Janet Ward Black

Janet Ward Black, a highly accomplished attorney, serves as the principal owner of Ward Black Law, a prestigious law firm situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. Possessing extensive proficiency in personal injury law, she skillfully advocates for her clients in a wide array of cases, encompassing areas such as workers’ compensation, product liability litigation, medical device malfunctions, prescription drugs, asbestos and other environmental pollutants.

Ms. Black possesses a Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law in 1985. Before pursuing her legal education, she graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Davidson College in 1982. She has been licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 1985.

Additionally, Ms. Black has notably served as the third female president of the North Carolina Association of Trial Lawyers and the fourth female president of the North Carolina Bar Association. She also achieved the distinction of being the second legal professional in history to hold the prestigious position of president in both of these organizations.

Beyond her legal practice, Ms. Black is an active member of the American Association for Justice, the Christian Trial Lawyers Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys and the Women’s Professional Forum, Greensboro.

Throughout her career, Ms. Black has garnered a remarkable array of awards and honors from multiple organizations. She is a distinguished lawyer, educator and motivational speaker, renowned for her extensive contributions. She holds the title of Trustee Emeritus at Hood Theological Seminary and has been actively involved in various nonprofit organizations and international mission trips. Recognized for her exceptional service, she received the North Carolina State Bar’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and the Charles S. Murphy Award for Public Service from Duke Law School in 2010. She is a valued member of organizations like the Women Presidents Organization and C12, a group for Christian CEOs and business owners.

Rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, Ms. Black’s legal skill has earned her acclaim, being named in prestigious publications such as North Carolina’s Legal Elite and The Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, she was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2016, the highest civilian honor in North Carolina. Her dedication to clients and the community was further acknowledged with the North Carolina Bar Association Litigation Section’s “Advocate’s Award” in 2018. Moreover, she was named The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro’s Woman of the Year in 2018 and was awarded the title of Personal Injury “Lawyer of the Year” in the Triad by U.S. News & World Report in 2020.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.