HAZARD – A Perry County couple has taken the plunge and become Hazard’s latest small business owners.

Josh and Shasta Mullins opened the Mullins Law Firm on East Main Street last week after several years of honing their skills with David Johnson law office in Hazard.

Josh and Shasta met while students at the Appalachian School of Law and graduated in 2006. Josh began working as a licensed attorney in the David Johnson office more than five years ago, while Shasta, a Beckley, West Virginia native, joined shortly after.

While working in Hazard, Josh gained valuable experience as a criminal defense attorney while Shasta handled a plethora of civil cases, and it will be that experience that Josh noted will allow he and his wife to do well in their new venture as private attorneys.

“I think everyone goes to law school to basically work for yourself and not work for somebody else,” Josh said. “I think after five years we’ve got enough knowledge and experience to take the plunge.”

The Mullins Law Firm is opening during a turbulent time in America’s economy, but Mullins noted that there remains a need for legal representation, whether that been a criminal defendant or someone who suffered an injury.

“I think the business is still doing well,” he said. “The legal profession, I guess everybody’s going to need a lawyer. The economy hasn’t played a part in [our decision]. I think we’re going to do well.”

Mullins said their firm will handle a wide variety of cases, from juvenile to divorce to personal injury. But there will also be a community support aspect as well. Josh is a member of two service clubs – the Appalachian Riders and the Hazard Kiwanis Club, and in the future he hopes their firm can play a positive role in the local community.

“In the future we hope to stay right here in Hazard and help the community out and help the people out,” he said.

The Mullins Law Firm is located at 264 East Main Street in Hazard, across from the Hazard Clinic.