Jim Richards

Jim Richards has worked at PLDR Law in Lynchburg since 1995. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hampden-Sydney College and a law degree from the University of Richmond.

1. What was your very first job and what did it teach you?

My very first job was with Strother Drug Company, a wholesaler in Lynchburg that sold everything a drugstore needed for its shelves. At my job there, I filled orders for grocery stores, and I loaded and unloaded trucks. It was a very good job that taught me a couple of things. I learned it's not easy earning a dollar. You learn the value of a dollar when you have a job. It also taught me loyalty, hard work, punctuality, and reliability are very important in your working life. If you have these traits, you will distinguish yourself from a lot of your competition in the job market.

2. What made you interested in a career in law?

Legal education was always valued in my family. My grandfather encouraged all three of his sons, my father and my uncles, to go to law school, which they did. I learned to value what they and other friends who were lawyers in town did. I respected these people who practiced law and decided it was a career path I wanted to follow.

3. What is your favorite part of working at PLDR Law?

The people are nice and cooperative. Everyone gets along beautifully. It’s a joy to come to work every day. I haven't always worked in places like that, but one of the reasons I continue doing what I'm doing is I like to come into the office, and I like the people there.

4. What are you looking forward to learning or doing as a GO Virginia Region 2 council member?

I have been involved in economic development in Lynchburg for a long time. I was chair of the board for the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance twice, and when I rotated off that board, I was looking for something else. Paul Denham was kind enough to ask me if I would be interested in being on the GO Virginia board. That fit right into what I was looking for, which was to get more of a regional understanding of economic development.

5. What do you enjoy most about living in GO Virginia Region 2?

We are very geographically fortunate. I've been to a lot of places and whenever I come home, I have a renewed sense of the beauty of this area. We have so many amenities and are near to the mountains and the shore. The people in this region are some of the best people I've ever known. They're nice, friendly, and helpful. Lastly, over the years, I have obtained a better understanding of the economic diversity and stability of this region and its low cost of living and high quality of life. It really is an ideal place to be.

7. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

When I first started practicing law, my Uncle Bob said one thing to me. He said, “Jim, if you want to distinguish yourself from 90% of your competition, return your telephone calls and get your work done on time.” I was a little bit skeptical of his advice at first, but over time I found out he was exactly right. I’ve followed that advice over the years, and it is some of the best guidance I've ever received.

8. What is the most memorable place you’ve ever visited?

The one place that has made the most lasting impression on me is the western United States. I've taken two trips, one with my parents when I was young, and one when I was older where I took my own children. It's so much easier to appreciate the scope and size of the country we live in and its diversity if you go out there and experience it for yourself. There are so many wonders we have in this country. Everyone ought to go to the Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the sand dunes, and Monument Valley where so many of the great John Wayne westerns were filmed. Pictures do not do these places justice.

9. In your spare time, what activities do you like to do?

I like to play tennis. I do woodworking and also enjoy reading and gardening. I like projects — having things to build or do around the house.

The greatest thing in my life is my family and always will be. I've been married for 46 years, and I have two wonderful grown children and four grandchildren.