About Richard Clarke
Richard Clarke Speaks took a deliberate path into law. He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and mathematics from East Carolina University in 1992, and later completed his Juris Doctor at Campbell University in 1997. Those academic years framed a transition from analytical study to courtroom practice. Coursework in economics and math left him comfortable with numbers and complex problem solving. Law school sharpened those instincts into legal reasoning.
Early in his legal training he spent a summer in 1996 clerking for United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard. That year in a federal clerkship exposed him to pretrial practice, opinion drafting and the tempo of federal litigation. The experience also gave him a direct look at judicial decisionmaking, a perspective that can inform how lawyers approach case strategy and client counseling.
After law school Mr. Speaks began practicing in 1997 and established his own practice, Speaks Law Office. He has worked in private practice since that time. Over the years his work has included appearances in state and federal venues. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina and is authorized to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Those admissions reflect a practice that touches on matters in both trial and appellate settings.
Clients and colleagues describe him as pragmatic in the courtroom and methodical in preparation. He handles filings, motions and the procedural work that litigation requires. His training in economics and math often informs how he approaches evidentiary and financial questions in cases. The clerkship with a federal judge remains a point he references when planning legal strategy, particularly on procedural issues and opinion analysis.
Speaks has maintained a steady private practice since 1997. He has balanced courtroom work with case preparation and client advising. While his daily work varies by matter, he continues to appear in North Carolina courts and before the Fourth Circuit. He is currently practicing at Speaks Law Office, concentrating on litigation in state and federal courts.
