Our Rigorous Blog Editorial Process
At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, we’ve been helping people navigate complex legal processes for more than 25 years. We’ve created and published many informational pieces, including our blogs. What you see in our blogs is a concerted, multi-faceted effort to produce information that is not only educational and legally factual, but addresses important topics and real questions we hear every day.
Our blogs address questions we hear clients ask, or topics that no one is talking about (but absolutely should be). The law is ever-changing and incredibly vast. Our attorneys and staff put in the work to understand what law is history, what is current, and what will happen next.
Our blogs are our classroom, so to speak, and an opportunity to educate and communicate on topics we feel are important. As such, we take our process – and the final product – very seriously.
Attorneys Who Communicate With Care
We have highly qualified and skilled attorneys in multiple practice areas, from personal injury to workers’ compensation, from Social Security Disability to mass torts and litigation. In addition to tirelessly fighting for clients’ rights and best interests, our attorneys want to help people like you as content authors and contributors.
Ryan Bliss – Ryan Bliss is a workers’ compensation attorney in North Carolina and co-leader of the Workers’ Compensation Department at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Ryan is one of fewer than 200 North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law. He was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2018 and wrote an article called “Workers’ Compensation for the Undocumented Worker” for Trial Briefs Magazine in January 2018. Numbers provided by NC State Bar as of 2/21. For more information regarding standards of inclusion, please visit www.superlawyers.com.
Brian Clemmons – Brian Clemmons practices workers’ compensation law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He was named on the 2022 “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America. Brian has presented at numerous continuing legal education courses and has many decades of experience in a variety of practice areas. He also has a great deal of experience as a defense attorney for insurance firms, so he has seen personal injury law from both sides of the table. For more information regarding the standards of inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Rick Fleming – Rick Fleming practices Social Security Disabilty law at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. In addition to heading up the firm’s Social Security Disability Department, he is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law and fluent in English and Spanish. Rick has received multiple Order of Service awards from the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and he is an active board member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR). He currently holds the board-elected position of NOSSCR Treasurer, after completing a year serving as the organization’s Secretary.
Eric Haase – Eric Haase practices personal injury law, focusing primarily on car accidents, in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. Eric is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, 16th Judicial District Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice. Eric literally wrote part of the book on personal injury, authoring a chapter in the North Carolina Personal Injury Liens Manual, 2nd Ed.
Matt Harbin – Matt Harbin is a workers’ compensation attorney in North Carolina at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He received the Order of Service award from the North Carolina Advocates for Justice in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Matt also was honored on the “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America in 2021 and 2022. He is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law, and he is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Workplace Injury Litigation Group, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the Legal Affairs Committee. For more information regarding the standards of inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Michael Jordan – Michael Jordan is an attorney at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in North Carolina and has been practicing law for more than 20 years. Mike assists clients with their personal injury, workers’ compensation, eminent domain, products liability, medical malpractice, mass tort, and other cases. He’s a member of the American Association for Justice and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), where he serves on the Legal Affairs Committee after previously serving on the Board of Governors. The NCAJ has recognized Mike’s active participation, service, and commitment by awarding him the “Order of Service” award most years since the award’s inception.
Brian Lagesse – Brian Lagesse is an eminent domain attorney in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Before joining the firm, Brian represented large financial institutions in complex real estate matters and negotiated on their behalf. Wanting to help individuals more directly, he moved on to representing plaintiffs in eminent domain cases. He is a member of the 10th Judicial District Bar, North Carolina State Bar, Wake County Bar Association, North Carolina Land Title Association, and Real Estate Lawyers Association of North Carolina.
Daniel Lehrer – Daniel Lehrer is a personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He is among the less than 1% of attorneys licensed to practice in North Carolina who are North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law. Daniel is also a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. In 2021 and 2022, he was listed by Best Lawyers in America in the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Personal Injury Litigation and Workers’ Compensation Law. Figures provided by NC State Bar as of 2/21. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Preston Lesley – Preston Lesley practices personal injury law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He was named to The National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” list in 2021. He currently serves as a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and has provided pro bono assistance to North Carolina Central University’s Elder Law Program and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Clinic. For more information regarding the standards of inclusion, please visit www.thenationaltriallawyers.org.
Jeremy Maddox – Jeremy Maddox is a lead personal injury attorney for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in North Carolina. He was listed on the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list by Best Lawyers in America in 2021, The National Trial Lawyers‘ “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” list in 2020 and 2021 and “Top 40 Under 40” list in 2021, and the “Legal Elite” list by Business North Carolina in 2021. Jeremy is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Mecklenburg County Bar Association, and the 26th Judicial District Bar Association, as well as the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.thenationaltriallawyers.org. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.businessnc.com.
Kevin Mahoney – Kevin Mahoney practices eminent domain law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He is the attorney in charge of the Asheville office, which covers the westernmost counties in NC. Kevin’s real estate experience includes being a licensed North Carolina Real Estate Broker and a licensed North Carolina Real Estate Educator. He is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and Buncombe County Bar Association, and in 2020, Kevin was inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society.
Ali Overby – Ali Overby practices workers’ compensation law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Ali is a member of the 10th Judicial District, North Carolina Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. In 2021 and 2022, she was named to the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Workers’ Compensation Law by Best Lawyers in America. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Jessica Grissom Plummer – Jessica Grissom Plummer practices personal injury law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Jessica is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the 16th Judicial District Bar, and she holds a certificate in Children’s Law. When reflecting on her dedication to clients, Jessica states, “‘Client’ is more than just a word to me. It means advocating for those who are unable to do so themselves.”
Michael F. Roessler – Michael F. Roessler practices workers’ compensation law in North and South Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Michael is among the less than 1% of attorneys licensed to practice in North Carolina who are North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation law. He has contributed several written pieces to legal publications, including the North Carolina Law Review, the Charlotte Law Review, and the Southwestern Law Review. He is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the North Carolina Bar Association. In 2022, Michael was named to the “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law by Best Lawyers in America. Figures provided by the NC State Bar as of 2/21. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Ken Sack – Ken Sack practices eminent domain law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He has practiced law for more than 20 years, eight of which were representing the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Ken left the NCDOT to fight for the rights of property owners. He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and North Carolina Advocates for Justice, where he previously served as the Chair of the Legislative and Judicial Committees, Eminent Domain Division.
Michael Shepherd – Michael Shepherd is a lead personal injury attorney for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in North Carolina, and he is also licensed to practice in Virginia. Prior to taking a position with the firm, Michael worked as a senior claims representative for a major insurance company, which provided him with insight into the types of tactics and strategies “the other side” often employs when dealing with car accident victims. His professional affiliations include the American Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. He is also past President of the Eastern NC Chapter of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.
Josh D. Smith – Josh D. Smith practices workers’ compensation law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He is among the less than 1% of attorneys licensed to practice in North Carolina who are North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law. Josh was named on the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America for 2021 and 2022. He is currently a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the 10th Judicial District Bar Association. Figures provided by NC State Bar as of 2/21. For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Jennifer A. Taylor – Jennifer A. Taylor practices personal injury law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. She has more than 15 years of legal experience. Having previously worked for Legal Aid of North Carolina for several years, she has a strong background in representing and advocating for low income and disabled clients. As a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Jennifer formerly served as the chair, vice chair, and secretary of the Disability Advocacy Section.
Susan Vanderweert – Susan Vanderweert practices workers’ compensation law in North Carolina for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. Previously, she represented the other side – insurance companies and employers – but moved on to fight on behalf of employees. Susan is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law, and she was selected by peers to the annual “Best Lawyers” A list for Workers’ Compensation Law in 2021 and 2022 by Best Lawyers in America. A For more information regarding the standards for inclusion, please visit www.bestlawyers.com.
Our Editorial Process
To produce the many blogs and informational pieces we publish, we use a multi-step process that seeks to always ensure accuracy and quality. Here’s an example of how a piece is created.
Topic Choice: What Is the Problem?
When many clients ask us the same question, it’s a signal. There’s mass confusion. That tells us we need to clarify it. Or, perhaps our perspective shows us a dangerous trend or loophole that everyone should be aware of. Whatever the case, we’re trying to solve a problem and help others with every piece.
Content Creation: What Is the Answer?
Education is a cornerstone of our client service – we want clients to have the information they need to make the best decisions they can for themselves and their families. Knowledge is power. When the topic is chosen, we set out to create content that completely and clearly answers the need.
- Research – We can spend hours searching for bits of information, approaching the question from multiple perspectives, rigorously reviewing historical law and case results, diving into current and past news stories to find sources, sifting methodically through scientific or medical research and scholarly articles as needed, and more. Our attorneys often draw on their career experience as well, offering a perspective on the subject matter from the frontlines.
- Drafting – Once we have the information, usually from multiple sources (from a few to more than 50), the information is committed to words to tell the story, answer the question, and offer whatever help we can. We try to ensure the information is clear, concise, and easy to read. While we are not journalists, we generally follow Associated Press style.
- Editing – Each piece is honed to be purposeful, maintaining professional quality writing with information that is easy to find and consume, and fulfills its original purpose. Editing is a team effort. Fact-checking occurs in every step from here forward.
- Review – Peer review is incredibly important. Research can be incredibly thorough and still miss something. The law changes. The interpretation of the law changes. These nuances mean we have to check and re-check ourselves. Our attorneys thoroughly vet every piece of content, and together they help ensure legal accuracy.
- Compliance – There are many rules to how law firms and attorneys can communicate with the public at large. We have multiple layers of ethical reviews to ensure we’re not only informative, but also following the ethical rules in the states where we practice.
- Final Review – We conduct a final review of content before publishing, including the words and graphics, disclaimers, and source information. While we do not always link to source material in the piece, information is cited and kept on file.
Monitoring and Updating: Is This Still Right?
Many things change over time. The law can change. Statistics often do – especially when new information becomes available. We routinely back-check and update information, which may rarely include removing blogs that are no longer valid. We produce a great deal of content, and this process is time consuming: Each time we update, the piece returns to the edit stage and proceeds through a strict editorial process again.
Additionally, when new information is published, we go back and link from older content to new information to keep it accurate, relevant, and connected. Our goal is to create and maintain a factual, informative user experience. We work hard to try to ensure that our content work is just as trustworthy and reliable as our legal work.