Jake Sussman

Jake Sussman is a seasoned criminal defense and civil rights attorney at Tin Fulton Walker & Owen. With a career spanning over two decades, he has represented individuals in some of the most serious and impactful legal matters, including death penalty cases, wrongful prosecutions, and lawsuits against law enforcement. His work also includes defending political protesters, public figures, and professionals, as well as consulting on crisis communications and public safety policy.

Jake earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2002, where he was a Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholar. He holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University, which he was awarded in 1997.

Jake began his legal journey as an investigator and later completed a federal clerkship before joining the leading civil rights firm Ferguson Stein Chambers Gresham & Sumter in North Carolina. From 2011 to 2017, he practiced with Tin Fulton Walker & Owen before helping launch The Justice Collaborative, a nonprofit focused on criminal legal system reform. He returned to the firm in 2021 as of counsel.

Over the years, Jake has fought for justice at every level of the legal system. He has won the release of people sentenced to life in prison as teenagers, defended clients in high-stakes federal criminal trials, and led landmark civil rights litigation—including the case that struck down North Carolina’s same-sex marriage ban. Today, he advises lawyers and elected officials on legal ethics and justice reform strategies, while continuing to represent individuals facing the most serious criminal charges.

Jake Sussman is licensed in New York and North Carolina and admitted to practice before multiple federal courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is widely recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell for his outstanding service.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Tin Fulton Walker & Owen
• Member, North Carolina Bar Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice

Licensed State

• North Carolina
• New York

Education

• New York University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Wesleyan University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges