“My goal as an attorney is to allow my clients to breathe easier because they have my help.”

- Leila Hicks

leila.hicks@farrin.com

919-287-9317

Recognized on National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40”³ list, 2017

North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society Inductee, 2020

Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”⁴ list by Best Lawyers, 2021-2023

Attorney Leila Hicks (Partner)

Leila Hicks is a Partner of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. She joined the firm in 2017 as a personal injury attorney. She also has experience in the areas of Social Security Disability (including Veteran’s Disability), Workers’ Compensation, Criminal Defense, and Family Law.

She received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she also received her B.A. as a double major in Political Science and Philosophy, with a minor in Social and Economic Justice.

“One of my favorite poems is ‘Success’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson. At the outset, Emerson asks the reader, ‘What is success?’ He concludes with a simple statement that ‘To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded.’ My goal as an attorney is to allow my clients to breathe easier because they have my help.”

Prior to joining the firm, Leila worked with a small, general practice law firm representing individuals and families in various areas of the law throughout the Triad. During her tenure with that firm, Leila discovered her ability to clearly communicate complex matters in injury law to her clients and represent them. Leila believes that legal representation is a partnership that requires the attorney and client share the same goal.

As a judge at the Guilford County Teen Mock Trial Court since 2013, Ms. Hicks has enjoyed helping aspiring young lawyers who are in high school learn how they, too, can help clients breathe a bit easier as they advocate for the rights of others in a courtroom setting.

Licensed In

North Carolina

Practice Area

Honors/Awards/
Accomplishments

National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40”³ list, 2017
North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society Inductee, 2020
“Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”⁴ for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America, 2021 – 2023
Recipient of NCBA Charles Blanchard Young Lawyer of the Year Award, 2021

Memberships

North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
- Membership Committee Chair, 2021-2022 & 2022-2023
Durham County Bar Association
16th Judicial District Bar
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
North Carolina Bar Foundation
- Committee Member, Civic Education and Community Engagement Committee
North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- Committee Member, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Alumni Representative, Carolina Law Club of the Triangle

Activities

Volunteer, Special Olympics Orange County
Active Member, Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties

Publications & Speaking Engagements

North Carolina Banking Institute Journal, editor and staff member, 2009–2011

National Business Institute CLE Speaker

- “Email, Social Media, Texts, and Video – What to Look for, Where to Find It, and What to Do With It,” 2017
- “Auto Injury – How to Obtain Key Evidence and Get It Admitted,” 2017
- “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law – Made Simple,” 2017
- “The Paralegal’s Guide to Medical Records,” 2017

Community & Civic Involvement

Junior League of Greensboro, Active Member
Special Olympics Guilford County, Greensboro, Track & Field Coach
2019 Subcommittee Chair, North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge
2020 Committee Co-Chair, North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division Bar Exam Committee
Guilford County Teen Court, Mock Trial Judge (2013–Present)
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Member

Law School

University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
2011, J.D.

College

University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
2008, B.A. Political Science and Philosophy (double major), minor in Social and Economic Justice

Former Car Crash Client, Online Google Review

The workers at JSF are AMAZING!

The workers at JSF are AMAZING! They keep you updated on everything going on with your case, and they answer any questions that you might have. They are very friendly and open people to work with. I will be recommending people to them in the future. ¹

Former Auto Accident Client, Online Google Review

I was very happy with the services received from James Scott Farrin.

I was very happy with the services received from James Scott Farrin. [The] legal team was very professional and responsive to any questions that I had. ¹

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

³For more information about standards for inclusion visit nbltop100.org.

⁴For more information regarding the standards for inclusion for ‘Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch’ list, visit www.bestlawyers.com.

⁵For more information about the standards of inclusion for “U.S. News – Best Lawyers” ‘Best Law Firms’ list, please visit https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/.