About Us

At Doby & Griffis Law, we are committed to delivering reliable legal counsel to individuals and businesses across North Carolina. With deep roots in Alamance County and decades of combined legal experience, our attorneys bring a practical, results-driven approach to every case. From personal injury and criminal defense to family law and civil litigation, we pride ourselves on advocating for our clients with integrity and professionalism.

Below, meet the attorneys who lead our firm with a steadfast dedication to serving the needs of our community.

Julian Doby

Counsel – Personal Injury & Criminal Law

Julian M. Doby is a proud native of Alamance County, North Carolina, with over 26 years of legal experience serving individuals and businesses across the state. After graduating from Western Alamance High School, Julian enlisted in the NC Army National Guard, where he honorably served for six years. This dedication to service carried through to his academic pursuits, earning a B.A. in Pre-Law from Campbell University in 1995, followed by a Juris Doctor from Campbell University in 1998.

Throughout his career, Julian has been a steadfast advocate for clients in Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Corporate Law, and Criminal Defense. His practical approach and commitment to achieving meaningful results have earned him a strong reputation for reliability and success. Beyond the courtroom, Julian’s dedication to his community is evident in his service on key boards, including the Burlington Housing Authority, Alamance County Transportation Authority, and Alamance County Planning Boards.

In addition to his legal expertise, Julian is a licensed pilot who enjoys taking to the skies in his spare time, often blending his passion for aviation with the demands of his legal work. A proud father, Julian supports his son Dylan, who is pursuing a Business degree at UNC. With homes and offices in both Alamance County and Southport, Julian is uniquely positioned to serve clients locally and across Alamance, New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick Counties.

At Doby & Griffis Law, Julian combines his extensive legal experience, disciplined approach, and community-focused perspective to deliver trusted counsel and advocacy in every case he handles.

Ray Griffis, Jr.

Counsel – Family & Criminal Law

Ray Griffis, Jr., a native of Alamance County, North Carolina, has dedicated his career to serving individuals and families through his diverse legal expertise. After graduating from Hugh M. Cummings High School in 2007, Ray attended Campbell University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in History. He continued his education at North Carolina Central University School of Law, where he graduated in 2015.

After passing the North Carolina Bar Exam in the summer of 2015, Ray began his legal career as a Staff Attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, providing free legal representation to North Carolinians in various civil matters. In 2017, he transitioned to public service as an Assistant District Attorney in the Durham County District Attorney’s Office. While on the Violent Crimes and Homicide Team, Ray prosecuted a wide range of serious cases, from Felony Assault to First-Degree Murder, gaining invaluable courtroom experience.

In 2020, Ray entered the private sector, joining the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There, he played a pivotal role in building the firm’s Family Law practice, assisting clients with child custody and divorce matters across Alamance, Orange, and Durham Counties. His dedication to his profession and community earned him the Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award in 2021, recognizing his leadership and impact in his field.

Ray lives in Alamance County with his wife and daughter. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and contributing to his community through his involvement with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Lorena Meza

Paralegal | Bilingual English-Spanish

Lorena Meza brings more than 20 years of experience across paralegal work, professional interpretation, and community program leadership. Her background spans state and federal criminal defense, immigration, and personal injury law -- the same areas at the center of this practice.

Before returning to legal work, Lorena served as District Interpreter for the Alamance-Burlington School System, providing English-Spanish interpretation for 15 schools across the district. She has interpreted in court proceedings, legal consultations, and law enforcement interviews involving federal agencies including the DEA, FBI, and ATF. She has also managed early childhood education and parent engagement programs through LatinXEd and Alamance Achievers, where she led the Alamance Forward Project to expand civic participation among underserved families throughout Alamance County.

That combination -- legal knowledge, fluent interpretation, and deep roots in the local community -- is exactly what clients navigating the legal system in a second language need. Lorena is a Certified Notary Public and holds a North Carolina AOC Court Interpreter Orientation certification.

Returning to practice alongside Julian Doby is something she takes seriously. Every client gets the same attention, the same honesty, and the same quality of support -- regardless of what language they speak or how complicated the situation is.

Lorena Meza

Paralegal | Bilingue Ingles-Espanol

Lorena Meza tiene mas de 20 anos de experiencia como paralegal, interprete profesional y lider de programas comunitarios. Su trayectoria abarca la defensa penal estatal y federal, inmigracion y lesiones personales -- las mismas areas en el centro de esta practica.

Antes de regresar al trabajo legal, Lorena se desempeno como Interprete de Distrito en el Sistema Escolar Alamance-Burlington, brindando interpretacion ingles-espanol para 15 escuelas del distrito. Ha interpretado en procedimientos judiciales, consultas legales y entrevistas con agencias de cumplimiento de la ley, incluyendo la DEA, el FBI y la ATF. Tambien coordino programas de educacion temprana y participacion familiar a traves de LatinXEd y Alamance Achievers, donde dirigio el Proyecto Alamance Forward para ampliar la participacion civica entre familias del Condado de Alamance.

Esa combinacion -- conocimiento legal, interpretacion fluida y raices profundas en la comunidad local -- es exactamente lo que los clientes que navegan el sistema legal en un segundo idioma necesitan. Lorena es Notaria Publica Certificada y tiene la certificacion de Orientacion de Interprete Judicial de la AOC de Carolina del Norte.

Regresar a ejercer junto a Julian Doby es algo que toma con seriedad. Cada cliente recibe la misma atencion, la misma honestidad y el mismo nivel de apoyo -- sin importar el idioma que hable ni cuan complicada sea la situacion.

Pat Theakos

Paralegal | Office Manager | Bookkeeper

Pat Theakos has been a paralegal since 1978 -- which means she has been doing this work longer than most attorneys have been practicing law. Her experience covers personal injury, family law, criminal law, and estate planning, and she has used all of it at Doby & Griffis Law.

Beyond case work, Pat manages the day-to-day operations of the firm. Scheduling, client files, financial records, billing -- the systems that keep a practice running. She handles that side of the office with the same attention she brings to legal work, which means clients rarely have to follow up twice.

What people notice most about Pat is that she listens. Legal situations are stressful, and a lot of what clients need is someone who will take the time to hear them out without rushing to the next call. She does that consistently, for every client, and it shows in how the firm operates day to day.

Pat is the kind of person a firm is built around. She is committed to the work, to the people who walk through the door, and to the standards that Doby & Griffis Law holds itself to.