January 2010

Article Date: Friday, January 01, 2010

The NCBA Young Lawyers Division Bulletin
January 2010

Dates to Know

 

• January 9 - Wills for Heroes, Charlotte, Fire and Police Training Academy, 9 AM – 5 PM
• January 23 – YLD Winter Quarterly Meeting, Brooks Pierce, Greensboro, 9 AM – 11:30 AM
• January 23 – Bar Exam Committee co-sponsors writing clinic with NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee, Elon University
• February 6 – Ask A Lawyer in-person legal service day
• February 24 – Bar Exam Committee provides refreshments and information at February Bar Exam
• March 5 - 4All Statewide Service Day http://4allnc.ncbar.org/participate.aspx
• March 6 – Annual Planning Meeting/YLD Spring Quarterly Meeting, Old Salem, Winston-Salem
• March 6 - Western Regionals, High School Moot Court Competition, Charlotte School of Law, Charlotte
• March 6 - Eastern Regionals, High School Moot Court Competition, Campbell School of Law, Raleigh
• March 29 – Wills for Heroes, Greensboro (place and time TBA)
• 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 Celebration, Cardinal Club, Raleigh
• June, TBA, Bar Exam Committee to co-sponsor writing clinic with NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee
• June 24-26 – NCBA 2010 Convention, Hilton Riverside, Wilmington
• June 24 – YLD Summer Quarterly Meeting, Hilton Riverside, Wilmington
• June 25 – YLD Lunch and Annual Meeting, Hilton Riverside, Wilmington

** 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 Wills for Heroes Committee currently has two Wills for Heroes projects scheduled for 2010. The first one is scheduled for January 9, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Approximately 203 first responders have already scheduled appointments for this date, and close to 100 volunteers have signed up, including 40 attorneys, 30 paralegals, and a number of law students. This event is filled to capacity. The second 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. This event is still in the planning stages, but more information and requests for volunteers will be sent out to the YLD soon. Please feel free to contact either Jake Epstein at jepstein@mcguirewoods.com or (919) 755-6600 or Susan Finch at 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

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 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 state. This year’s question ties in the theme for 2010 by addressing “cyber-bullying” policies in high schools 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), Activity Book (Grade 5), the Liberty Bell Award, and the Law Day Ceremony. The Law Week Committee has an upcoming meeting scheduled for January 28, 2010. If you are interested in serving on this committee or 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 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 *

Sanctions Ordered Against Goodwin Procter Over Delay in Releasing E-Mail
Sheri Qualters
The National Law Journal

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202437229090&Sanctions_Ordered_Against_Goodwin_Procter_Over_Delay_in_Releasing_EMail

Qualters describes an incident where Goodwin Procter was ordered to pay $25,777.50 in sanctions due to its failure to produce certain emails. Qualters explains that this is part of a larger trend of judges applying sanctions in electronic discovery cases. In addition to judges applying sanctions in these cases, the standard used to determine whether or not sanctions are applicable is often negligence, a much lower standard than willful misconduct.

* Area of Interest *

Blowing Rock Winterfest
January 28 - 31, 2010

The 12th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest includes 3 days of activities in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come and enjoy the wild and crazy Polar Plunge in Chetola Lake, the Chili Cook-Off, Wine Tasting and Auction, Blues Concert, Downtown Hayrides, Pancake Breakfast, Winter Paws Pet Show, Bonfires in the Park, WinterFeast, Ice Carving Competitions, Woodcarving Demonstrations, Kids’ Activities, Fire on the Rock Kickoff, and much more. All of the proceeds from events go to local charities. Area hotels are featuring value-priced Winterfest packages and tickets are available at the Blowing Rock Visitors Center (Chamber of Commerce) or online at www.blowingrockwinterfest.com.

* Website of Interest *

ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20

http://www.abanet.org/ethics2020/outline.pdf

The ABA Commission on Ethics has released a preliminary outline of issues to consider in terms of the Model Rules and other regulatory rules for attorneys in light of new trends that are affecting the legal profession, including legal trends in other countries. The Commission is set to hold its first round of public hearings on the topics beginning in February. The link above provides access to the description of the Committee and the preliminary list of issues that will be considered.

* Blog(s) of Interest *

Blawg Review - >http://blawgreview.blogspot.com/

Blawg Review is a peer-reviewed publication where each guest author or “host” determines which posts from other law-related blogs are suitable to mention in the review. The guest author chooses a theme for the post and then selects at least a dozen or more different blog posts to fit into that theme. The result is an educational and often amusing publication of creative writing related to various law-related topics. There are certain rules required for each review which makes for a high quality blog post worth reading.