Michael Jordan — A Personal Perspective
An attorney committed to helping those in need
Growing up, Michael Jordan wanted to be a preacher or a lawyer.
"It may seem strange, but both give you the opportunity to help people and to learn new things all the time," Michael said. "I love learning and the challenge of mastering new things. The opportunity to help people is what I was raised to do. Law allows me to scratch both those itches, so to speak."
Michael, whose family has lived in North Carolina for generations, attended the North Carolina Central University School of Law at night while working in the IBM World Trade Department during the day.
An accident that served as a blessing in disguise
He was running his own general practice law firm for about eight years when he severely injured his eye in a freak accident. Michael had to wear eye patches over both eyes for two weeks and wasn't able to read for several months.
As a result, he couldn't work, closed his practice and lost all of his savings. He would have had to declare bankruptcy if not for his family.
Though "frustrated and depressed" at the time, he now considers it a blessing in disguise because it guided him into personal injury law.
"It gave me a great appreciation for what people go through with an injury. I knew what it was like not being able to function," he said.
In addition to his legal work at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, Michael serves on the Advisory Board for the North Carolina Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and is always actively involved in the firm's efforts to support the annual Walk Like MADD fundraiser in Raleigh, North Carolina, for which the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is the presenting sponsor.
Inspired by his parents
Michael attributes much of his success to his parents.
"They really worked hard to teach my brother and me that our lives were not just about us," he said. "They were engaged and involved in the church and kept us straight and in line. They also stressed the value of learning."
When Michael misbehaved, he was not spanked, yelled at or put in "time out." Rather he had to reason with his father about the motive and reasoning behind what he did. "This made me very analytical and self-reflective," Michael said.
Like the famous Tar Heel basketball player that shares his name, Michael is very competitive — but this Michael competes mostly with himself.
"I always enjoy the opportunity to make a difference and the challenges presented by problems that have to be solved," he said. "In addition, I love to learn. Every day I come in and try to erase what I did the day before and beat it the next day. I have to earn the right to have a job every day. It's a fun and engaging challenge."
Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife of 17 years (whom he married the week after he took his bar exam) and his two children, who are home schooled. He also enjoys playing with his dogs, following UNC sports, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, hiking, reading and writing.
