Bridging the City and the Country

Atlanta lawyer stays close to his roots

By Rebecca Laurenzana

Walter Burton (LAW ’05) grew up in the quiet Tennessee town of Murfreesboro. Burton’s father, William Burton (LAW ’67), worked on the farm and in the courtroom. Although Burton’s life has taken a slightly more urban turn, father and son still share one major commonality—their love of nature.

“An ideal weekend for me would be going into the Smoky Mountains for camping,” Burton says. “I like the solitude of not having to talk to anyone.”

In his younger days, the Navy proved to be the driving force behind many of Burton’s choices. He initially thought he would go the academy route upon graduating high school. “The more I explored that college experience the more I knew it wasn’t what I wanted,” he says. “But I still wanted to serve.”

Navy man

The Navy ROTC proved to be a better choice. In exchange for a full ROTC scholarship Burton had to serve in the Navy for four years after his graduation from Vanderbilt University. Burton says the commitment shaped who he is today. The Navy provided a background for his work in law that many lawyers don’t have coming from a traditional background. He understands organization and structure and knows how to lead people.

“When an associate starts it’s like a fire hose,” Burton says. There is often very little instruction or guiding from firm leaders. “I learned more about life and grew more as a person as a naval officer.”

Community leader

Burton’s experience with the Navy ROTC continues to play an active role in his life as he works with the Odyssey program. It pairs business mentors with inner-city children who are trying to get into college. The young man Burton is paired with wants to pursue the military as a means to pay his way through college. He reminds Burton of other men that were in his military division who did not have the same resources he did as a young adult.

“I can make a difference with him,” he says of his mentee.

Burton’s experience at UT Law allowed him to build upon the structure and leadership already ingrained in him from the Navy. Troutman and Sanders, an Atlanta-based law firm, brought him on as a summer associate in 2004, eventually hiring him on full time.

While Burton likes the solitude of nature he also finds himself drawn into the lights and excitement of a bigger city. “I was drawn to the sophistication of law there,” he says.

Roots

Burton, like his father, is still farming. Recently he was featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle for purchasing farmland in Fayetteville. While Burton considers farming and being near the land relaxing, he says it is less a hobby than it is an investment.

Melissa Burton (LAW ’07) sums up her husband’s success simply, but eloquently. “Walt is an absolutely amazing person. He never ceases to amaze me with his constant ability to succeed and want more out of life.”