About William Jordan Jay Steed
William Jordan Jay Steed III earned a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1995. He returned to Duke University for graduate study and completed an M.A. in philosophy in 1999. That same year he received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law. His academic background blends philosophical study and legal training, a combination that informed his early work in public defense.
Steed began his legal career in public service. In 1999 he joined the Office of the Metropolitan Public Defender in Nashville as an assistant public defender. He handled state court criminal matters and represented clients at trial. In 2004 he moved to the federal defender’s office for the Middle District of Tennessee as an assistant federal public defender, taking on federal cases and appellate work in the district.
After several years in the public defender offices, Steed entered private practice. In 2010 he became a partner at Jones Hawkins & Farmer, PLC. Records show he later listed his practice as "Jay Steed, Lawyer at Law" in 2015. His career therefore spans both institutional defender work and private firm practice.
Steed is admitted to practice in Tennessee and is authorized to appear before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Federal Circuit. Those admissions reflect his sustained involvement in federal litigation and appeals. Over time he has handled cases at trial and on appeal, in both state and federal forums.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in approach. He draws on philosophical training when analyzing legal problems. That training shows up in written briefs and in courtroom argument. His work has centered on criminal defense and appellate representation, where careful legal reasoning and attention to precedent carry weight.
Today he continues to maintain a practice that includes appearances in federal and appellate courts. He represents clients in criminal matters and handles appeals in Tennessee and federal courts, including the Sixth Circuit and the Federal Circuit.
