By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — James A. Davis, of Davis & Davis Attorneys at Law, has been selected as a 2017 Super Lawyer.

According to its website, Super Lawyers is a rating service full of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 areas “who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.”

Davis said he was humbled, surprised and grateful when he learned that he won the recognition.

“I’ve been blessed to have my father and my uncle, both former judges, teach me the fine art of the profession,” he said, adding many other senior lawyers taught and guided him throughout his career.

“I’ve simply taken the best of all I’ve seen and tried to use it,” he said.

Davis said the lawyers and staff members he works with at the law firm are fair-minded, dedicated workers.

“I’m made far better by the people who surround me and who are with me,” he said. “We’re a terrific team.”

Born and raised in Rowan County, Davis is a board certified specialist in federal and state criminal law with a trial practice in criminal, domestic and general litigation, according to his attorney profile. He is the issue planning editor of the Law Review at Regent University and has served on the North Carolina State Board of Continuing Legal Education and Specialization Criminal Law Committee.

The “Capital Defender” regularly designates Davis as the lead counsel in capital murders.

The goal of the Super Lawyers list is to provide a good resource for attorneys and potential clients.

The lawyer ratings are limited to lawyers who can be hired or retained by the public, but lawyers are chosen for the list from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The best attorneys are nominated by their peers and then evaluated across 12 key categories by third-party researchers. Before the final selection, a Blue Ribbon Panel of attorneys reviews the nominees.

Only 5 percent of attorneys make the Super Lawyers list.

Davis also won the award in 2009.

Davis said the fact that the nominees are peer-nominated makes the award that much more special.

“Maybe that means I’m doing OK with the people who I admire and respect,” he said.

Davis’ father passed away in 2005 and he said he hoped he would be proud. He also hoped his mother, who used to work at the law firm as a paralegal, would be pleased that he won the award.

Davis said there are plenty of people who work in public service, like judges and law enforcement personnel, who are doing their best to serve the public.

“And I’m just really honored to be a part of them,” he said.

For more information on Davis & Davis, Attorneys at Law, call 704-639-1900 or visit davislawfirmnc.com.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.