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Meet:  Stuart L. Stroud

Stuart Stroud has been a member of the NCADA since 1997. He is a partner at Wallace Morris Barwick Landis & Stroud, P.A. in Kinston, NC, where he focuses his practice on insurance defense litigation and mediation. Stuart graduated from Campbell University School of Law in 1992 and has since devoted his practice to insurance defense litigation and mediation. If you're not familiar with Stuart yet, join us in getting to know him a little better.

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice?  I went to college with the idea of Pharmacy School. I quickly learned that science and math were not my strengths. However, I was making good grades in History, Political Science and English and decided to play to my strengths. I graduated with a degree in Education and then went to law school.

How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life?  
NCADA is a great resource for professional information. The meetings are great for networking but the CLE topics and especially the annual case law updates are invaluable.

What would you do if you were not a lawyer?  I was certified to teach secondary social studies, so I would have been a teacher. I don’t regret going to law school, but if I had gone into education, I would be retired now.

What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome?  I have been fortunate to practice with two great mentors, PC Barwick and Tommy Morris. I have had the same challenges as everyone else in learning the process, dealing with difficult clients and opposing attorneys, and balancing family life, but having gFeat mentors helps mitigate the challenges.

What is your favorite legal movie or TV show and why?  I watched LA Law when I was in law school and To Kill a Mockingbird is a great drama. However, I rarely watch or read legal TV, movies or books. I have to deal with legal "drama" every day, so I choose not to do so with my free time.

Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you?  I spent almost 40 years involved with Boy Scouts. I was an Eagle Scout as a youth and worked with Scouts as an adult, including serving as Council Attorney for over 10 years.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why?   Winston Churchill. I’m currently reading his biography. He was a fascinating person.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever done? I have hiked some sections of the Appalachian Trail, usually by myself. I don’t think it’s strange but other people, including my mother, think it’s crazy.

What excites you the most right now?  I am expanding my Mediation practice. I still enjoy litigation but, even as a litigant, I have tried to focus on helping find a solution to the problem and mitigating risk. I find that acting as the mediator, I can help people create their own solutions to their problems. I am really enjoying working as a mediator and hope to continue to do more of them.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self?  Don’t be resistant to change. I hate change but change is constant. I have to remind myself of this daily.

If you don't know Stuart be sure to connect and get to know him!