For three years in a row, Mr. Cheshire has been named the top lawyer in North Carolina by SuperLawyers.com.

Joe practices criminal defense and professional license defense in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Upon being licensed to practice law in October 1973, Mr. Cheshire became the fifth straight Joseph Blount Cheshire to practice law in the courts of North Carolina, a tradition of which he is extraordinarily proud and one which has molded his view of the law as a profession designed to help speak for those who may not be able to help themselves or have come up against the awesome power of government.

Over the course of his practice, he has handled cases in 16 of the states or territories of the United States, several foreign countries and 85 of the 100 counties in North Carolina as well a numerous state and federal administrative agencies. He has handled appeals in all state appellate courts, several federal Circuits and the Supreme Court of the United States.

In 1978, Joe formed his own firm specializing in criminal law. In the course of the next two-and-a-half decades, Mr. Cheshire has handled scores of first degree murder cases, both capital and otherwise, tried scores of complex conspiracy cases, handled numerous political corruption cases, and represented many varied businesses and business people in crisis during both state and federal investigations.

His clients have included congressmen, Governors and other noted political and government figures, prominent members of the entertainment, banking, health care and business community nationwide, and people from all walks of life who have been unfortunate enough to come into contact with the criminal justice system.