-Voted "BEST CRIMINAL ATTORNEY” - Forsyth County News (2020-2024)
Phil Pilgrim graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He attended Georgia State University College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate.
During law school, Phil clerked for Judge Steve C. Jones of the Western Judicial Circuit who is now a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Phil also worked as a prosecutor under the 3rd Year Practice Act for the Forsyth County Solicitor General’s Office and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. After Law School, Phil returned to Forsyth County in public service as a prosecutor. During his time working for the State, Phil spent 75% of his time in court. He obtained the position of Senior Assistant and was the acting Assistant Solicitor on the Forsyth County DUI Court, prosecuting hundreds of DUI cases.
During his time there, Phil was very active in the training of Law Enforcement on the subject of DUI Detection and Enforcement and courtroom demeanor and testimony. He was often an instructor at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in the City of Forsyth, which is where many officers receive their Mandate Training. Being a “teacher” taught Phil that a vast majority of issues in cases involving DUI are a byproduct of a lack of training and experience of the officers we have out on the road. Likewise, for those that are well trained, an officer’s inability to recognize the limitations of the tools they are equipped with to investigate individuals suspected of driving under the influence result in many improper arrests.
Phil left public service in 2007 and until 2013, Phil was a partner in a Forsyth County law firm where he managed all the firm’s criminal cases and often associated on other firm cases being prepped for litigation due to his extensive trial experience. In October of 2013, Phil and Amy Carter left that Forsyth County firm and opened Carter/Pilgrim in Suwanee, Georgia. For nine years, Amy and Phil operated a very successful firm serving clients in counties throughout North Georgia, including Gwinnett, Forsyth, Barrow, Hall, Jackson, Banks, White and Lumpkin. In 2021, Carter/Pilgrim merged with Banks, Stubbs & McFarland where Amy Carter and Phil Pilgrim joined as partners while retaining the Suwanee office to extend BSM’s reach into counties previously not served.
Since joining BSM, Phil has transitioned his practice to focus 100% of his efforts on cases involving Driving Under the Influence, Serious Injury by Vehicle and Vehicular Homicide. He has an extremely successful record with nearly 85% of his resolving with a non-DUI resolution, whether through negotiation or trial by jury. He prides himself in consistently exceeding the expectations of his clients with integrity and professionalism. Obtaining the client’s goals is always a source of pride for Phil. He is a very experienced trial lawyer (and yes, there is a difference between a LAWYER and a TRIAL LAWYER). He has tried a countless number of cases before judge and jury ranging from misdemeanor cases of DUI to felony cases of murder.
Phil comes from a working-class family and often worked in construction/labor positions to financially support himself through school. He is the first of his family to go to college and the only one to complete a post graduate degree. He credits his family and personal work history for the tremendous respect he has for hard working people simply trying to provide for their families. He takes great pride that he is in a privileged position to help people through this line of work and never takes for granted how much personal and financial trust his clients place in him.
He is a devoted husband and father. When not working, he spends his free time with his family and friends. He is a member of The Vine United Methodist Church. His Faith, Family, and Friendships are the most important things in his life. Phil is confident that fervor for those three components in his life furthers his abilities in representing his clients.