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Joseph T. Howell

Joseph T. Howell Practice Areas & Experience

Joe began trying cases in the state and federal courts of North Carolina as well as the North Carolina Industrial Commission in 1984 and retired from practice with Kirk Kirk Law at the end of 2024.

He served as lead counsel in trials in federal court and state courts across the state in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, land condemnation, workers’ compensation, business disputes, and a variety of other litigation.

At Kirk, Kirk, Howell, Cutler & Thomas, L.L.P., his clients were generally plaintiffs seeking damages in civil litigation, injured workers in workers’ compensation cases, and North Carolina landowners who have had real estate property taken by government and private condemnors. “Representing the underdog is the most satisfying part of my practice,” said Joe. “The courthouse truly is and should be a place where everybody is given an equal opportunity to go toe to toe with their opponent.”

Joe is also a Certified Superior Court Mediator and has mediated hundreds of cases across several North Carolina counties. His trial experiences combined with determination to bring parties to resolution have served his mediation clients well. “Parties expect a good mediator to get to the heart of a matter quickly and to be persistent about getting a case settled. I never forget that mediation probably represents the very best chance a case has to settle. Just going through the motions is unacceptable to me.”

He is a 1980 graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh with degrees in Economics and Business Administration. He also received his legal education at North Carolina Central University School of Law. He has received Martindale-Hubble’s AV® Pre-eminent Peer Review Rating, which is the highest rating given.

Personal Life

Joe lives in Clayton with his wife Laurie and has two children. He has raised bad golf to an art form and enjoys time with his family, traveling, and church activities.

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