Jermaine “Ryan” Haughton hails from humble beginnings in Water Cress, Clarendon, where he was primarily raised by his maternal grandmother. His childhood in Jamaica was filled with love and satisfaction although he was not afforded many material trappings.
He moved to the United States as a teenager in 2005 to live with his father in Bowie, Maryland. After finishing high school, he went on to attend the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a minor degree in Rhetoric. Having excelled in his undergraduate studies, he was offered a scholarship to attend the University of Baltimore Law School in 2012.
Jermaine was a standout student in law school. He spent much of his time tutoring his colleagues and offering himself as a resource to anyone who needed extra help. He held multiple leadership positions, including as a Teaching Assistant, and as President of the Black Law Students Association from 2014-2015. Under his tenure, the organization was recognized as Chapter of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region, and runner up for National Chapter of the Year (Behind Harvard University). Jermaine’s peers voted him as Student Leader of the Year for his efforts. Additionally, he earned the Law Faculty Award for Most Outstanding Day Student in his graduating class of approximately 300 law students. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2015.
Jermaine started out practicing law in a regional and then a national defense law firm, doing products liability defense work. Realizing that his true calling was in representing people who are hurt—rather than large corporations, Jermaine joined the nationally-renowned law firm of Wais (way-is), Vogelstein, Forman & Offutt, LLC where he represents victims of medical malpractice. He has practiced law for 6 years and has garnered several honors including Super Lawyer Rising Star, Lawyer of Distinction, Who’s Who in American Law, National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, University of Baltimore BLSA Alumni Achievement Award, and Top Young Attorneys in Maryland.
