When you first meet an attorney, you want more than a resume. You want to know how they think, what drives them, & whether they truly see what you have been through. That is why we invite you to meet Kathleen M. Pacious, who serves in an of counsel role with Gilbert Injury Law and brings more than 37 years of litigation experience to our clients.
In the short bio video below, Kathleen shares how a career spent trying cases, defending the State of Georgia, and seeing “every possible case type you can imagine” now shapes the way she stands up for people injured by negligence & severe workplace accidents.
Why Kathleen’s Story Matters If You Are Hurting
Kathleen talks about her move to plaintiff work as “a challenge…in a good way.” After years of representing the State of Georgia, she still felt “a yearning to help people.” Public service mattered to her, but she wanted to direct that drive toward individuals facing life-changing injuries.
That transition fits the heart of what we do at Gilbert Injury Law. Our firm focuses on serious personal injury and catastrophic workers’ compensation cases. Kathleen’s background helps us look at those cases from every angle, including how the other side evaluates risk & defends claims.
She puts it simply in the video: “The perspective…that I bring is just the array of cases that I saw. When you represent the state, it is every possible case type you can imagine.” That range of experience now serves people who need a steady, informed advocate after a devastating event.
How She Sees Your Story In The Courtroom
Kathleen describes the courtroom as one of her “favorite places.” She says she loves “getting up and talking to people, helping them understand how a jury is going to see this.” That simple line reveals a lot about who she is. She does not see a trial as a performance. She sees it as a conversation with jurors about what you have endured.
One of the most powerful moments in the video comes when she explains what “pre accident pain and suffering” looks like. She does not use technical jargon. Instead, she paints a clear picture:
- A vivid example: “That’s a tractor trailer is about to crash into you. You see it coming and there’s nothing you can do about it. And it happens. That time period has value not just post accident pain and suffering.”
In a few sentences, she captures the fear, shock, & helplessness that many clients struggle to describe. She reminds us that harm is “not just physical, it’s mental. And people need to understand that.”
That is how she approaches a case. She digs into the full story, including the moments before impact and the ongoing emotional toll, then helps a jury see why all of that matters.
From Private Practice & Public Service To Our Team
Kathleen’s path to our firm began in private practice. After graduating from Boston College and earning her law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1985, she built a career trying negligence and workers’ compensation cases. She led more than 30 jury trials and appeared often before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Like Jeff, she is a true jury-trial lawyer who has handled serious administrative claims.
After 12 years in private practice, she took that courtroom experience to the Office of the Georgia Attorney General in 1997. As a Deputy Attorney General, she led the General Litigation Division for 25 years. That Division handled tort, civil rights, & workers’ compensation cases across the state.
Her work there included:
- Tort cases against the State: premises liability, negligent road design, medical negligence, and other tort claims filed in counties throughout Georgia.
- Civil rights cases: matters involving alleged violations of the First, Fourth, Eighth, & Fourteenth Amendments, along with related constitutional issues, in federal court. Two of those cases were argued before the United States Supreme Court.
- High-exposure reviews: she reviewed all significant exposure cases in her Division and served for many years on the D.O.A.S. serious case review committee, making recommendations to the State about resolution.
During that time, she also encouraged the use of mediation in both private and public sectors. Her success in resolving many disputes this way shows a practical, problem-solving mindset: if there is a fair path to resolution, she wants to find it.
Now, she brings what she calls her experience from the “dark side” to protect people injured by negligence & those severely hurt at work. Defense lawyers and insurers know her and respect her work, which can matter when we sit across the table from them on your behalf.
What Kathleen Brings To Injured Clients & Their Families
Kathleen’s biography shows a long list of roles & accomplishments. What matters most to our clients, though, is what those years mean for the way she listens, explains, & advocates.
Here are a few qualities that stand out:
- She understands both sides of serious cases. Decades of work in private practice and as a Deputy Attorney General mean she has seen how government entities and insurers think about value, risk, & resolution. She now uses that understanding to help people who face life-changing injuries.
- She values the human story behind every claim. In the video, she talks about fear before a crash, mental anguish, and the importance of recognizing that “time period” as part of your pain and suffering. That attention to detail helps ensure no part of your experience gets overlooked.
- She enjoys talking with jurors & clients. When she says she loves “getting up and talking to people,” she speaks as someone who likes to connect, not just argue. That approach fits our belief that clear, honest communication helps clients feel informed & supported.
For more than 20 years at the Attorney General’s office, she also managed internship and externship programs, mentoring hundreds of law students. That commitment to teaching and guidance shows up in the way she works with injured people: she takes the time to walk through what is happening and what may come next.
A Life Rooted In Service & Compassion
Service did not stop at the courthouse for Kathleen. She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and three lively golden retrievers, all rescued through Adopt a Golden Atlanta. She also serves as a foster for that organization, opening her home to dogs who need care & stability.
Those details may seem small, but they reveal a lot. The same patience, loyalty, & compassion that lead her to foster rescue dogs also show in the way she stands by our clients through long, difficult cases.
How Kathleen Fits Into Our Mission At Gilbert Injury Law
Our firm focuses on catastrophic injury and workers’ compensation cases. We keep our practice boutique so we can give people facing life-changing harm the attention they deserve. Kathleen’s background lines up with that mission.
- Deep litigation history: more than 37 years in courtrooms and hearing rooms, with over 30 jury trials as lead counsel, plus extensive work before the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
- Insight from the other side: 25 years leading the General Litigation Division at the Attorney General’s office, handling tort, civil rights, & workers’ compensation matters for the State of Georgia.
- Respect across the aisle: defense lawyers and insurers widely respect her, which supports meaningful, candid negotiations when we pursue fair outcomes for our clients.
In the video, Kathleen sums up what this means for the people who call us. “Jeff has seen it and I’ve seen it on the other side. And I’d like to help those folks.” That shared perspective strengthens our ability to stand up to powerful opponents when an injury turns your life upside down.
Get To Know Kathleen & Our Team
When you watch Kathleen speak, you will hear more than legal terms. You will hear a seasoned trial lawyer who has spent decades in high-stakes litigation, who can describe a tractor trailer bearing down on you in a way that makes everyone in the room feel the fear, and who never forgets that pain is “not just physical, it’s mental.”
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury or a catastrophic workplace accident, you do not have to navigate the next steps alone. Our team at Gilbert Injury Law offers free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. To talk about what happened and how we may be able to help, call us at (762) 300-3530.
Until then, we encourage you to watch Kathleen’s video. It offers a clear view of the person you will meet on the other side of the table: a dedicated trial lawyer with a long history of public service, a deep respect for what you have been through, & a steady voice in the courtroom when you need it most.