Derek Fletcher | Charlotte Criminal Defense Lawyer

• North Carolina State Bar Member
  2010 - Present
• North Carolina Bar Association Member
  2010 - Present
• North Carolina Advocates for Justice Member
  2010 - Present
• American Bar Association Member
  2010 - Present

• BOOK AWARD - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
• School: Appalachian School of Law
• Year:
  2007
• BOOK AWARD - ADVANCED TORTS
• Year:
  2006
• ARMY R.O.T.C. 4 YEAR FULL SCHOLARSHIP
• School: Carson-Newman College
• Year:
  2001 - 2005

Client was charged with Driving While Impaired (DWI) allegedly under the influence of suboxone and alcohol. Client allegedly caused a multi-vehicle accident on Independence Blvd. and was terrified that he would be sentenced to active jail time. I conducted an immense amount of research, took the case to trial, and - working together as a team - my client and I earned a NOT GUILTY verdict. More important than that result was that my client admitted to himself that he had a serious substance abuse problem, and I helped him obtain the treatment he so desperately needed. He has been clean and sober for almost two years now, we regularly talk on the phone, and I consider him a good friend. That's what we do at FLETCHER LEGAL!

I built a successful practice by failing and making a lot of mistakes - mistakes I learned from - at my first solo venture: the Law Office of Derek R. Fletcher, PLLC. From 2010 - 2015, I took many court appointed cases, and found myself overworked and underpaid. At one point, I was so unhappy that I walked away from the practice of law and opened 2 new restaurants. This experience taught me that I could succeed at anything I set my mind to, and I gained valuable management experience. I opened FLETCHER LEGAL, PLLC in February, 2020 based on the premise that low overhead plus leveraging technology could serve as a successful business model and lower client's costs. I automated many standard pratices and was able to cut labor hours, thus reducing client's costs and expanding access to the law. The most important ingredient to success is the personal relationships I form with each and every client that I accept.

I've hired an attorney once or twice in my own life, and here is how I've done it every single time: I seek out the very best attorney in the practice area needed by conducting research and speaking with at least 2 different firms before making a decision. In my personal experience, one attorney will tend to say "I don't think we can win this case;" the other will say "you know - we just might be able to beat this thing." I always hire the lawyer that believes they can get the results I've needed. When they tell me the fee, I've never negotiated with them, I've paid it or made some sort of arrangements.

Vitally important: litigation is a skill that cannot be taught. I've learned my courtroom skills from taking countless court-appointed cases to trial, and spending more than a decade practicing and honing my skills. Excellent litigators can read judges and juries; they do their homework. I always strive to be the foremost expert on the facts of each and every case I take. I want to know more about the facts than anyone else in the courtroom, including the Judge and the District Attorney, which is why we conduct an independent investigation in each and every case we accept.

I listen MUCH more than I talk in an initial phone consultation. I want to get to know the client, and I want them to get to know me. If it seems like the client and I can work together to solve their legal problem, I tell them to think the decision over and schedule an appointment to talk again in a couple of days. Hiring a lawyer is a big decision - I want my client to be confident they are hiring the right one for the job.

Prospective Client Name Telephone Number Email Address What Happened