Mr. Drew Norman Early

Shewmaker & Lewis LLC

Drew N. Early was born in Harrisonburg VA.  Attended US Military Academy, West Point NY, graduating in 1979.  Served in US Army, to include service with XVIII ABN Corps, Second Infantry Division, Tenth Mountain Division, and Third Army.  Multiple deployments, including Haiti and several to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, and the Emirates).

Graduate, with honors, US Army Command and General Staff College and follow-on attendance at US Army School of Advanced Military Studies, with an advanced degree in Strategic Planning.  Then multiple planning assignments in the Army, to include Third Army, focusing on the Middle East.  Received separate Master’s Degree in Management while on active duty. 

Graduate JD, cum laude, from Georgia State University and currently of counsel with Shewmaker and Shewmaker for probate and related matters, focused on veterans’ assistance and elder law.  Practicing veterans’ law since 2008.

- Adjunct Professor at Emory University's College of Law

- Executive Director of Emory School of Law’s Volunteer Clinic for Veterans 

Accreditations and Admissions

US Supreme Court
US Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia
US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for State of Georgia
Accredited to practice before the VA
Serving on DeKalb County Probate Court Court-Appointed list
Registered Mediator
 

Published

The Elder Law Journal, Volume 18, Number 1, 2010
Proceedings, US Naval Institute, November 1997
GA Bar Journal
Frequent CLE contributor within GA and to national veterans advocacy groups—CLEs to National Organization of Veterans Advocates conferences in Washington DC, Chicago IL, Las Vegas NV, San Antonio TX, Portland OR, Providence RI, and others.  Separate CLEs in GA and VA.    
 

Awards

2010 Marshall-Tuttle Award from State Bar of Georgia as outstanding lawyer for his service to military and veterans
Numerous US and foreign military awards and decorations
 

Professional Associations

Past Chair, Military and Veterans Section of the State Bar of Georgia
National Organization of Veterans Advocates
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Veterans Benefits Practice and Development Council
 

Expertise

VA cases in multiple US states and possessions, to include Guam and PR.
Expert witness, Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings, 2009.
Nominee, US House of Representatives Veterans Affairs advisory sub-committee, Disability Compensation and Small Business Opportunities