Harold attended North Carolina A & T State University and UNC-Greensboro where he graduated from in 1991 with a B.S. in Business Management.  Harold moved to Charlotte in 1991 and worked as a Probation Officer until he entered law school at North Carolina Central University in 1993.  While in law school he was elected class president, worked as law clerk with the United States Attorney's Office and with the Wake County District Attorney's Office.  Upon graduation Harold accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office.  In 1998, Harold founded the Law Offices of Harold Cogdell, Jr., P.C. concentrating in the areas of small business and contract matters, corporate compliance and white-collar criminal offenses.