Ward and Smith PA

56 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Biography

Joe found his calling in the Federal and State courtrooms of North Carolina over 40 years ago. He has worked as a trial attorney ever since. He is familiar with many of the insurance professionals, defense lawyers, and trial judges that handle these cases in our state. "We only accept cases we think are meritorious and then prosecute those cases with vigor and passion born of a clear conscience." "Seeking justice in an unjust world" is Joe's professional motto. For the plaintiff, truth is our only asset. "Telling the truth with argument and evidence to twelve people in a courtroom who want to do the right thing is what I do."

Joe began his legal career as a trial lawyer in the United States Department of Justice under President Ronald Reagan. There he gained experience defending the United States against federal tort claims arising from personal injury and medical malpractice, as well as prosecuting criminal cases. In more than 40 years of practice, Joe has tried medical malpractice, personal injury, and first degree murder cases to verdict before a jury. "I stopped counting at 100—and that was a long time ago."

Ward and Smith PA

56 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Overview

  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 1980
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S., graduated 1974

  • North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association, 1980
  • North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association, 1980
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., graduated 1980
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S., graduated 1974

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

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