About Tara
Tara Helms built her legal foundation at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where she completed her Juris Doctor in 1998. Her time in law school placed her in the Alabama legal community at a moment when local courts and practitioners were adjusting to new procedural trends. She left school prepared to practice in her home state and to take on appeals when necessary.
Her career has been anchored in Alabama. She is admitted to practice in the state and is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Over the years she has handled matters that require both trial-level attention and appellate awareness. That dual admission reflects a practice that engages with issues across different levels of the judicial system.
Helms has balanced private practice with civic involvement. She served on the board of the Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Association and was president of that board in 2011. Colleagues recall that period as one in which the association sought to expand access to legal services for residents who otherwise had limited options. Her leadership role there put her in close contact with matters of local public interest and volunteer coordination.
Her professional ties extend beyond a single organization. She maintains current memberships in professional associations and participates in local legal networks. Those connections keep her plugged into developments in Alabama law and in the Eleventh Circuit, and they provide networks for referring matters and for collaborative problem solving.
Helms practices at Martin & Helms, P.C., a firm that carries her name. At the firm she handles client matters that arise in state courts and sometimes call for argument before the Eleventh Circuit. She brings a practical approach to case preparation and to courtroom work, aiming for clarity in both written filings and oral presentations.
Across her career she has mixed community service, bar and association work, and everyday client representation. She has been a visible presence in Madison County legal circles and remains active in professional organizations. Her current work at Martin & Helms, P.C. centers on serving clients in Alabama and in proceedings before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
