Mount Holly, NC

James W. Stancil

James W. Stancil graduated Wake Forest University with a B.A. in 1974 and a Juris Doctor in 1978. He has maintained a law office in Mt. Holly since then, focusing on estate and real estate law. He has received the AV rating by the Martindale-Hubble law rating service and has served on several local community boards.

Charlton K. Torrence, III

Charlton K. Torrence, III earned a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina in 1985 and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1989. He was admitted to practice law in North Carolina in 1989 and joined the firm that same year. He has served on various local charitable organizations’ boards, including The Schiele Museum & Planetarium, Gaston School of the Arts, Gaston Literacy Council, and is a Past President and Treasurer of the Alliance for Children and Youth.

Jesse B. Caldwell IV

Jesse B. Caldwell IV earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNC Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor degree from the Charleston School of Law. He spent ten years working in the Gaston County Public Defender’s Office, including five years as Chief Juvenile Defender. In 2021, he was appointed Resident Superior Court Judge for District 27A. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and is a member of the Gaston County Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association.

Benjamin C. Unger

Benjamin C. Unger acquired his Bachelor of Arts in English from Appalachian State University and his Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School. He practices in real estate and estate administration, and speaks both English and Spanish. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and is a member of the Gaston County Bar Association.

Richard D. Laws

Richard Laws is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the Wake Forest School of Law. He has practiced law in Gastonia, North Carolina since 1979, concentrating on residential and commercial real property. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and is a member of both the Gaston County Bar and North Carolina State Bar Association.

Hailey E. Hawkins

Hailey Hawkins moved to Charlotte after college to teach high school math through Teach for America. She graduated summa cum laude in the top five percent of her law school class and was a member of the Moot Court Honor Board and Law Review. She interned with the Honorable Graham C. Mullen in Federal Court. Hailey is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and the Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina, and is a certified mediator. She is a member of the Gaston County Bar and the North Carolina State Bar Association.

Joy M. Chappell

Joy M. Chappell began her legal career as a paralegal for 13 years before becoming a lawyer in 2009. She graduated with her Masters in Business Administration degree in 2003 and obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 2009. She interned with the Gaston County Public Defenders’ office and for the Honorable Carl Horn, III in Federal Court. Joy is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and the Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina. She is a member of the Gaston County Bar, the North Carolina State Bar, and the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. She has volunteered as an attorney advocate with the Gaston County Domestic Violence Legal Clinic and handled pro bono cases with Legal Aid of Gastonia.