�ʼһ���

Didn’t see that coming? 

She didn't either.

“I wanted to be a doctor,” said Black, a Kannapolis, North Carolina, native who was the first woman from Cabarrus County admitted to �ʼһ���. “I was good at science and placed out of freshman biology. There I sat in organic chemistry during my first-year winter semester and, after 50 minutes of listening to the professor, I had no idea what he said. My plan since I was five years old was to become a doctor, and I thought I was doomed.”

Despite some initial disappointment and concern, Black didn’t sit around and waste time. She immediately switched her focus to economics, which she figured would set her up nicely for law school. 

Plan B worked out okay. Today, Black lives in Greensboro and runs one of the largest woman-owned law firms in the state. Ward Black Law represents people across North Carolina who are injured at work, in accidents and by dangerous products and environmental hazards. Over the last decade alone, the firm’s clients have received settlements of more than $100 million. 

“�ʼһ��� did me a favor, because I think I would have been a rotten doctor,” Black said. “I imagine being a caregiver to someone I couldn’t fix or help—my heart isn’t of the nature where I could recover and move on to the next patient. But in law, I’m able to make institutional change. I can affect a law in North Carolina that changes the lives of 12 million people.” 

When Black first thought about what type of law she might want to practice, she thought trial law was out of the question because of her severe fear of public speaking. Then the �ʼһ��� Theatre Department helped her see things differently.

“I ended up taking a theatre class, and that led me to participate in several plays,” she said. “I played a Hot Box Girl in ‘Guys and Dolls,’ and I played Queen Elizabeth when we performed ‘Raleigh’ in Charlotte’s Spirit Square. These experiences helped me understand the importance of communication and the power of storytelling. Public speaking became easier and easier, and now I do it for a living. To this day, though, I will only use lavalier or podium microphones because my hand will shake with a hand-held mic.” 

Family, Faith, Philanthropy 

Black is proud to say hers is not a typical law firm. The 30 staff members’ family photos line the hallways, and a sign in the lobby says, “seek justice, give generously, love lavishly.” 

Some 16 years ago, while serving as president of the NC Bar Association (NCBA), Black led the creation of “4ALL,” intended to help bring justice and legal access to the many North Carolina residents who could not afford proper legal representation. She worked with volunteers to set up call-in days when anyone in the state could call and speak to a lawyer at no charge. The NCBA continues the program today.

Community mindedness and deeply rooted Christian values are at the foundation of Black’s work.

“The way we use Christian values to care for our staff and our clients and serve our community has been the greatest joy of my life,” Black said. “Years ago, I joined C12, a national organization for Christian CEOs and executives. We meet one full day a month to learn how to make our businesses better businesses and better ministries. We try to figure out how to do what’s right with the talents we’ve been given and for the people who have been entrusted to us, including our staff and our clients.” 

One way this aim plays out for Black and her team is through tithing. The firm gives away 10 percent of its gross revenue—not profits—to non-profit organizations, both locally and globally. The “Tithe Team” spearheads discussions around where the money will go, but the entire staff must be aligned on the final decisions. The only rule is that the organizations must use the firm’s contributions as an anonymous match; they are not allowed to list Ward Black Law as a donor or sponsor.

“I’ve always tithed on my own income, so I see this as tithing for every person who works here, regardless of their faith backgrounds,” Black said. “We know our work helps clients in their individual plights, but knowing a dime on every dollar is serving the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the incarcerated—we’re changing the world.”