Practiced law for close to a decade

Served in the Mississippi House of Representatives

Published first novel, "A Time to Kill"

First book made into a feature, "The Firm"

First credit as screenwriter, "The Pelican Brief"

Received $3.75 million, the highest fee to date for an unfinished novel, for the screen rights to "The Chamber"

Signed with David Gernet for representation; Gernet, formerly employed by Doubleday, where he was editor on all Grisham's novels since "The Firm", left the publishing house to form his own media company

First book made into TV show, "John Grisham's 'The Client'" (CBS)

Returned to law practice to try first case in seven years; won damages of over $600,000 for his client

First feature credit as producer, "A Time to Kill"

Publicly castigated Oliver Stone for inciting violence with his movies

Wrote first original screenplay directly for the screen "The Gingerbread Man"; directed by Robert Altman; ended up with only story credit as Altman substantially rewrote the script

Penned the script for the family friendly "Mickey", starring Harry Connick Jr.