John Cutchin | Newton Criminal Lawyer

• Member, North Carolina State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association,
  1975 - 1977
• North Carolina Association of Family Law Mediators
• Member, Catawba County and Lincoln County Bar Associations
• Member, Family Law Section of North Carolina State Bar Association

• "Top Lawyer in North Carolina," Legal Network, '13, '14, '15
• Client Distinction Award, Martindale-Hubbell
  2015
• Rated Superb Lawyer, AVVO
  2011
• Best Law Office in Catawba County, Reader of Observer
  2008
• Outstanding Young Man of America
  1982
• Who's Who in American Law
  1998-Present
• Who's Who in Business Executives & Professionals
  1995-1999

I've had, quite frankly, several cases in the last year or two where I made a big difference. I sincerely believe I'm only as good an attorney as my clients allow me to be: the more input and cooperation from them, the better the results are in their case. Within the last two years or so, I can think of a property division case where my client came out better with me as her attorney; a case on property which went to trial but was settled before we started for a lesser amount than what we had offered in mediation; and a case where another attorney and I reestablished visitation for a father with his child (I represented the paternal grandparents) who had been wrongfully denied any time with his child by the mother.

I built a successful practice by word of mouth, and being available for clients and judges. I did this by limiting my practice to certain areas (primarily family law, estates, criminal work and traffic cases) and to only two counties, Lincoln and Catawba. That's why I turn down many referrals as they are not in my geographic practice range. I also feel my experience as a certified family financial mediator since July 2001 has helped my practice. Last, but not least, I have 3 staff members who are second to none in both counties in which I practice.

Clients should look for an attorney who will respond promptly to questions, and someone who will tell it "straight" to them, even when it's not what the client necessarily wants to hear.

As a fellow mediator says, knowing the judges and lawyers with whom you are dealing is extremely important, as well as knowing which mediator will be best for your respective case.

I do not give free phone consultations due to the nature of my practice. I may talk with someone, only to learn later that I have already talked to the other party, or forget I talked to the person on the free consultation, and thus be conflicted out of a case. I require face-to-face so we can check with conflicts. Only in rare cases will I talk on the phone, typically when the potential client is from out of state. Of course, I will do free phone consultations on traffic and criminal cases.

By court records, I am second in Catawba County in the number of domestic cases pending, and my estimate is that I am probably in the top five attorneys in Lincoln County who have cases pending. I have almost 40 years of experience in trials, backed up by 14 years of mediation experience, not only in representing clients in mediations, but also conducting mediations between individuals represented by attorneys. My experience in mediating cases helps me settle with those very same attorneys when they're opposite me in a case.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing families and couples work through their problems. I have a bulletin board in my office with pictures of kids I've helped, and ""thank you"" notes from various clients. The satisfaction of having clients thank me and my staff for a job well done, is the real reward, especially when they compliment my staff, which is almost a constant.

My other interests are boating on Lake Norman, Davidson College Basketball, reading, vacations, lake living, movies and being with my family, not necessarily in that order.

My community involvement has been extensive in the past (Band Booster co-president with my wonderful wife, Merchants' Association Member and President, Davidson College Alumni Chapter President, Lake Norman Jaycees President, holding every elective office in the Catawba County Bar Association, church leader and Sunday School teacher, and so on).