The legal profession has recently lost one of its greatest leaders: Attorney Janet Ward Black.
Throughout her stellar career, first as an assistant district attorney and then as a plaintiff’s attorney, she gave voice to the injured and victimized. For many years, she was the principal partner of one of the largest woman-owned law firms in the State. She distinguished herself in many notable ways as she served as president of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Academy of Trial Lawyers (now the Advocates for Justice); she established the 4ALL program to provide legal assistance to those in need, and she supported many charities, notably Toys for Tots. She also served the state as Miss North Carolina in 1980. Her many achievements have been well documented in the numerous news and memorial announcements that have followed her passing, and we too mourn her absence. One of her colleagues on hearing of her passing commented, “You know, there are so many lawyers out there who talk about being a Christian, but Janet Ward really lived it every day.”
The faculty and staff of the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law, here at High Point University, are grateful for her early and consistent support of the law school.
Last January she participated in the law school’s Access to Justice practicum. She spoke on “Private Practice with Purpose”. In it, she demonstrated how one can be a successful and impactful lawyer while still practicing strong Christian values and purpose. For almost an hour afterwards, she spoke to every student who waited to shake her hand and express their gratitude for her leadership example. Following her visit to the school, she welcomed many of the students to her firm to learn and observe what legal practice is like in the real world. One of our law students summed up what many have been saying this week, “Ms.
Black was the kind of lawyer and person I want to be.”
We echo the many acknowledgements that Janet Ward Black will be remembered as a trailblazer, a gifted lawyer and a woman of God who let her faith guide her journey to the top of our profession.
Former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice and Founding Dean Mark Martin stated,
“On behalf of High Point Law, we offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Janet Ward Black. Her decades of service to the legal profession have left an enduring and immeasurable impact. Janet Ward’s legacy of justice, generosity, and concern for the needs of others will continue to inspire all of us who had the privilege of working alongside her. She will be profoundly missed.”
Photos: Janet Ward Black, center, with High Point Law students from the Class of 2027 and Dean Mark Martin; Janet Ward Black, bottom left, with a group of women law students from the class of 2027.