At MMA&A, our commitment to justice is fierce and unwavering. Every morning, we are driven by a passion to defend what is right. However, the foundation of McHard is built on a profound love: love for the law, and our collective love for Mississippi and its people.

Sam McHard, a lifelong Illinois native, never imagined venturing to Mississippi. His most important client was sued in Jones County, and despite initial reluctance and not being licensed to practice there, Sam had to make the journey south. Once there, he fell in love with the unexpectedly beautiful place. “I like to say Mississippi adopted us,” Sam McHard said. “From the moment I stepped foot in the state, people greeted me with uncommon kindness and empathy. The woman who worked the front desk of the hotel where I was staying could tell I was tired from working long hours on the case, and every day she would tell me she was praying for me. Everybody down here was like that, from the other attorneys on the case to the people I met at the grocery store. I wanted to become part of the fabric of a community like this.”

Sam knew that Mississippi was calling his name and felt that this was the place to put down roots.

In Mississippi, neighbors help neighbors. People are invested in one another. When one member of the community suffers, others work hard to help them rise up again. Raised on a farm, Sam recognizes Mississippi values as his own. “I grew up a poor farmer,” Sam said. “I saw people in my community suffer when they became injured. I saw people battle financial hardship and fight to keep their farms. When I became an attorney, I knew I wanted to help people maintain and improve their quality of life in the face of hardship. I wanted to be the advocate people called in the midst of trials. I know what it means to put everything else aside and rebuild the barn, so to speak.”

Sam believes in fighting for what is right, in helping his neighbors, and in doing whatever it takes to win justice. “My family were abolitionists in Illinois. In the Civil War, they fought for the Union on the principle of abolishing slavery.” In the McHard family, prejudice, bullying, and intolerance were simply not tolerated. Even though the McHards were not wealthy, they gave what they could—and sometimes more—to help others and to see justice done.

Today, Sam and his partner Manion Anderson take great pride in serving Mississippians who deserve justice. “Mississippi has always been my home,” Anderson said. “In Mississippi, people are often reluctant to ask for help. When it comes to legal issues, however, people need an ally who can help them navigate the difficulties of the legal world. We are honored any time someone calls us or walks through our doors and asks for help. We aren’t here for any reason other than to help our neighbors.”

Although MMA&A fights for justice, its heartbeat is love. Without love, without empathy, without community, legal victories wouldn’t matter. “I never understood bullies,” Sam said. “I never understood the people who felt they could take what wasn’t theirs. It’s simple: treat other people how you would like to be treated. Fight for them how you would want someone to fight for you.”