John Drew Warlick Jr. grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and graduated from Jacksonville High School. He is the son of a lawyer, and his childhood dream was to practice law in Jacksonville. During his final year of law school, though, he was told by the law school dean that he could not reach his potential in Jacksonville. The dean urged him to work with a law firm in one of the larger cities in the Piedmont part of the state.
After a short term of employment with a highly successful Piedmont firm, he returned to Jacksonville. This is where he wanted to live, and he wanted to help give the citizens of Onslow County a voice against powerful corporations and big insurance companies. Over the years, he has concentrated his practice in representing injured people against insurance companies.
When not working, he enjoys hunting, loves the beach and waterways, and is an avid fan of UNC sports. Still, at the end of the day, his greatest satisfaction comes from seeing an insurance company write someone injured by the negligence of a third party a check that fairly and adequately compensates them for their injuries.
Publications and Presentations
John Drew Warlick has been a speaker at more than 30 continuing education seminars in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana on the subject of Personal Injury Litigation. These seminars were sponsored by a diverse group of organizations including the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges, the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Florida Trial Lawyers Association, the Southeast Region of Legal Officers (USMC and USN), Wake Forest University School of Law, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the U.S Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune North Carolina.
Verdicts and Settlements
Over 12 verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more in cases including medical negligence, automobile wrecks, tractor-trailer collisions, motorcycle accidents, and airline crashes. In addition, he has obtained numerous settlements and verdicts of sums ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. During his career, he has tried hundreds of cases to jury verdict in both State and Federal Court.
John’s Credentials
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Juris Doctor with Honors, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Academic Honors
- Order of the Coif (top 10% of graduating class)
- Associate Editor, North Carolina Law Review
Legal Honors and Organizations
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellowship is by invitation and vote of the members and limited to 1% of lawyers in any state.
- International Society of Barristers
- President, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Member of North Carolina Board of Law Examiners. Served for 8 years on a 12-member board that writes and grades the admissions examinations for new lawyers in North Carolina.
- Distinguish service award, North Carolina State Bar, 2010
- Listed in Personal Injury Litigation Section of “The Best Lawyers of America” every year since 1987
- Listed in Personal Injury Section of “Super Lawyers” every year since 2009
- AV preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell law directory
- Member of Board of Governors, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
Local Boards and Honors
- Civic Honors Award from Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service to the community
- Member of Board of Trustees, Coastal Carolina Community College for 15 years
- Member of Board of Trustees, University of North Carolina at Wilmington for 8 years
- Past Chairman, Onslow County Economic Development Commission
- Past Chairman, Government Affairs Committee, Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce
- Former member, Board of Directors, Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce
- Past Chairman, Morehead Scholarship Selection Committee
- Past member, Board of Directors of Sponsors for Academic Talent