Our Philosophy
Bentley Law Offices, P.A. is a law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of people with regard to negligent medical treatment, nursing home abuse and neglect, motor vehicle crashes, unsafe products, premises liability, and inadequate security. The firm is based in Durham but handles cases in other parts of North Carolina. In addition, we handle cases in Alabama.
At Bentley Law Offices, we have the skills and experience you would expect from a large firm combined with the personal attention and relationships you would find in a small firm. To learn more about our approach to the practice of law, click here:
Constitutional Rights
We are dedicated to protecting the Federal and State Constitutional Rights to a Jury Trial for people who have been injured by the acts of others.
Get in touch
At Bentley Law Offices, we know that finding the right attorney to represent you is a choice not to be taken lightly.
Attorneys
Charles A. Bentley, Jr.
Charles A. Bentley, Jr.
Charles A. Bentley, Jr. has been an active trial lawyer since 1971. He has practiced law in Durham since 1974. He is licensed in North Carolina and Alabama. Charles has devoted his professional life to helping clients who have been injured as the result of negligence. Charles devotes 100% of his professional time to trial practice and each client receives his personal attention. Charles received his B.A. from Auburn University where he was the President of the Student Body and a sprinter on the track team. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia.
Colleen J. Janssen
Colleen Janssen is a tireless and gifted trial attorney who is naturally at home in a courtroom. After many years of working with crime victims, she is now a fierce advocate for people who have been hurt by negligence. Colleen draws on over a decade’s worth of trial experience, including numerous jury trials, to help our clients. She brings her passion for justice and her compassion for our clients to speak for people who have been harmed by the negligent actions of others. Colleen makes an important difference in the lives of our clients and their families through her thoughtful advocacy, her courtroom excellence, her extensive and exceptional preparation, and her commitment to justice.
Legal Assistant
Beth Thompson
Elizabeth Thompson
Beth Thompson joined Bentley Law Offices in May of 2010 as a legal assistant, and she has been a treasured member of our team since then. She received her B.S. in Health Information Administration from Western Carolina University. She enjoys working with the firm's clients and the team. Beth is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (Legal Assistants Division), and she is a Paralegal Affiliate Member of the American Association for Justice.
Beth is a North Carolina native who was born here in Durham. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their dogs, Ace and Boone.
North Carolina Licensed Investigator
Carolyn J. Bentley
Carolyn Bentley is a Licensed North Carolina Investigator. She began her career as an investigator working in Colorado with the preeminent investigator Jane Cracraft in 1988. She has been licensed as a private investigator in North Carolina for over twenty years. Her first two clients in North Carolina were legendary attorneys, Bill Thorp and Howard Twiggs. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Investigators and the North Carolina Association of Investigators. She is a Legal Assistants Division Member of NCAJ and a Paralegal Affiliate Member of AAJ. She is also a member of the Inner Circle of Investigators.
Director of Client Relations
Sam Bentley
Sam Bentley
Sam Bentley joined Bentley Law Offices in October of 2016 when he rescued the Bentleys after the loss of their beloved fifteen-year-old lab rescue, Sundance Bentley. Having been on his own, living through some rough times, and fighting injuries and other maladies, Sam is uniquely qualified to be empathetic to our clients and to the other team members. He is always available to provide love, comfort, and support to anyone he meets.