MEET: George W. Miller, III
George W. Miller III is a partner at Haywood, Denny & Miller, LLP located in Durham, NC. He specializes in insurance defense and holds a degree from Campbell University, graduating in 1996, and has been a member of NCADA since 1999. Join us in getting to know George a little better!
What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? I enjoy the competitive nature of the work and I enjoy being exposed to infinite fact patterns. Every case is different, and every litigant has their own particular foibles. It is fun to watch and interact with human nature.
How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life? I find it helpful bouncing fact patterns, theories, practice tips and results off of colleagues. It can give you confidence that you are heading in the right direction.
What would you do if you were not a lawyer? Probably a High School football coach.
What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? My lack of technology skills.
What is your favorite legal movie or TV show and why? Currently, Suits. While totally unrealistic from the legal perspective, I can relate to Harvey. Historically, The Firm. While not for the same reasons as Tom Cruise experienced, I can see how one can get trapped in a firm.
Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I lived in DC and worked for a US Senator before law school.
If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Thomas Jefferson. Guy had some pretty good foresight.
What is the strangest thing you’ve ever done? I Skydived in College. After completing all the prep and training, and about 5 minutes before we were to go up for my first jump, the business owner took me aside and told me that my Dad was representing the company in a lawsuit filed by a woman who’s chute tragically did not open and she was rendered a quadriplegic. While I still jumped that day and a few times afterwards, the experience was suddenly a bit different than I had imagined.
What excites you the most right now? Personally, all three of my kids are in college, preparing to start out on their own journeys, and my wife and I are loving the empty nest. Professionally, after 27 years of doing it, I feel like I am getting the hang of it.
What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self? Don’t be afraid to go for it. Every case can be settled, that doesn’t mean they should be.
Kudos to George for fearlessly taking the leap!
