My staff and I are trained and equipped to help you during a difficult time. I believe in personal contact with clients. I return phone calls and I take phone calls from clients. What may seem unimportant to some can be very important to a client whose livelihood is at stake. I frequently discuss with clients the issue of lawyer solicitations on traffic and criminal matters and I agree with those clients who don’t appreciate being contacted without their consent and who consider solicitations to be in bad taste. I also remind clients that a secretary or paralegal CANNOT give legal advice in North Carolina. Even if you only have a speeding ticket, if your only contact is with an assistant, then you deserve better.

I also encourage potential clients to seek second opinions and to call the courthouse in the county where they have a matter to ask about me. I am proud that many of them call back and ask for my help.

For those charged with serious misdemeanors like DWI or felony matters, whether drug-related or violent, we are prepared to help with your defense right away. I love jury trials. I cannot say that I’ve tried more jury cases than any other criminal defense lawyer now practicing in northeastern North Carolina because I don’t know of anyone who keeps track of those numbers. However, I can say that the list of those who have tried more is very short. I cannot emphasize enough that if a prosecutor doesn’t know that you’ll take a case to trial before a jury then your client will suffer. I have a very good relationship with the prosecutors in this region but they know I will take a case to trial. My clients benefit from this knowledge.

Over the years I have also developed a niche criminal practice in the area of hunting and fishing violations. We are blessed to live in a region where great hunting and fishing are available. As an avid outdoorsman, I know both the pleasure of the outdoors and the risk of running afoul of a game warden or a fisheries officer. I have represented many people charged with hunting and fishing violations, both in State and Federal court, and I am proud to have represented several of the premier hunting clubs in the State. If you have such a violation anywhere east of Raleigh, I’d like to help you.

On the matter of fees, part of my vision is to convert to a purely flat fee system in almost every circumstance. Flat fees are great because they don’t change and they are not open-ended. Billing by the hour leaves a client with the question of “What will my bill be this month?” We will make every effort to quote you a fair flat fee in writing and I promise it will not change.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my website. I look forward to your call.

– Mike Sanders​