Shelby D. Benton

Shelby Duffy Benton has practiced family law in Eastern North Carolina for over 39 years. Ms. Benton is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. She represents clients in litigation, mediation, and arbitration. She is known not only for the superb quality of her analysis, preparation and advocacy skills, but also for conducting her practice with grace, collaboration and consideration for all involved. She has served as the President of the North Carolina Bar Association 2015-2016, as a member of it's Board of Governors 2010 - 2013 and as Chair of the NCBA Family Law Section 2009-2010.  She currently chairs the NCBA Legislative Advisory Committee. Ms. Benton is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs on family law. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  She serves as a Commissioner on the NC Domestic Violence Commission where she chairs the Victim Services Committee. Ms. Benton has served as a trustee on the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account Board and currently is serving as chair. In 2012 she was honored by the NCBA with a Citizen Lawyer Award and by NC Lawyers Weekly with a Women of Justice Award. Best Lawyers named her Lawyer of the Year 2013 for Family Law-Raleigh Area. In 2015 she was honored as a Distinguished Alumna by Campbell University. In 2019, the Family Law Section of the NCBA recognized her with their Distinguished Service Award and she received the first Wayne County Women of the Year Award from the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, the NC State Bar honored her with the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award, the only award given by the NC State Bar.  In 2023 NC Lawyers Weekly named her as an “Icon” in the legal profession.  She is a graduate of Campbell Law School and NCSU.