Carter began his law practice in 1980 in Tarrant County where he rose to managing partner of the firm. An extensive trial practice led to his Board Certification in Civil Trial Law in 1992, followed by his election as the Court of Record Judge for the City of Bedford in Tarrant County in 1993. Not seeking re-election, Carter was sought out to become the head of claims for a legal malpractice underwriter, Great American Insurance. There he rose to be Senior Vice President in charge of underwriting, claims, reinsurance and risk management for attorneys in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. In 2006 he moved to a start-up operating for One Beacon Insurance Company again in legal malpractice insurance.

Carter left One Beacon Insurance in 2008 to return to private practice applying his experience and acquired skills to legal malpractice, fiduciary litigation and civil litigation. Carter has been a part of over 4,000 legal malpractice claims and has served his colleagues in the thousands in 26 states, Washington D.C., Canada and Costa Rica.

He is most proud of serving as a small group leader on Thursday nights at the Union Gospel Mission for the Homeless in Tarrant County since his return to private practice.