Attorneys

Jay P. Carmean

Jay has over a decade of experience representing criminal defendants and injured parties in Oxford and Lafayette County, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999, Jay served as a law clerk for Presiding Justice C.R. "Chuck" McRae of the Mississippi Supreme Court. Jay then worked for Tollison Law Firm, P.A. in Oxford for four years, returning to the firm he had clerked for while in law school. While there, Jay was made a partner in the firm. In January of 2004, Jay joined Rhea Tannehill, Jr. to form Tannehill & Carmean, PLLC. In 2011, Matt McKenzie was named partner and the firm name changed to Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie.

Jay was voted by his peers to receive a BV Peer Review rating for high to very high legal ability and very high ethical standards. A BV rating is an indication of an exemplary reputation and well established practice. Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie was voted the Top Law Firm in Oxford in 2010 and 2011 and for both of those years Jay was also voted as one of the top 3 attorneys in Oxford. Jay's area of practice includes criminal defense (misdemeanor and felony) serious personal injury and wrongful death.

Jay is the Past President of the Lafayette County Bar Association and currently serves on the Mississippi Association for Justice’s Leader's Forum. He previously served eight years on the MAJ Board of Governors, an elected position. In 2006 he was elected in a state-wide election to serve on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division. He also holds a seat on the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Law School Relations Board and participates annually in the Lawyer in Every Classroom Program and the Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition as a judge. Jay was the youngest member of the Mississippi Bar ever appointed to serve on the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions. As a member for two terms, Jay drafted the criminal law, constitutional law and torts portions of the Mississippi Bar Exam. In 2010, Jay was appointed by the Mississippi Bar Association to serve a two year term on the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services Board of Directors, with involvement with the Union Bargaining Committee. The NMRLS provides pro bono legal assistance to those that cannot afford it.

Locally, Jay served for six (6) years on Oxford Planning Commission with the last four coming as Chairman, has served on the United Way Distribution Committee, is Past President of the Lafayette County Oxford Ole Miss Alumni Association and is a graduate of the Leadership Lafayette program.

Jay, originally from Caruthersville, Missouri, is married to the former Wendy Chambers of Oxford, Mississippi. Wendy is also an Ole Miss graduate and recently retired as the Director of Brand Marketing for the University of Mississippi. They attend the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford. They are the proud parents of identical twin girls, Jane Reeves and Evelyn Rose, born on May 10th, 2006.

Jay Carmean & Family

Bar Admission

Mississippi, 1999
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi, 2000
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2000

Education

J.D., University of Mississippi, 1999
B.A., University of Mississippi, Cum Laude, 1996

Professional

Past President, Lafayette County Bar Association
Mississippi Bar YLD Board of Directors – Northwest District
Board of Governors, Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association Website
Mississippi State Board of Bar Admissions Website
Mississippi and American Bar Association MS Bar Website ABA Website

Civic Involvement

Oxford Planning Commission Website
United Way Distribution Committee Website
Past President, Lafayette County Oxford Alumni Association Website
Lawyer in Every Classroom Committee Lawyer in Every Classroom Website Young Lawyers Division Website
Leadership Lafayette Graduate Website
Board Attorney, Lafayette County Law Enforcement Association Website
Meals on Wheels Website