Attorney Michael C Rowland Jr

Can you describe your journey in the legal field?

Once I decided to become a lawyer I became very focused on what that meant to me. I wanted to be the type of lawyer that was part of a community where I helped my friends and neighbors deal with everyday legal issues that everyone faces from time to time. I also knew that I wanted to start my own firm and live in a small town, so I focused my education on learning how start and run my own law firm, and I sought out opportunities to learn about trial practice in law school, and in private practice settings in the form of legal internships with other small firms. In law school, I took classes on Trial Advocacy, and participated in the year long Legal Clinic at UNC Chapel Hill Law School where I represented actual clients in court while I was still in law school. When I graduated and passed the NC Bar in 1997, I started my own firm. In the Spring of 1999, Brett Yauger and I joined forces to form Rowland & Yauger where we have served over 63,000 people in our community over the last 25 plus years.

What specific areas of law do you focus in, and why did you choose those areas?

We are a general practice law firm, which means we handle a wide variety of legal matters for our clients, That said, many of our practice areas do involve courtroom work, and although we can’t say that we specialize in trial practice in North Carolina, we do focus on representing people in the areas of Personal Injury, Criminal and Traffic Law, Family Law, Bankruptcy (Chapters 7 & 13), Social Security Disability Law, and Worker’s Compensation claims, as well as some general civil matters.

Can you share a pivotal case or moment in your career that shaped your practice?

There is not one individual case that I can point to that shaped our firm because everyday we have the privilege of helping real people deal with issues that are very important to them, and that are often overwhelming to them, leaving them feeling like they are in crisis. When people bring those types of problems to you, it is an honor to be able to help them navigate that issue, and get them through the problem and get them back on their feet.

Client Relationships and Philosophy

How do you approach working with clients? What can clients expect when working with you?

We take each client’s case very seriously, and we know that nobody wants to come to a lawyer, so if they are sharing their problems with us, they must have some significant stress or pain they need help with. Our clients can expect our team to give their case our focused attention.

What values or principles guide your legal practice?

We have some basic core values that start with treating clients the way we want to be treated. We believe in listening to our clients to understand their problem, and to learn what they want to see happen. Then we help them map out a plan to get them on the other side of that problem. Most importantly, we respect the client’s pain, and help them understand that we are on their team helping guide them forward to better days.

What is your strategy for handling complex or challenging cases?

The primary strategy in all cases is the same. We have to do a good job of listening and understanding what the issue is for our client, and what they want or need to happen to resolve it. Then we use our years of experience and training to provide focused solutions to their problems.

How do you maintain a balance between professional excellence and compassionate client care?

We try to start with the Golden Rule, which is to treat others the way would want to be treated. We also have a saying here: “Respect the Client’s Pain”, which calls upon us to never lose sight of the fact that their legal issue is of utmost importance to that client. Finally, we understand that nobody wants to need a lawyer, so once we open a file, we ask the question: “What needs to happen for the client so we can close this file?” because nobody wants their legal problems to drag on indefinitely.

Notable Achievements and Involvement

What are some of your most significant professional accomplishments?

I really can’t point to any one specific accomplishment that is more important than another because each day provides us with many opportunities to help clients solve significant legal problems. It is always significant to win a trial, but sometimes it is just important and significant to help a client accept responsibility for their mistakes and mitigate the damages so they can get back on their feet.

Can you mention any awards, recognitions, or accolades you’ve received throughout your career?

We have won or been finalists for the last several years for the “Best of the Pines” competition where our local paper, The Pilot, has asked it’s readers to vote for their favorite businesses in our area. Most recently, we won “Best of the Pines” from our clients in the areas of Personal Injury Law, Criminal Law, and Family Law. Receiving this kind of recognition from the people we serve in our community means the world to us, and is something we couldn’t accomplish without having a great team surrounding and supporting us.

Personal Interests and Motivations

What motivates you to keep pushing forward in your legal career?

Just knowing we are helping people get through a crisis and get back on their feet is a motivation every day. We get an opportunity every day to help people put the pieces of their lives back together, and get a fresh start. That is a great feeling and keeps pushing us forward.

Outside of work, what are some of your passions or interests?

My faith and family are top priorities and my commitment to them is important. Our kids have been active in sports for years, and have participated in wrestling and martial arts for years, so we are very involved in that, and I have helped coach wrestling for many years as well. I am currently an assistant wrestling coach for our local high school, and when my kids were younger a ran I youth wrestling club for over a decade.

How do your personal experiences influence your approach to law?

Before I became a lawyer, I did a lot of what people call blue collar jobs. I grew up doing landscaping, I worked driving delivery trucks, worked in a company as a shipping and receiving clerk running forklifts, and worked at UPS loading tractor trailers. Growing up learning what hard work was, and how to work hard for what you earn, you develop a strong work ethic, and it helps us understand where our clients are coming from too. When someone works hard for their money, and they come to you to solve their problems, you have to respect that, and work hard for them too. I like to think that one thing that separates us is that we bring a blue collar work ethic to the practice of law.

Community and Future Goals

How do you contribute to your local community or the legal profession?

I think that we try to stay involved with what is going on in the community and sponsor things in the community because we live here, and we want to make a difference. I think we are leaders in the legal community as well, and we try to set the standard by how we take care of our clients. We take pride in giving great customer service, and our client reviews give us the feedback we need to keep going.

What are your long-term goals for the firm?

We want the firm to continue to grow and develop so that we continue to meet the growing needs of our clients, without losing the commitment we have to customer service and delivering results.

How do you stay updated on the latest developments in law, and how do you incorporate those insights into your practice?

We have an ethical duty to complete 12 hours of continuing legal education every year, but we believe in a growth mindset where we make the commitment to go beyond that and be lifetime learners. We want to not just learn about the law, but also learn more about people, and how to help guide them through the problems they face.

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • J.D. – 1997
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • B.A. – 1994
  • Major: English

Bar Admission

• North Carolina, 1997

Practice Areas

• Personal Injury
• Criminal Law
• Family Law

Professional Associations

• North Carolina Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member

Current Employment Position

• Managing Partner