When Mack Tallant returned home to Western North Carolina to practice law in 1995, he was one of five attorneys based out of Graham County. In 2026, his is the only full-time law office.
“I’m either the best attorney in the county or the worst attorney in the county depending on the day,” he said with a chuckle.
Tallant, 57, is hitting the short-term planning stages for his retirement. While some lawyers will continue to work into their 70s and even 80s, he wants to slow down and enjoy the fruits of his labor. However, he’s concerned with the state of the judicial system in the region and how future generations will be affected.
Tallant, who grew up in neighboring Cherokee County, initially practiced law in a variety of areas, although he admitted he’s never had a stomach for criminal defense work, which is adversarial and emotionally taxing. Now, he spends 95% of his time as a real estate attorney, satisfying the growing demand for such work with people from out of state purchasing and building second homes. He also works from time to time on wills and estates.