Sally A. Lawing was born and raised in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, where she attended the public schools. She was awarded the first Bonnie Cone Merit Scholarship to attend UNC-Charlotte, from which she graduated, with honors, in 1977, with double majors in English and Biology. From 1977 through 1979, Sally pursued graduate studies in Genetics at North Carolina State University. In 1979, Sally enrolled in Law School at UNC. She graduated with honors in 1982.

During the first 17 years of her legal career, Ms. Lawing gained extensive experience in the specialty of medical malpractice law by representing doctors, hospitals and other health care providers when they were sued for medical negligence. In 1999, Ms. Lawing "changed sides," so to speak, and began representing patients and their families who were victims of medical negligence.

Starting in 1999, Ms. Lawing practiced as part of The Law Offices of Wade Byrd, and on February 1, 2004, she established her own firm, The Lawing Firm, P.A., dedicated to the representation of plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases throughout the state of North Carolina.

In November 2003, Ms. Lawing became the first North Carolina woman to be elected to the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. She has received other honors, including selection to Best Lawyers in America every year since 1995, as well as being named a Super Lawyer and one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in North Carolina. Both Ms. Lawing and The Lawing Firm, P.A., are rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell.