Ian Smith - Raleigh, NC

I grew up in Western North Carolina and have spent most of my life with a mountain on the horizon. I am still relatively new to this part of the state, but I love North Carolina from mountains to coast and enjoy living in the Triangle. My family comes from opposite ends of the state, East Tennessee, and Eastern North Carolina, and I have settled in between!

I worked part time at J.C. Penney for seven years, through high school and college, and deeply appreciate my experiences working with those colleagues and the public. It taught me the dignity of work and the value of getting to know people, and I am proud to say that you don’t need a fancy job or an Ivy League degree to have a seat at my table.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Appalachian State University, with a minor in German, and my Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. I had many fantastic opportunities at UNC Law, including participating in clinics to help low-income citizens restore their driver’s licenses and to provide legal representation to victims of domestic violence. I also interned with NC district attorneys’ offices and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, and served as an editor for the North Carolina Journal of International Law. I am licensed to practice in North Carolina.

I was drawn to insurance law on a whim, signing up for the class without knowing what to expect—how interesting could it be? To my surprise, it wasn’t dreadfully boring, it was fascinating, and it combined perfectly with my drive to help victims and injured people. I was immediately sold.

Since joining Tatum & Atkinson, I’ve been able to put my interest in the law and my desire to help people to fine use. I enjoy getting each client the very best outcome for their case that I can, and my favorite part of my job is the satisfaction that comes with their excitement at the results. I believe that all of my clients deserve the same degree of attention and dedication, and I aggressively pursue a just result for everyone that I serve. I’ll give you a realistic understanding of your case and fight hard to get you a great outcome.

In my free time, I like cooking, hiking, and reading. I have recently been married to the love of my life, Emily. I am grateful to be where I am and happy for the opportunity to help my clients!