“Whatever the client’s situation is, as an attorney, I always try to fully embrace it. Understand it. Make it my own.”

- J. Bryan Boyd

Bryan.Boyd@farrin.com

919.328.4237

Attorney J. Bryan Boyd

A native of North Carolina, attorney J. Bryan Boyd grew up in Asheville with an appreciation for people from all walks of life. Neither of Bryan’s parents went to college, but were dedicated, hard workers at a textile mill. While he didn’t grow up wanting for anything, he understood how hard times could be a layoff or an injury away, because it happened to others around him. Part of his upbringing revolved around helping people and meeting their needs, which is why he considered becoming a lawyer in the first place. By combining his natural talents, intelligence, and drive to help his community, Bryan sought to emulate his parents’ hard work and went into law.

“It’s a belief that it’s more than just about you, and my parents have always instilled in me the idea that no one is greater than another, and we’re here to help when and where we can. So I think that’s always been embedded into my subconscious.”

Bryan excelled in law school, winning various awards, competitions, and honors. After he graduated, he went straight into a two-year clerkship for Justice Bob Edmunds in the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Then, an opportunity for him to teach at his alma mater, Campbell Law School, fell into his lap, and Bryan has since taught numerous attorneys now practicing throughout North Carolina and beyond. He subsequently became the director of the Legal Research and Writing department, and from there, became Campbell Law School’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Bryan was also the Associate Dean for Administration at Liberty Law School in Virginia from October 2017 to August 2018.

“I step in whenever and wherever I see a need.”

Over the course of his career, Bryan has taught various areas of the law, from trial and appellate advocacy, to criminal law, to litigation. He has never backed down from a challenge.

“Whatever the client’s situation is, as an attorney, I always try to fully embrace it. Understand it. Make it my own. Then, I can really convey their story from the heart, whether it’s in negotiations or during trial.”

When it comes to representing clients, Bryan has taught current and future attorneys how to do what they do best during trial.

“Whether you are in a classroom or in the courtroom, there’s a certain theater to it. You have an audience you need to command and engage. Some are going to be skeptical of you. Some are going to be passive. Whether it’s a room of students or a jury audience, you’re trying to figure out how to get them on board with what you’re saying and make sure they understand.”

Giving Clients One-on-One Attention

Bryan enjoyed teaching best when he could provide personal attention to his students. He is at his best when he is face-to-face with a person, working with them to find solutions for their problems, and making a personal connection with them.

“I’m only worried about the one person in front of me. It’s not just about their case, it’s about what they have gone through, their family, their situation, and being able to communicate with them what it is that I can do to help make the best of their situation. That’s what I’m all about.”

“You should talk to Hoyt Tessener.”

When Bryan was in law school, he told his professor that he wanted to be a litigator. His professor told him, “Well, you should talk to Hoyt Tessener.”

Attorney Hoyt Tessener is one of the lead litigators at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, and is a shareholder of the firm. Hoyt was teaching at Campbell Law School – and still does to this day.

According to Bryan, “I’ve known of Hoyt certainly since I was a student and graduate student, and I’ve seen the amazing things he’s done and how he represents people and how he does it at a very high level. I’ve known of his work and respected him, and he’s one of those people that drive me to try to be better in all that I can do.”

Hoyt said, “Bryan brings an incredible skill set to James Scott Farrin. He has taught everything we do as lawyers to help our clients. Bryan has always been a highly-rated professor at Campbell Law School, and is just adored by his students. He has created a class there that he will continue teaching that commands a waiting list every year. From Asheville, to Buies Creek, to the NC Supreme Court, back to Campbell, and then Clerk of the NC Supreme Court, and now with us at Farrin. We will all have the opportunity to learn from Bryan as he does what he is called to do – and that is to litigate.”

A Compassionate Advocate for All

Bryan has witnessed how easily one event can derail an individual’s life – whether that’s a car accident or a hardship that came about through no fault of one’s own.

“You might be one accident or collision away from losing your job, your physical health, your ability to exist. I think in America today, we’re closer and closer to that one bad event literally ruining your life. And so for me, it’s incredibly important to be able to assist those who are going through the worst days of their lives, and try to make the very best out of that situation. I think of being an advocate as walking alongside that person, holding their hand through the process, and helping them through those dark times. I’m trying my hardest to make the most of the situation, in spite of what happened to them.”

Bryan approaches his clients with a relatable grace and compassion, whether it’s good news or bad news. If it’s bad news, he works through it with them.

“When I think of the word ‘compassion,’ it means to ‘suffer with.’ With that in mind, I ask myself, ‘How can I truly experience what my client is going through?’”

What drives Bryan in his day-to-day is the opportunity to do the best that he can for his clients. Every day is a new day to do what he can for people who need his help.

“I only care if I do good work and that I’ve done the best that I can do in the end. It’s never been about me. It’s been about the bigger picture. So the thought of getting to come and work with other high-caliber attorneys at James Scott Farrin, and more importantly, with clients who need us, who need to feel whole again, is what’s going to drive me for the rest of my legal career.”

Licensed in

North Carolina

Practice Area

Honors/Awards/
Accomplishments

Clerk, Supreme Court of North Carolina, 2016–2017
Most Outstanding Professor of the Year, Campbell University School of Law – 2004, 2006, 2012
Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award – 2013
Campbell Law Observer award for legal writing was renamed in his honor as the J. Bryan Boyd Award for Excellence in Legal Journalism

Memberships

North Carolina State Bar
Tenth Judicial District Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
Wake County Bar Association
S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
North Carolina Bar Association Future of Law Committee
Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court
American Bar Association*
Legal Writing Institute*
Association of American Law Schools*
National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks*

Classes & Seminars

Presenter at Advanced Evidence Seminar CLE on character evidence, March 2018
Keynote speaker for Campbell Law School Admitted Students Day, Spring 2017
Presenter at NC Bar Association Appellate Advocacy CLE, Fall 2016
Presenter at NC Appellate Courts CLE on judicial writing, Fall 2016
Presenter at Fall Association Meeting CLE of NC District Attorneys on advanced evidence topics, Fall 2014
Keynote speaker at Campbell Law School Law Day Banquet, Spring 2012
Made numerous appearances as a subject matter legal expert in newspaper, television, radio, and online publications
Presenter at Campbell Law Alumni CLE, “Hot Topics in Medicare Law,” October 2020
Assistant Professor of Law, Campbell Law School, 2003-2016
Adjunct Professor of Law, Campbell Law School, 2016-present

Law School

Campbell University School of Law
Raleigh, NC
2001, J.D.

College

Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, NC
1996, B.A. in Religion and Philosophy, cum laude

Former Automobile Accident Client, Online Google Review

I love the staff at James Scott Farrin.

I love the staff at James Scott Farrin. They are organized, nice, [and] friendly, and they seem to be very family-oriented. I've just recently referred another client to them because I know they will take care of her. ¹

Former Car Accident client, Online Google Review

James Scott Farrin's team was so helpful

James Scott Farrin's team was so helpful and so responsive to all my questions and kept me very aware of everything that went on with my case from day one. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone. … They had patience and gave me straight up honest answers to everything I wanted to know. ¹

For legal reasons and client confidentiality, reviews have been slightly edited to remove identifying information and correct typos.

*Denotes inactive

³For more information about the standards of inclusion for “U.S. News – Best Lawyers” ‘Best Law Firms’ list, please visit https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/.