James Scott Farrin doesn’t let underdogs walk alone.

Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.* To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must have a lawyer listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” which recognizes the top 4% of practicing attorneys in the U.S.

Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for its abilities, its professionalism, and its integrity.

*“Best Law Firms” standards of inclusion: www.bestlawyers.com.

Indy Week “Best of the Triangle” 

Indy Week selected the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin as the 2025 “Best Attorney in Durham County.”* The recognition is voted on directly by the people of the Triangle – readers who nominated and voted for their favorite picks among local businesses and professionals. This distinction reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality legal representation, and its deep connection with the Durham community it has served since 1997.

*“Indy Best of the Triangle” standards of inclusion: www.indyweek.com. 

The News & Observer “Raleigh’s Best Awards”

Once again, the Law Office of James Scott Farrin earned recognition on the “Raleigh’s Best Awards” list. In 2026, the firm was honored on the Workers’ Compensation Law lists in the News & Observer awards.* For 2026, over 4,700 businesses, organizations, and individuals competed across 259 categories, and the community responded in record numbers with more than 429,000 votes cast!

*“Raleigh’s Best” standards of inclusion: votedraleighsbest.com.  

The Charlotte Observer “Charlotte’s Best Awards”

In 2026, the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin was honored in two categories of the “Charlotte’s Best Awards” list – Best Law Firm and Workers’ Compensation Law – by The Charlotte Observer.*  This year, more than 6,900 businesses, organizations, and individuals competed across 246 categories, generating over 757,000 votes reflecting the pride Charlotte residents have in recognizing their local favorites and supporting those who contribute to the community.

“Charlotte’s Best” standards of inclusion: votedcharlottesbest.com

Best Lawyers “Best Lawyers in America”

Referred to by Corporate Counsel Magazine as the “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice,” the “Best Lawyers” list has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence since it was first published in 1983.* “Best Lawyers” is based on exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for recognition in “Best Lawyers,” that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain in each edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in “Best Lawyers” is considered a singular honor.

*“Best Lawyers” standards of inclusion: www.bestlawyers.com.

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”

metropolitan area is honored as “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.*

The Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” award is allocated annually to the lawyer who has the highest overall peer-review feedback in a certain practice area for a particular geographic region.

Lawyers being honored as “Lawyer of the Year” are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the exhaustive peer-review assessments conducted with thousands of leading lawyers each year. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

*“Lawyer of the Year” standards of inclusion: www.bestlawyers.com.

Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”

These awards are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for professional excellence in private practice. “Ones to Watch” recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years. Recognition with a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch award is based entirely on comprehensive peer reviews.

“Ones to Watch” standards of inclusion: www.bestlawyers.com.

Super Lawyers Magazine “Super Lawyers”

No more than 5% of the lawyers in any state are named to the “Super Lawyers” list by Super Lawyers Magazine.* “Super Lawyers” honorees undergo a rigorous, multiphase process which combines peer nominations with third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made annually on a state-by-state basis.

*“Super Lawyers” standards of inclusion: www.superlawyers.com.

Super Lawyers Magazine “Rising Stars”

No more than 2.5% of “Rising Stars” are named to the Super Lawyers Magazine list.* To be eligible for inclusion in “Rising Stars,” a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. Those considered to be added to the “Rising Stars” list undergo a rigorous, multiphase process which combines peer nominations with third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers Magazine makes “Rising Star” selections annually on a state by state basis.

*“Rising Stars” standards of inclusion: www.superlawyers.com.

The National Trial Lawyers “Top 100”

The National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers.* This national organization provides networking opportunities, advocacy training, and the highest quality educational programs for trial lawyers.

The National Trial Lawyers “Top 100” designation is for 2026. 

*“Top 100″ standards of inclusion: www.thenationaltriallawyers.org.

Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums

Established in 1993, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (which includes the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum), is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.^1,* The quality of membership includes many of the top trial lawyers in the country. Members must have demonstrated, in an objective and tangible way, their ability to accomplish superior results in complex cases. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.

Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum designation is for 2026. 

*Standards of inclusion: www.milliondollaradvocates.com.

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent™ Rating

An elite group of approximately 10 percent of all attorneys holds an AV Preeminent Rating, a designation trusted worldwide by buyers and referrers of legal services.* Martindale-Hubbell facilitates peer and client reviews to expand law firms’ marketing capability. AV Preeminent is a significant rating accomplishment — a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.

Martindale-Hubbell rating designation is for 2026. 

*Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings standards of inclusion: www.martindale.com.

National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40”

According to the NBL website, honorees for the organization’s “Top 40 Under 40” awards are selected on the basis of outstanding reputation, notable achievements and court outcomes, nominations from leading lawyers, membership in national and state specialty lawyer organizations, and rankings from national organizations.^1,* The selection process for this honor is based on a multi-phase process, which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research.

National “Top 40 Under 40” award designation is for 2024-2026. 

*“Top 40 Under 40” standards of inclusion: nbltop100.org.

Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite”

Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” is a list of the top North Carolina lawyers in business-related categories.* The winners are chosen by lawyers who live in North Carolina and are members of the North Carolina State Bar Association. Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” is unique in the sense that it is the only award that gives every active lawyer in the state the opportunity to participate.

Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” designation is for 2026.

*“Legal Elite” standards of inclusion: www.businessnc.com. 

NC State Bar Board Certified Specialists

NC State Bar Board certification is an indication that the lawyer has intentionally focused his or her legal practice to improve the proficiency and quality of the lawyer’s legal services and to stay current in the specialty field. A lawyer who is certified as a specialist by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization has satisfied a number of rigorous standards for certification in the lawyer’s specialty field.

Business North Carolina “Power List – Law”

Business North Carolina’s “Power List” reflects some of the state’s most powerful leaders and their affiliated institutions, with members of the list having been chosen for prestigious leadership positions by their peers.* Business North Carolina’s editorial team created the legal industry list by seeking nominations, talking with dozens of sources, and doing extensive research.

*“Power List” standards of inclusion: https://www.farrin.com/business-nc-power-list/.

North Carolina Advocates for Justice Order of Service Award

For more than 50 years, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ) has protected individual rights in North Carolina. The award recognizes members who have given generously of their time and talent to NCAJ by serving in a minimum of two areas of the organization.

North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award

The award was established by the NCBA in 2007 to recognize and thank lawyers who volunteer their time and provide public service to their local or statewide communities. Past honorees include elected and appointed government officials, coaches, mentors, and voluntary leaders of non-profit, civic, and community organizations.