James A. Davis

Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Salisbury, North Carolina

Davis & Davis, Attorneys at Law, PC

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Family Law, General Litigation

Licensed in North Carolina since: 1991

Education: Regent University School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009, 2017 - 2025

Davis & Davis, Attorneys at Law, PC

215 N Main St
Salisbury, NC 28144 Phone: 704-639-1900 Email: James A. Davis Visit website

James A. Davis is a Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law, Federal Criminal Law, and Family Law with a trial practice in criminal, domestic, and general litigation. Issue Planning Editor of the Law Review at Regent University, Mr. Davis has served on the N.C. State Bar Criminal Law Board of Specialization Committee, on the N.C. State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, and as a Continuing Legal Education Co-chair for the N.C. Advocates for Justice. He currently serves on the N.C. State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission. Mr. Davis has lectured at 44 CLEs on criminal law, family law, evidence, and other trial practice topics and has been designated by the Capital Defender as lead counsel in capital murders. Born and raised in Rowan County, N.C., and the father of four children, he has been involved in a number of civic and community leadership positions.

First Admitted: 1991, North Carolina

Professional Webpage: https://www.davislawfirmnc.com/attorneys/james-a-davis/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Recipient of Professor John Rubin Award for Extraordinary Contributions to IDS Training Programs (2019)
N.C. State Bar: Disciplinary Hearing Commission Member (2022-2025 Term; 2019-2022 Term)
N.C. State Bar: Board of Continuing Legal Education, Accreditation Committee Chair (2010-2016)
N.C. State Bar: Board of Legal Specialization, Criminal Law Specialty Committee (2003-2007)

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law (2001 to Present); Board Certified Specialist in Federal Criminal Law (2002 to Present); Board Certified Specialist in Family Law (2020 to Present).

Pro bono/Community Service:

Current member of Board of Visitors at Catawba College; current member of Board of Trustees at Salisbury Academy; current member of Board of Directors for Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA; past member of Board of Trustees at Charleston Southern University; past member of Board of Directors for Rowan Helping Ministries; past member of the Board of Directors for Salisbury YMCA; past Deacon and Secretary of Board of Deacons at First Baptist Church of Salisbury, NC; past Sunday School Teacher at First Baptist Church of Salisbury, NC; past Assistant Wrestling Coach at North Rowan High School; past Gra-Y Youth Sports Coach; past Rowan Little League Coach; current Salisbury Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball Coach; and current J.F. Hurley Family YMCA Youth Sports Basketball Coach
Recipient of the Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA Distinguished Service Award (2019), J.F. Hurley YMCA Distinguished Service Award (2018), Salisbury YMCA Distinguished Service Award (2002), Salisbury YMCA Outstanding Leadership Award (1996), and Jaycees Distinguished Service Award (1982)

Honors/Awards:

Selected to North Carolina Super Lawyers in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2009, Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers
Selected as one of "The Best Lawyers in America (2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020), The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
Selected as "Icon" by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly in 2023., Icon, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2023
Selected the "Lawyer of the Year" in DWI Defense in the Charlotte area by The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year in DWI Defense, The Best Lawyers in America, 2021
Selected one of the "Top 100 Trial Lawyers" by the National Trial Lawyers (2017), Top 100 Trial Lawyer, National Trial Lawyers, 2017

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Continuing Legal Education Lecturer., Examination of an Expert: A Quick Reference Guide for the North Carolina Family Law Attorney, 2024
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2024 Update to Jury Selection: The Art of Peremptories and Trial Advocacy Techniques, 2024
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer., There’s a Defense for That: A Quick Reference Guide to North Carolina Defenses and Cutting-Edge Trial Strategies, 2024
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, The DWI Trial Notebook: A Primer for the North Carolina Practitioner, 2024
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, Practice Pointers: Hone Your Skill Set, 2023
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2023 Case Law Update: The Latest in North Carolina Family Law, 2023
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2023 Update to Jury Selection: The Art of Peremptories and Trial Advocacy Techniques, 2023
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, The Art of Closing Argument, 2023
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, Mastering the Intersection of Family Law and DWI Law, 2023
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, The DWI Trial Notebook: A Primer for the North Carolina Practitioner, 2022
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2022 Update to Jury Selection: The Art of Peremptories and Trial Advocacy Techniques, 2022
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, North Carolina DWI Law: Where Am I and How Did I Get Here?, 2021
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2021 Case Law Update: The Latest in North Carolina Family Law, 2021
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, The DWI Trial Notebook: A Primer for the North Carolina Practitioner, 2021
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2021 Update to Jury Selection: The Art of Peremptories and Trial Advocacy Techniques, 2021
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, The DWI Trial Notebook: A Primer for the North Carolina Practitioner, 2020
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, The Role of a Private Investigator in Family Law Cases, 2020
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, 2019 Update to Jury Selection: The Art of Peremptories and Trial Advocacy Techniques, 2019
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, Think You Know Criminal Law? Version 3.0, 2019
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, Walk Through an Expert Tender and Exclusion, 2019
Continuing Legal Education Lecturer, Civil Procedure Made Easy: Version 2.0, 2019