NCSB Journal Spring 2026

LEGAL SPECIALIZATION

Five Newly Certified Specialists B Y S H E I L A S A U C I E R , M A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R , L E G A L S PECIALIZATION

this field, and I remain deeply engaged in the work. D. Cole Phelps: I attended college at East Carolina University as a first generation college student. ECU was where I found my

Carpenter

Hummel

Patel

Phelps

Pittman

I recently had an opportunity to talk with some of our newest board certified special ists: • Sloan Carpenter is a trademark law spe cialist practicing at Parker Poe in Raleigh. • Michael Hummel is a workers’ com pensation law specialist who practices at Daggett Shuler in Winston-Salem. • Kisha Patel is a family law specialist practicing in Raleigh at McIlveen Family LawFirm. • D. Cole Phelps is a juvenile delinquency law specialist who practices in Plymouth at The Law Offices of D. Cole Phelps, PLLC. • Jarrette Pittman is a state criminal law specialist who practices in Winterville at The Law Office of Jarrette M. Pittman. Q: Please tell me where you attended col lege and law school and a little bit about your path to your current position? Sloan Carpenter: I went to undergradu ate at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. While at UNC, I worked part time at a boutique intellectual property firm and discovered my passion for trademark law. I attended law school at Campbell University where I was the president of the Intellectual Property Law Society. Michael Hummel: I graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in finance and went to law school at the University of North Carolina. I began my legal career at a defense firm in Charlotte where I worked for a number of years and

was fortunate to be mentored by some very good and experienced lawyers. I am fortu nate to have had great mentors from the out set of my legal career. Over time, I realized that representing plaintiffs made sense for me personally and professionally. My family and I decided to move to Winston-Salem, and I have been with my current firm since, representing injured workers. Kisha Patel: I attended Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, where I earned a BA in political science and gender & women’s studies. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a lawyer, though I was initially unsure which area of law I would ultimately pursue. After college, I went directly to the University of North Carolina School of Law where I gravitated toward lit igation, trial advocacy, and oral argument through my coursework, clinical experiences, and participation on the Trial Team. While I knew that I enjoyed being in the courtroom, I kept an open mind during my job search and explored a variety of civil liti gation opportunities. Through that process, I became increasingly interested in family law because of its unique combination of legal complexity, advocacy, and meaningful client interaction. I joined McIlveen Family Law as an associate, and within my first few months of practice, I realized that family law was the right fit for me. Over the past five years, I have focused on continuing to grow my knowledge, judgment, and experience in

footing, gained confidence, and began to understand what was possible when some one is given opportunity and support. Coming from a rural community, being in that environment mattered. It helped shape my belief that access to education and men torship can change lives in real and lasting ways. I later earned my law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law, an institution with a long tradition of preparing lawyers for service, leadership, and advocacy. After law school, I immediately returned home to Washington County in northeast ern North Carolina to build my law practice. Over time, my work naturally grew toward juvenile delinquency, a field that blends legal skill with patience, perspective, and purpose. I enjoy working with young people because they are still figuring out who they are and who they can become. When someone shows up prepared and willing to listen, it can make a difference at a moment that truly matters. Practicing juvenile delinquency law in rural communities has reinforced for me that preparation, presence, and care are essential. When this work is done well, it can positively impact not just a case, but a family, a future, and a community. Jarrette Pittman: I attended college at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and earned my law degree from William & Mary. I have always had a sincere desire to practice law, and in many ways, my path

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THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL