Lance D. Lourie was born in Columbia, South Carolina on October 16, 1960. Lance graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1982, and received his J.D. degree in 1985 from the University of South Carolina. In law school, he was a member of the South Carolina Law Review, the Moot Court Bar, and the National Moot Court Team. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1985.

Mr. Lourie was a partner with a defense firm where he practiced from 1985 to 1997. During that time, his primary area of practice was the defense of medical malpractice and general liability cases. Lance has developed particular expertise in obstetrical and gynecological cases and state liability issues. He has served as a lecturer at numerous Continuing Legal Education seminars relating to trial tactics, medical malpractice cases, general liability cases, and other matters related to personal injury litigation. He is currently a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Lance has previously served as a member of the GTLA Executive Committee and as Chair of various committees. Lance currently serves as Vice President At Large of GTLA.