Thomas earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School whose enivironment of ideological diversity inculcated in him the ability to see legal issues from many different perspectives. The most enduring lesson Thomas acquired from his legal studies is that effective legal representation requires not only the ability to strongly argue on behalf of the client, but also the ability to understand and predict the arguments made by the opposition. 

Outside of the law, Thomas has been involved with non-profit organizations rebuilding houses in New Orleans after Katrina, and environmental protection efforts after the BP oil spill. He is also a self-described "amateur musicologist" with an interest in pre-War jazz and blues, and a novice photographer.