The NC DWI Guy

Jake takes a look back at 2024 and shares a reflection on the gratitude  generated by the relationships and events within the Freedom Fighter Community.

On today's episode Jake examines a recent NC Court of Appeals opinion State v. Vaughn dealing with an attack on the foundation of radar results. Challenging the stop for speeding in a DWI case is a grossly underutilized attack point for many defense lawyers. Uncover the framework for speeding challenges through the lens of Vaughn and then sign up for the Attacking Speed in a DWI Case CLE at Campbe...

On today's episode Jake looks at amendments to NCGS 20-179.3 which allows a person convicted of a level 2 DWI to apply for a limited driving privilege if certain conditions are met. Given that the biggest consequence that many people charged with DWI face is a loss of driver's license and driving privileges, this episode has huge implications for the DWI practitioner.   Highlights:   ·       Disco...

On today's episode Jake looks at the recent North Carolina Court of Appeals decision of State v. Clark , COA23-1133. In Clark, the Court applied the recent United States Supreme Court decision in Smith v. Arizona (listen to Episode 222 for an analysis of that case) to North Carolina. The Clark Court ultimately found a violation of the Confrontation Clause occurred where a substitute analyst gave e...

On today's episode Jake concludes his 4-part guest series on marketing. Today's guest Camille Stell is the President and CEO of Lawyers Mutual Consulting & Services. Camille is a frequent author and speaker on topics of legal marketing and business development and helps lawyers and law firms with coaching and strategic planning.  On today's episode, Camille discusses networking. Her take on market...

On today's episode Jake continues a 4-part series on marketing. Today's guest Joe Ruotolo is the Head of Marketing at Intaker , a legal marketing company focused on helping attorneys utilize technology to stand out. Joe shares some of the cutting-edge uses of AI in the legal space, why attorneys have a hard time evaluating AI software applications, and how AI agents will change the legal landscape...

On today's episode Jake continues a 4-part series on marketing with a stellar lineup of guests. Today's guest Anna Cates Williams of Cedar Grove Law discusses current trends in legal advertising and website design, finding your voice in the legal marketplace, and a game plan for finding time to develop your law firm's marketing. Whether you are trying to improve the effectiveness of your Google LS...

On today's episode Jake begins a 4-part series on marketing with a stellar lineup of guests. Kicking it off, Uli Seuster of How to Manage a Small Law Firm joins the show to discuss referral-based marketing. Uli's tips for generating referral relationships and cases are practical and time tested. If you think that referral marketing is how established law firms build their client base at no cost, t...

Fresh on the heels of discussing the power of creating a resilient community, Jake shares part of a recent meeting of the Freedom Fighters Mastermind Group. During the meeting, Jake outlined the origination of the Freedom Fighters Book Club and how this group has evolved into a more intentional business development meeting of likeminded law firm owners. If you are interested in joining the Freedom...

On this week's episode, Jake concludes his four-part Endurance series by discussing the power of creating a resilient community. If you want to be able to face difficult challenges, you need the right people in your corner when the time to stand up and fight comes. Jake offers 5 tips for building a resilient team that can thrive in the face of adversity. If you want the blueprint for a winning cul...

On this week's episode, Jake continues a four-part Endurance series on becoming a better endurance professional by doing hard things. In this episode, Jake reflects on lessons from his recent experience of running the Grindstone 100 ultramarathon. Jake applies the lessons taught while "grinding" to business, the practice of law and life.   1.         The hardest thing that's ever happened to you i...

On this week's episode, Jake continues a four-part Endurance series by focusing on becoming a better endurance professional through the study of tough people. Jake does a deep dive on the leadership and business lessons that can be learned through the unbelievable story of Ernest Shackelton as told in Alfred Lansing's bestselling book   Endurance . If you want to see the human spirit at its finest...

Fortitudine Vincimus. This Latin phrase is the family motto of Ernest Shackleton translated as "by endurance we conquer." As his family, friends, and team in Western North Carolina deal with the unbelievable damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Jake launches this four-part series on building the discipline of endurance to surviving trying times and step up in moments of extreme adversity. As William...

Criminal defense lawyers are professional storm chasers. We seek out anxiety provoking situations. If all were well in our clients' lives they would not be calling us. "Trial" is the culmination of our profession. But we are often poor emergency responders when it comes to putting out fires or dealing with stormy situations in our own law practices. In this episode, Jake gives you the playbook for...

Adventure! On today's episode Jake discuss responding to the call to adventure in your personal and professional life. C.S. Lewis wrote in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that "some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny." The most fulfilling lives and law practices are lived and built by individuals who accept the call to embark on a journey of discomfort and...

On today's episode, Jake talks shop with Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, R.J. Dreiling . After 15 years of prosecuting crime, including a number of high-profile cases, R.J. decided to start his own defense firm less than 2 year ago. Listen as R.J. explains why he is so passionate about delivering the best possible outcome for his clients. Jake and R.J. also discuss the importance of finding...

On today's episode, Jake talks shop with Utah criminal defense attorney, Josh Baron . Josh literally wrote the book on The Business of Criminal Law and shares how to build a practice fueled by referrals while also enjoying life as a criminal defense attorney. If you love the intersection of business and criminal defense, Josh is your kind of lawyer and this episode is for you!

On today's episode, Jake discusses the Rule-Out Method for framing your criminal trial with Charlotte criminal defense attorney Justin Olsinski . Justin is a passionate advocate who knew from the moment he entered law school that he wanted to be a criminal defense attorney. Listen to Justin share how he has used the principles of David Ball's The Rule-Out Method of Criminal Defense to help juries...

On today's episode, Jake looks at some of the major changes that have occurred in the legal marketplace since he began practicing 15 years ago to predict some of the major changes coming to the legal landscape. If you are looking to build a practice designed to thrive during the next decade this episode is for you! Highlights: ·       Discover how YouTube and Google Reviews have put a premium on c...

On today's episode, Warren Hynson shares best practices for trial lawyers to preserve issues for appeal. Warren's law firm, Hynson Law , exclusively handles criminal appeals and post-conviction relief issues across the State of North Carolina. If you want to be a better trial lawyer and have a better understanding of how a conviction can be overturned, don't miss out on Warren's advice on this wee...

On today's episode, Jake discusses the importance of finding a Worthy Rival in the courtroom and in business. This concept is based on a chapter from Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game , the July book of the month for the Freedom Fighters Book Club. If you want to take your trial skills and business acumen to the next level, go find and learn from a worthy rival.

On today's episode Jake reviews the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Smith v. Arizona . This 9-0 decision provides clarity on the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause violations that occur when the state tries to substitute a lab analyst at trial who did not herself test the substances or blood at the lab. Don't miss the big implications this opinion has on your blood draw DWI case!  

On today's episode of the podcast Jake looks back at the most influential North Carolina DWI cases of the past year. Abstracts of the cases are found below.   CHECKPOINTS   State v. Alvarez , 894 S.E.2d 737, No. 278PA21 (N.C. 2023)   Facts: Rowan County Sheriff's Office set up a checkpoint. The checkpoint was purportedly in response to a high-speed fatality accident that had occurred at that locat...

On today's episode, Jake resumes the Warriors on the Battlefield Series with the highly entertaining Lex-Jordan Ibegbu . Jordan has built a truly amazing criminal defense practice through a combination of hard work, networking, and showcasing his individuality (i.e. brand). Don't miss Jordan's engaging tips for launching your law firm to new heights! Highlights:  ·       Discover how to make your...

On today's episode, Jake shares a reflection on the greeting he beings every episode with. If you are a criminal defense lawyer in need of a pep talk about the importance of your work and want to discover what it means to be a true Freedom Fighter, this episode is for you.