.

When I was licensed to practice law in 2006, I began my legal career at the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office where I represented the State of Alabama in the Juvenile and Adult Court Systems, at the District and Circuit Court levels. In addition to my regular duties as an Assistant District Attorney, I gave the Early Warning Truancy address weekly to children attending schools through out Mobile County, and their parents, to insure an understanding of the laws that govern truancy and underscoring the importance of education. I served as President of Leadership Mobile- Class of 2008 and currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Dearborn Street YMCA, 15 Place Homeless Shelter, The Family Center, and Lifelines Family Counseling Center of Mobile, Inc. I am the President of the Mobile chapter of the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform. I am a member of the Alabama State Bar, the Alabama Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the Mobile Bar Association, the South Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, the Bay Area Bar Association and the Mobile Inns of Court.

I try to bring my passion for helping others and my strong sense of community into the courtroom, as well as during the claim stage of representation, to ensure the rights of our clients and their families are protected, and that they are treated fairly. If you have a question about a legal matter, I would like to help you. Please fee free to call me or contact me by e-mail at: karlos@botelerwolfe.com.