About Austin
Austin Burdick is an Alabama lawyer who built a career around courtroom work and litigation support. He is admitted to practice in Alabama and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His path to the courtroom began in the study of history and ended with a law degree, but the through-line has been an interest in how facts and stories are presented to judges and juries.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in History from the University of Montevallo in 1999. He returned to school for law and received his J.D. from Birmingham School of Law in 2002. Those years shaped his approach to evidence and narrative. The history degree sharpened his sense of context; the law degree taught him how to test arguments under pressure.
Burdick entered the professional world in roles that combined analysis and presentation. In 2006 he worked as a trial consultant for Merrill Legal Solutions, where he assisted trial teams in preparation and strategy. The following year he joined Ritchey, Simpson, Glick & Burford PLLC as a senior associate. Those positions exposed him to both the nuts-and-bolts of litigation and the rhythm of trial practice.
In 2010 he opened The Burdick Law Office, taking on direct responsibility for client representation and case management. A year later he became a partner at Scozzaro, Burdick & Smith, PLLC. His move into partnership signaled a shift to a broader role in managing cases and mentoring younger lawyers while continuing to try cases when needed.
Over the course of his career Burdick has balanced courtroom work with consulting and firm leadership. He has handled pretrial preparation, witness preparation, and the tactical aspects of litigation. Colleagues describe him as methodical and direct; he favors plain explanations over legalese. He has worked in both state courts and federal courts, and his experience includes appellate work before the Eleventh Circuit.
He maintains an office at Scozzaro, Burdick & Smith PLLC and continues to try cases and advise clients on litigation strategy. He represents clients in state and federal courts in Alabama and the Eleventh Circuit, handling trial litigation and related appellate matters as part of his current practice focus.
