February 2010
Article Date: Monday, February 01, 2010
The NCBA Young Lawyers Division Bulletin
February 2010
Dates to Know
- February 19 – NCBA YLD Legislative Committee-sponsored CLE "The Citizen Lawyer: Professionalism in Serving in Local Government."
- February 24 – Bar Exam Committee provides refreshments and information at February Bar Exam
- March 5 - 4All Statewide Service Day
- March 6 – YLD annual planning/spring quarterly meeting, Winston-Salem, Old Salem
- March 6 - Western Regionals, High School Moot Court Competition, Charlotte School of Law
- March 6 - Eastern Regionals, High School Moot Court Competition, Campbell School of Law, Raleigh
- April 10 – Bar Exam Committee hosts bar exam clinic
- May 7 - Moot Court Competition Final Round - North Carolina Supreme Court, Raleigh
- May 7- Law Day Celebrations
- June 25-26, YLD annual meeting, Wilmington
- June, TBA, Bar Exam Committee to co-sponsor writing clinic with NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee
**To have a date included in the YLD Blast, please contact Allyson Labban at Allyson.Labban@smithmoorelaw.com.
**Specific Event Details**
YLD Legislative Committee CLE
On Friday, February 19, the YLD Legislative Committee is sponsoring a CLE titled “The Citizen Lawyer: Professionalism in Serving in Local Government.” This three hour CLE, which counts toward the ethics credit, includes a candid and insightful discussion about becoming involved in your community by serving in both elected and non-elected local government offices. The program provides practical, professional and ethical considerations for seeking public office, including an overview of the political process from filing to running, fundraising and taking the oath of office. In addition, this program discusses maintaining a law practice while serving in local public office and ethical considerations upon leaving office, including transition from the public sector back to the private sector. Access the link below for more information, including registration details: /cle/programs/648YLD.aspx.
Wills for Heroes
A Wills for Heroes event is scheduled for March 29, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina, due to a large number of requests from first responders that we host an event in that area. The planning stages for this event are just beginning, but more information and requests for volunteers will be sent out to the YLD soon. Please feel free to contact either Jake Epstein at http://jepstein@mcguirewoods.com or (919) 755-6600 or Susan Finch at http://sfinch@susanfinchlaw.com or (919) 624-9772 if you have any questions about the Wills for Heroes projects.
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
4ALL Service Days – March 5 4ALL Statewide Service Day
The annual Ask a Lawyer in-person legal service day was held across North Carolina on Super Bowl Saturday, February 6, 2010. This event will be followed by the March 5 Statewide Service Day, with the establishment of volunteer-staffed call centers across North Carolina. On March 5, North Carolinians can call in to talk by phone to a North Carolina lawyer at no charge from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Your help is greatly needed. To volunteer, access the link below:
https://4allnc.ncbar.org/participate/online-volunteer-application.aspx
Our 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 Law & Aging Committee - Project Grace
This year, the YLD Law & Aging Committee has been organizing a number of clinics to provide Health Care Powers of Attorney, Living Wills and HIPAA forms to those underprivileged in North Carolina utilizing public health services under the name "Project Grace." The next Project Grace will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Campbell Law School in downtown Raleigh. Please contact Michael Wells at MichaelW@wellsjenkins.com or Jocelyn Fina at jocelynfina@mvalaw.com if you are interested in volunteering at this event. Please RSVP by Friday, February 26, 2010.
The Minority Focus Committee
The Minority Focus Committee is creating a database of local minority bar associations in North Carolina. The purpose of the database is to serve as a resource for both attorneys and law students. If you would like your organization to be included please contact Tadra Martin at tadramartin@gmail.com or Soreé Finley at soreef@lssp.org. Also, if you live in an area that does not have a minority bar association but would like to be included in the database, please email your name, location/judicial district, and contact information.
Law Student Activities Committee
- Volunteer Opportunity for Law Students
Interested in meeting students from other North Carolina law schools? The YLD's Law Student Activities Committee is organizing two Habitat for Humanity events for students. Come join us on February 6th in Durham or on February 20th in Greensboro. To sign up for the Durham Habitat location, email Mital Patel at mitalpatel@gmail.com stating a preference for either the morning or afternoon shift. To sign up for the Greensboro Habitat location, email Corinne Jones at corinne.b.jones@gmail.com. Volunteer slots will be available on a first come, first served basis.
- Law Student Bulletin
The YLD's Law Student Activities Committee has published its annual Law Student Bulletin. This year's bulletin includes six articles targeted to law students on a variety of topics. You may access the Bulletin online at http://lawstudent.ncbar.org/bulletins/2010-bulletins-archive/january-2010-edition.aspx.
- Law-Related Education Committee
The Law-Related Education Committee will be hosting a panel discussion at the Crosby Scholars Senior Academy to discuss the legal rights and responsibilities of adults. The Senior Academy is a mandatory event for all high school seniors involved in the Crosby Scholars. The Senior Academy will be at Forsyth Technical Community College on April 10 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Anyone interested in being a part of the panel can contact co-chairs Clara Cottrell at clara.cottrell@smithmoorelaw.com, Jon Ward at Jonward@pckb-law.com, or Oliver Carter at oliver.carter@gmail.com.
The Crosby Scholars has also extended an invitation to attorneys interested in volunteering with the organization. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Barbara Masi at bmasi@crosbyscholars.org.
- Law Day Committee
This year's Law Day theme is "Law in the 21st Century: Emerging Challenges and Enduring Traditions." The Law Week Committee has distributed the 2010 High School Moot Court Competition materials to students across the states. This year's question ties in the theme for 2010 by addressing "cyber-bullying" policies in high school and the First Amendment right to free speech. The Law Day Committee is also responsible for the Poster Art Contest (Grades 4-6), the Photo Essay Contest (Grade 8), Essay Contest (Grades 7-8, 9-12), the Activity Book for 5th graders, the Liberty Bell Award, and the Law Day Ceremony. If you are interested serving on this committee, or in coaching a high school moot court team please contact Bethany Burgon at /bburgon@ncdoj.gov or Guy Milhalter at gmilhalter@andersonandjones.com.
- 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 chair Allison Holmes at AHolmes@vanblk.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.
Mecklenburg County Bar YLD Helps Spread Holiday Cheer
Written by Amy B. Foxhall of Dozier, Miller, Pollard & Murphy, LLP
Over the holidays, a non lawyer in my family told me the following joke:
On Christmas Eve, an honest politician, a generous lawyer and Santa Claus were riding in the elevator of a very posh hotel. Just before the doors opened they all noticed a $20 bill lying on the floor. Which one picked it up?
Santa of course, because the other two don't exist!
I am happy to report that the Young Lawyers Division of the Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB YLD) proved that joke wrong this holiday season. The MCB YLD played Santa Claus this year by teaming up with the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Project, which provides underprivileged children with holiday gifts. Each year, children whose families meet the economic requirements fill out an angel ornament with their clothing sizes, needs and wishes. Volunteers then have the ability to adopt an angel and provide gifts for that child. Gifts can range from tennis shoes and winter coats to talking Elmos and video games.
In a year when most people were discussing tightening their financial belts, the participants in the MCB YLD Angel Tree Project were especially generous, fulfilling the holiday wishes of 289 children. The law firm of Alston and Bird wins the prize as Santa’s favorite elves, accounting for 225 of the children through the hard work and holiday spirit of its attorneys and staff. Special thanks to the many other kindhearted volunteers and supporters at the Caviness Law Firm; the Charlotte School of Law; Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog; Debra L. Foster, P.A.; DeVore Acton & Stafford; Dozier, Miller, Pollard & Murphy; Family Dollar; Garfinkle Immigration Law Firm; Harkey Lambeth; Hendrick Gardner, Kincheloe & Garofalo; Horack, Talley, Pharr & Lowndes; Johnston, Alison & Hord; the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office; Mitchell & Culp; Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart; and Wells Fargo.
The New York Times reported in an article earlier this year that charitable giving during the recession had fallen by the largest percentage in five decades. Certainly, our legal family has had its share of hardships in this difficult time. Still, the Angel Tree Project proved again that the members of the MCB understand that, as important as it is to tend to the legal needs of the community, there are endless other ways to have a positive impact and share our relative good fortune.
*Article of the Month*
Twitter Libel Liability Gets Early Test
By Karen Sloan, The National Law Journal
http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202439525970&Twitter_Libel_Liability_Gets_Early_Test_
Sloan explores whether or not Twitter "tweets" (the short messages Twitter users send to their followers) can be grounds for a libel or defamation suit. A case in Cook County Illinois found that a tenant who posted defamatory remarks about her landlord on Twitter was not liable for defamation. Sloan points out that as twitter gains in popularity, cases such as this one, will likely be numerous.
*Area of Interest*
February 18, 2010
North Carolina Symphony - Bach and Brahms
Southern Pines, NC
Grant Llewellyn, Music Director, with Lynn Harrell, cello. Program: Bach, Shostakovich and Brahms. 8 PM at Pinecrest High School Auditorium in Southern Pines. For ticket information visit www.ncsymphony.org.
*Website of Interest*
Thoughtful Legal Management
http://thoughtfullaw.com/
This website and blog is a product of David Bilinsky, a popular law practice management consultant, who will be teaching a session on Strategic Planning for the NCBA Law Practice Management Section’s annual meeting and “un”conference on February 12th at the Bar Center. The website provides useful resources and current information on law practice management, technology and strategic planning. More information about hearing Bilinsky speak at the event is here: https://www.ncbar.org/cle/programs/685LPM.aspx.
*Blog(s) of Interest*
ABA TECHSHOW Blog
http://new.abanet.org/calendar/TECHSHOW/blog/default.aspx
Now is the time to key into the ABA TECHSHOW blog before the annual conference at the end of March. The blog has contributions from members of the ABA TECHSHOW Planning Board and will begin posting more information about the sessions and event throughout the months of February and March.