In the first season of Voices of NCAJ, join host Amber Nimocks as she spotlights the people who make NCAJ great. Starting with NCAJ President and Principal Attorney of the Law Offices of John McCabe, P.A., John McCabe.
Becoming a lawyer was something John has wanted since he was just eight years old. However, his journey to where he is today didn’t start as a slam dunk. His initial introduction to the legal profession as a defense attorney didn’t resonate. It wasn’t until John began working as a plaintiff’s attorney that his career path clicked.
“I [thought], This is what I need to be doing. I felt comfortable getting into a case on the ground level and getting to know people. [Representing] people (rather than insurance companies) was a big deal for me.” The shift allowed John to feel like he was making a difference.
This episode reviews how John’s mentors have impacted his career, why he is so passionate about the NCAJ NEXT Leadership Program and recaps his experiences as president of the NCAJ.
“Imagine being lead counsel on a case where you have 2,000 clients who are sophisticated, opinionated, who know the law, and who know the facts of the case and tell you how to try your case,” John says when describing what it’s like to lead the NCAJ. “The good news is, you're not the sole counsel on the case. You have a lot of really good co-counsel. I have a lot of really good people around me. I have a spectacular executive committee with people who I trust and value.”
Name: John McCabe
What he does: Johnis the principal attorney of the Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A. in Cary, North Carolina. He is a graduate of Campbell University Law School and has practiced as a plaintiff's attorney since 1995. He is an active member of the American Association for Justice, and is currently president of NCAJ. John devotes a considerable amount of his time to teaching legal concepts and advocacy skills to other attorneys and law students.
Company: The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A.
Words of wisdom: “It's the story of the people that leads to change. It's not some lawyer’s magic doing. It's not some lawyer’s magic words, it's the people behind it.”
Connect: LinkedIn
Top takeaways from this episode
★ You have to mentor the next generation. The advice and guidance that John received early on in his career from more experienced lawyers was incredibly impactful to his own development as an attorney. Now that he has reached that same experience level as his mentors, he hopes to give back and support the next generation of lawyers.
★ Client stories matter. It was the case of Kellie Crabtree early on in John’s career that had a monumental impact on everyone who filed lawsuits after her. John worked with the NCAJ to increase the damage claims limit in the state from $150,000 to $500,000.
★ There’s great power in joining forces with like-minded lawyers. Members of the NCAJ can band together and support one another because they represent individuals who are up...
