Al Messer
Al Messer was born and raised in Western North Carolina and is a 1987 graduate of Tuscola Senior High School in Waynesville, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina in 1991. Having received his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Arkansas in 1996, he was admitted to the State Bar of North Carolina in 1997.
Al began his legal career as an associate with a Waynesville law firm, then became an Assistant District Attorney in Asheville. In 1999, he opened his own firm in Asheville.
With knowledge and experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, Al maintains an active trial practice in the State and Federal courts of North Carolina. He has jury trial experience in matters ranging from traffic offenses to complex and serious felony offenses. His practice also involves civil matters that include but are not limited to personal injury, wrongful death, contracts, wills and powers of attorney.
Al is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Federal District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Buncombe County Bar Association, the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Buncombe County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
Outside the courtroom, Al is an avid outdoor and mountain bike enthusiast who takes full advantage of the wide-ranging recreational opportunities the mountains of Western North Carolina offer.
Janet Amburgey
Janet Amburgey was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Asheville when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Reynolds High School in 1998 and received her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2002. After graduation, Janet lived in many different cities in the south including, Charlotte, Atlanta and Chattanooga before attending law school at Appalachian School of Law in Virginia. She graduated from law school in 2008 and was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in September, 2008.
After passing the bar, Janet moved back to Asheville and began practicing law at Messer Law Firm. She concentrates primarily on Family Law matters and handles a wide variety of cases including divorce, child custody, separation agreements, adoptions and everything in between.
Janet is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Buncombe County Bar Association,
In her free time, Janet enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new restaurants around Asheville, baking and taking spin classes at the local YMCA.