Michael W. Ballance is the Managing Attorney of the Raleigh office of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He is an experienced civil litigator with his practice concentrated in the areas of administrative law, appellate practice, employment law, and workers’ compensation. He represents clients at all stages of civil trials and administrative proceedings, from mediation through appeals to the Supreme Court. Mr. Ballance has appeared as counsel in over two dozen North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court cases. He is also a certified mediator who regularly helps parties resolve their disputes without going to trial.
Additionally, Mr. Ballance serves as an Adjunct Professor at both The University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law in Raleigh where he currently teaches Workers’ Compensation Law and Practice. The deans from both universities have appointed him to represent their schools in North Carolina’s transition to adopting the Uniform Bar Exam. He is one of five lawyers chosen to develop a required course of study and examination on the state’s workers’ compensation law. Mr. Ballance has also taught Legal Writing and Appellate Advocacy and is a frequent writer and speaker on workers’ compensation topics.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Ballance clerked for Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr. of the North Carolina Supreme Court and was in private practice with other law firms in Raleigh.
Professional Accomplishments
•The Best Lawyers in America since 2013: Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers
•North Carolina Super Lawyers - Rising Stars 2009
Speaking Engagements
•“Affirmative Defenses to North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims” (CLE Organizer and Presenter); North Carolina Bar Association, 2013 Workers’ Compensation Fall Program; Cary, NC; 10/3/2013
•“Ethics in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims” (Insurance CLE Presenter); Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Client In-Service Program; Charlotte, NC; June 2013
•“Communicating with Health Care Providers - Utilization of the New Procedures of G.S. 97-25.6” (CLE Presenter); North Carolina Bar Association, 2012 Workers’ Compensation Fall Program; Cary, NC; 9/20/2012
Publications
•“Denying a claim for misrepresentation,” NC Workers’ Comp News (publication of the North Carolina Association of Self-Insurers), Spring 2012
•“N.C.G.S. 97-12.1: N.C. Legislature Adopts a New Defense for Misrepresentation During Hiring,” Course & Scope (publication of Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association), Dec. 2011
•“The Supreme Court Clarifies Written Notice Requirements Under G.S. 97-22 - Or Does It?,” Course & Scope (publication of Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association), May 2010
•“Rewarding Liars and Punishing Truth Seekers: The Misguided Law on Misrepresentation by Employees at Hiring in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law, and a Proposal for Legislative Change,” 1 Charlotte Law Review 277 (2009)
Publications
•“Denying a claim for misrepresentation,” NC Workers’ Comp News (publication of the North Carolina Association of Self-Insurers), Spring 2012
•“N.C.G.S. 97-12.1: N.C. Legislature Adopts a New Defense for Misrepresentation During Hiring,” Course & Scope (publication of Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association), Dec. 2011
•“The Supreme Court Clarifies Written Notice Requirements Under G.S. 97-22 - Or Does It?,” Course & Scope (publication of Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association), May 2010
•“Rewarding Liars and Punishing Truth Seekers: The Misguided Law on Misrepresentation by Employees at Hiring in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law, and a Proposal for Legislative Change,” 1 Charlotte Law Review 277 (2009)
Community
•Seeds of Mustard Ministries (Board of Directors)
Articles
5/11/2012 Articles
NC Workers’ Comp News publishes article by Michael Ballance
Press Releases
8/21/2025 Press Releases
Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers in America Award Recipients
8/15/2024 Press Releases
Forty-Six Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers Award Recipients
8/17/2023 Press Releases
Forty-Four Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers Award Recipients
8/25/2022 Press Releases
Forty-Three Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers List
8/25/2021 Press Releases
2022 Best Lawyers List includes 44 Attorneys from Dickie McCamey
8/19/2020 Press Releases
Forty-Five Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers list
8/3/2020 Press Releases
Dickie McCamey Attorney Named Chair of North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Section
8/15/2019 Press Releases
Forty-Two Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2020
8/15/2018 Press Releases
Forty-Two Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2019
8/15/2017 Press Releases
Thirty-Seven Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America 2018
5/31/2017 Press Releases
Michael Ballance Chosen by Law Schools to Assist in NC Bar Exam Transition
8/15/2016 Press Releases
Thirty-Eight Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America 2017
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or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
