C. Steven Mason Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan LLP, Raleigh

My favorite possession is the iPod my sons gave me for my birthday, loaded with more than 4,000 songs they thought were essential. My musical knowledge stops in the early 1980s, and I’m having a great time catching up, one song at a time.

Vita: Born March 1, 1956, in Columbia, S.C.; bachelor’s from UNC Chapel Hill and law degree from the University of Virginia; wife and two sons. Why he chose this field: I like the tangible aspect — that at the end of a project there is usually more than just a pile of paper. Memorable cases: he projects I am most proud of are the ones involving improvements to downtown Raleigh. When I came to Raleigh, the central business district was all but dying. Through the efforts of a lot of people, it has become a very vibrant and exciting place. I’ve enjoyed being a very small part of that process. What he’d be if not a lawyer: Probably a not very successful developer or an even less successful high-school basketball coach. Heroes: Our troops. Passions: Spending time with my family. One of the best things about being a lawyer in North Carolina is you can have a good practice and still have time for your family. Recent reading: Fred Chappell’s novels about the North Carolina mountains. Don’t ask him to: Read building plans or specs.