Jason Hadley was so determined to raise his daughter in Baldwin County that he took the bar exam twice.

Hadley, who grew up in Perdido, studied law at Mississippi College and graduated in 2010. He had a good job with a law firm in Jackson, Miss., but Hadley and his wife Jaynie decided they wanted to be closer to home so their daughter Addison could grow up around their closest friends and family.

“We loved Jackson and the people we'd met there, but once we had a child, having those family and friends became priceless,” he says. “That's what made us start considering moving back. My wife and I both wanted her to be able to experience growing up in Baldwin County. It was a very good place to grow up, and we have a great school system.”

So Hadley took the Alabama bar exam, passed and moved back to North Baldwin County in March. He opened his own law firm in downtown Bay Minette, where he serves people needing representation for personal injuries, wrongful death and nursing home abuse, criminal defense, child custody, general civil litigation and estate planning.

Hadley, who played baseball at Baldwin County High School and all four years at Millsaps College, says he is also involved in representing athletes as an agent and plans on growing that business in Alabama.

“Hopefully that will grow into providing some camps and stuff like that for youth in this area in the near future,” he says.

In addition to getting his law practice up and running, Hadley says he is excited about getting plugged into the North Baldwin community. He has noticed the growth and change in the area and is optimistic about its future.

“The megasite up there and the potential it brings also weighed in my decision to relocate, because if a business ever decides to locate there, it's going to bring a lot of jobs to North Baldwin and therefore a lot of people and families that are going to want to live close to their work,” he says.

Since moving back and opening his firm, Hadley says he has noticed a vibrant Chamber of Commerce and city government.

“The new leadership at the Chamber seems to be energetic and making Bay Minette a better place to locate and run a business,” Hadley says. “I think that with some of the industry that is coming in in Mobile and the surrounding communities, they are helping to make Bay Minette a legitimate and attractive place to settle down.

“I also think Mayor Bob Willis' leadership will be very valuable to the city of Bay Minette. There are already some revitalization projects I see going on.”

People profile

NAME: Jason Hadley

HOMETOWN: Perdido

COLLEGE: Millsaps College, Mississippi College School of Law

FAMILY: Wife, Jaynie Milstead Hadley and 3-year-old daughter, Addison Claire

OFFICE: Hadley Law Firm, 102 W. Second St., Bay Minette, 251-937-7777