Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith, LLP
PO Box 530886
Birmingham, AL 35253
(205)879-1100 / 

Sela is a 2002 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, and received a B.S. degree and graduated magna cum laude from Auburn University in 1999. Sela is a partner at Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith, LLP, and practices in the areas of General and Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Shareholder and Business Litigation.

Ms. Blanton is an executive member in the Environmental Law Section of the Alabama State Bar, is a member of the American Bar Association, and is involved in the Young Lawyers Section and the Women Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association. Since 2009, Sela has been on The Birmingham Bar’s Grievance Committee. She was named a 2010 Super Lawyers Rising Star. In 2009, she was involved in the Birmingham Bar Future Leaders Forum, and she is a member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church.

The attorney who recommended Sela said, “I have known Sela for several years and have also had the opportunity to be involved in cases in which we represented co-defendants. I have observed first-hand both Sela’s personal attributes and professional capabilities. She has been very active in our Birmingham Bar Association as well as serving on the Executive Committee of the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar. I also serve on the Executive Committee of this Section, and I have observed Sela’s high level of participation and commitment. I understand from the materials provided that servant leadership is one of the core characteristics sought by the bar in the lawyers who will comprise the Leadership Forum class. Sela’s work in the Environmental Section is a direct reflection of this principle. I also litigated with Sela, and she is a very talented and capable lawyer. While doing an excellent job for her client, she also treated opposing counsel, co-counsel, as well as the Court, with respect and courtesy. Sela manages to be both a good lawyer and a good person with sacrificing either attribute.”

In her own words, Sela says, “In order to grow into a successful lawyer, it is important for young lawyers to keep a spirit of humanity. I hope that I never reach a point, professionally or personally, where I feel that I have “arrived” or that there is nothing more for me to learn. Both work and life present continual opportunities for me to grow and mature. I hope that my most important contribution to the legal profession is yet to come. Although I have been practicing for a number of years, I still feel as though I am new at this and “just” graduated from law school. That could mean I am simply in denial about my age, but I hope it is also an indication that I have not lost the will to learn and grow. That said, my most important contribution to the legal profession to date has been my service as a member of my local grievance committee. I am now in my third year as a member of the committee, and it has taught me so much about my practice. Through the reports my committee hears and investigates, I am constantly challenged to work harder and smarter. So far, my most significant contribution to the community has been my charitable giving. I find that often the most impactful way I can help my community is through financial contributions, because I cannot always donate my time. While I do not have the financial wherewithal to contribute at the levels some do, I make a point to give a significant portion of my gross income each year to my church, United Way, and other causes. Charitable giving is something my parents always emphasized, and I have tried to carry on that legacy. Each time I contribute to a cause, I am reminded about how much I have been blessed, and how many people are dealing with real, daily struggles. I hope to learn more about other areas of legal profession and simply have fun. Meeting new people and learning about their careers and lives is a great thing. The Leadership Forum presents an opportunity for young lawyers to socialize, network, and exchange ideas. I look forward to that, and to learning from more senior members of our profession. Learning by example is one of the best ways to become a better lawyer. I have learned more from my partners than I did in three years of studying books in law school. Finally, the Leadership Forum presents young lawyers with the chance to simply get out of the office and do something different with their day. It is so easy to become bogged down with cases, research, phone calls, and other desk work. Participating in the Leadership Forum is an opportunity for me to get away from all of that for a short time and hopefully, return to the office refreshed and more ready to handle my cases and work load.”