December 2009
Article Date: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
The NCBA Young Lawyers Division Bulletin
November 2009
Dates to Know
STARTING A LAW FIRM? DON'T MISS START-UP BOOT CAMP DEC. 16th. The NCBA's Center for Practice Management, under the direction of Erik Mazzone, will present the first Start-Up Boot Camp, a one day, non-CLE credit program, dedicated to the practical details of starting a law firm. The program will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary. The free program is open only to NCBA members on a first-come, first-serve basis; access the link below for additional information including a stellar lineup of speakers and presenters. http://younglawyers.ncbar.org/media/4956039/startupBootCamp.pdf
- January 9, 2010 - Wills for Heroes, Charlotte, Fire and Police Training Academy , 9AM – 5 PM
- February 6, 2010 – Ask A Lawyer in-person legal service day
- March 5, 2010 - 4All Statewide Service Day
** To have a date included in the YLD Blast, please contact Allyson Labban at Allyson.Labban@smithmoorelaw.com
**Specific Event Details**
Wills for Heroes
The North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division will be holding its second Wills for Heroes event of 2009-2010 in Charlotte on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the Fire and Police Training Academy , which is located at the 1770 Shopton Road (28217). The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and last until 5:00 p.m., with the last appointments being scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Wills for Heroes provides free wills, healthcare power of attorneys, and durable power of attorneys to first responders, including policemen, firefighters, and EMTs, and their spouses. Information for those would like to volunteer for this project (including notaries, witnesses, or a NC licensed attorney to draft documents), will be sent to YLD members in the coming weeks. You are not required to have estate planning experience in order to volunteer. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the event, please feel free to contact Jake Epstein at jepstein@mcguirewoods.com or (919) 755-6600, or Susan Finch at sfinch@susanfinchlaw.com or (919) 624-9772. More information about Wills for Heroes can be found at d at http://www.willsforheroes.org/.
YLD SEEKING VOLUNTEERS, PARTICIPANTS FOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS
Do you remember being a law student or a fresh new attorney? If so, your help is needed! The NCBA YLD is seeking mentors and mentees to participate in its three traditional mentorship programs (law students, minorities, and new attorneys) for 2009-10. Each of these programs matches lawyers or law students with practicing attorneys to discuss and respond to questions about the legal profession. Mentors have an opportunity to provide information and practical advice about a particular practice area, the importance of civility, and issues that may be unique to new attorneys, minorities, and/or law students. Access the link below to register.
http://younglawyers.ncbar.org/media/144361/mentormenteeapplication.pdf
Ask A Lawyer and 4ALL Service Days
The annual Ask a Lawyer in-person legal service day will be held across North Carolina on Super Bowl Saturday, February 6, 2010. The goal is for every local YLD affiliate group to hold an Ask A Lawyer event. The program is easy to organize and conduct, and the NCBA YLD will support your group with publicity and materials. YLD and Bar Association leaders in your area will soon receive letters from Craig Taylor with more details; if you would like to lead an Ask A Lawyer event in your area or want more information, please contact Craig at (336) 379-8651 or cat@crlaw.com. Please plan ahead and encourage all your fellow YLD colleagues to reach out to our community and participate in these rewarding and valuable events.
*Committee News*
YLD Bar Exam Committee
More than 1100 applicants took the bar this past July, and unfortunately, many were not successful. Others are currently preparing for the upcoming 2010 exams as first-time applicants. Consequently, the Bar Exam Committee is currently accepting requests for assistance in preparing for the bar from applicants both in and outside of North Carolina. We invite anyone who is interested in helping applicants in developing or strengthening their study plan or study method to email committee co-chairs Allison Holmes at AHolmes@vanblk.com or Brenee Orozco at orozcofirm@gmail.com.
Pro Bono Committee
The Legal Feeding Frenzy will be handled by the Pro Bono Committee this year. We are soliciting feedback, comments, suggestions, and ideas for improving collection/logistics, participation, and accountability. If you participated, what would you change to make it easier? If you didn't participate, what might we to do encourage your participation? Please send any constructive criticism, comments, or suggestions to Rick@RickRutledgeLaw.com.
*Article of the Month*
Protecting Trademarks in Web 2.0
By Brian J. Winterfeldt
http://http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202435924630&rss=newswire
Winterfeldt explores how the nature of trademarks is evolving in the Facebook/Twitter era. Many consumers comment on brands through social networking. Winterfeldt explains that trademark owners should come up with definitive third-party trademark policies and adhere to these policies in order to protect their mark from infringement.
*Area of Interest*
AT&T Raleigh Winterfest
http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/raleighwinterfest/general_info.htm
The opening celebration on Friday, December 4 will run from 5 pm until 11 pm and will feature performances by local choirs and bands, talented figure skaters and a multitude of other entertainers, a visit by Santa Claus, a reading by Ira David Wood III (star of Theatre in the Park's A Christmas Carol), delicious food and drink, a dazzling holiday tree lighting and Grammy-winning, country music headliner Michelle Branch. This FREE, community-wide kickoff event will be followed by two months of additional programming at the AT&T Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink.
*Website of Interest*
Jotwell (Journal of Things We Like Lots)
http://jotwell.com/
Sponsored by the University of Miami School of Law, Jotwell "invites you to join us in filling a telling gap in legal scholarship by creating a space where legal academics will go to identify, celebrate, and discuss the best new legal scholarship." The project is organized into different areas of legal specialization which are managed by a pair of section editors who are responsible for selecting and working with a team of ten or more contributing editors. Those editors will commit to writing one essay a year that identifies and explains a significant development in that specific practice area. This is a growing legal resource to keep an eye on.
*Blog(s) of Interest*
ABA Journal Blawg 100
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/aba_journal_blawg_100
This year’s list of the top 100 law-related blogs has been posted by the ABA Journal for voting. The list is organized into categories and is a great way to find out about some of the most read blawgs in the legal profession.