A Look Into My Internship With the Alamance County Public Defender’s Office

Grant, a white man with brown hair, wears a grey shirt, black blazer and maroon, navy and pale grey tie.By Grant Gergen 

This past summer I spent my first summer as a law student interning at Alamance County’s newly opened public defender’s office. The reason I chose this opportunity truly began from my time in college and the long journey I took before entering law school. I began law school as somewhat of a non-traditional student, having graduated from undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in 2019. I spent the next fifteen months living in Ecuador as a teacher for the Peace Corps (unfortunately, cut short by the pandemic), after that, a year in Wyoming for AmeriCorps, then, two years of graduate school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and finally, choosing to attend law school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The right balance of circumstances and chance brings someone to where they are now. My path to becoming interested in working in public defense began with the right professor, in the right class, in my sophomore year of college. This man, whom many University of Florida college grads who went on to law school came to know, was Samuel Stafford. Professor Stafford teaches part-time at the University of Florida, with most of his hours and responsibilities dedicated to his work as a judge in Alachua County. It was him, and as a sad testament to our society’s failure to educate on inequality and injustice, and him alone, who pulled the curtain back on the deeply classist and racist strands that weave the American fabric and that touch virtually all aspects of our country’s criminal legal system. There is a much greater amount of text that could be written here to talk about my experiences in Professor Stafford’s three college courses (Civil Liberties; Constitutional Law; Race, Law, and the Constitution), which all took place at an almost-impossible-for-a-college-undergrad time of 7:25 a.m. in the morning.

I believe that these courses enabled me not only to think more critically about the inequality built into our country but also to actually see it in the everydayness of life when I looked the right way. Perhaps I would have found myself down a similar path eventually, but it was these experiences in the classroom with Professor Stafford that likely stand as some of the greatest inflection points in my life.

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The Importance of Parental Responsibility: Insights From In Re: B.L.K.

By Annelisse Velazquez-FernandezAnnelisse, a woman with dark brown hair, wears brown glasses and a navy blue and white striped blouse.

In the complex world of family law, the stakes can be incredibly high, particularly when it comes to the termination of parental rights. The recent unpublished opinion of In Re: B.L.K., decided by Judge Arrowood in Moore County on September 17, 2024, highlights the profound implications of parental involvement — or lack thereof. Here, the father appealed the termination of his parental rights, questioning whether the trial court had sufficient evidence to support (1) willful abandonment under N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(7) and (2) termination under N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(5). The Court of Appeals focused solely on the first issue, noting that if any statutory ground in § 7B-1111(a) is supported by competent evidence, the remaining grounds need not be addressed.

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NC Bankruptcy Section Greeting

George, a white man with grey hair, wears a white shirt, purple tie and black jacket. By George Sanderson

Dear Bankruptcy Section Members,

I am excited to be your section Chair this year.

As bankruptcy filings are picking up, the mission of the Bankruptcy Section to provide timely updates on legal and legislative developments is becoming increasingly important. It is also my priority this year to maximize networking, mentorship, and development activities throughout our three bankruptcy districts.

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How to Survive Practicing Law While Being a Caregiver – Part One

Eleanor, a white woman with brown hair, wears a black dress, black blazer, and pearl necklace.By Eleanor Panetti

Twenty-four years ago, I received a call to let me know that my mother needed to be admitted to the hospital. For me, this phone call was the beginning of a fifteen-year period of caregiving which lasted until my mother’s death. I became responsible for my mother’s care all day, every day for fourteen of those fifteen years.

I was part of a two-attorney practice that did not have a family leave policy. I had to adjust my work schedule to accommodate caring for my mother, including managing and overseeing caregivers in her home. In many ways, I was lucky in that resources were available for care; that documents were in place to allow me to step in and handle my mother’s affairs; and that I was not directly denied the opportunity to take care of my family. Many people in our profession are not so lucky.

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A Look into My Internship with the NCDOJ Medicaid Investigations Division

By Emily Jacobson Emily, a white woman with golden brown hair, wears a white shirt and black blazer.

I looked forward to my first summer for my entire 1L year. I frequently heard older students and mentors describe their first summers as the moment when all the pieces fell together. Heading into their second year of law school, they felt a deeper understanding and appreciation for the work they do while in school. Now, at the conclusion of my first summer and the early stages of my 2L year, I echo those sentiments.

I spent this summer interning with the North Carolina Department of Justice Medicaid Investigations Division. MID represents the interests of the citizens of North Carolina, particularly as they relate to the health care industry. The bulk of MID’s work involves investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud; they also handle patient abuse cases in Medicaid-funded facilities across North Carolina. MID’s work is critical for protecting the integrity of the Medicaid system and guarding state and federal funds from bad actors.

I was eager to work with MID and explore what I now know is an interesting, and often overlooked, area of law. My experience was enriching, and it allowed me to practice the skills I developed during my first year at Campbell Law. More importantly, however, this summer was the first chance I have had to engage in meaningful legal work for the benefit of my community. Since beginning law school, I have been eager to apply my developing legal skills in a practical and useful way. My internship with MID was an excellent opportunity to do so, and I am grateful I could spend my summer in this way.

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A Look into My Internship with the NCDOJ Medicaid Investigations Division

By Emily Jacobson Emily, a white woman with golden brown hair, wears a white shirt and black blazer.

I looked forward to my first summer for my entire 1L year. I frequently heard older students and mentors describe their first summers as the moment when all the pieces fell together. Heading into their second year of law school, they felt a deeper understanding and appreciation for the work they do while in school. Now, at the conclusion of my first summer and the early stages of my 2L year, I echo those sentiments.

I spent this summer interning with the North Carolina Department of Justice Medicaid Investigations Division. MID represents the interests of the citizens of North Carolina, particularly as they relate to the health care industry. The bulk of MID’s work involves investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud; they also handle patient abuse cases in Medicaid-funded facilities across North Carolina. MID’s work is critical for protecting the integrity of the Medicaid system and guarding state and federal funds from bad actors.

I was eager to work with MID and explore what I now know is an interesting, and often overlooked, area of law. My experience was enriching, and it allowed me to practice the skills I developed during my first year at Campbell Law. More importantly, however, this summer was the first chance I have had to engage in meaningful legal work for the benefit of my community. Since beginning law school, I have been eager to apply my developing legal skills in a practical and useful way. My internship with MID was an excellent opportunity to do so, and I am grateful I could spend my summer in this way.

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A Look Into My Internship With the Alamance County Public Defender’s Office

Grant, a white man with brown hair, wears a grey shirt, black blazer and maroon, navy and pale grey tie.By Grant Gergen 

This past summer I spent my first summer as a law student interning at Alamance County’s newly opened public defender’s office. The reason I chose this opportunity truly began from my time in college and the long journey I took before entering law school. I began law school as somewhat of a non-traditional student, having graduated from undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in 2019. I spent the next fifteen months living in Ecuador as a teacher for the Peace Corps (unfortunately, cut short by the pandemic), after that, a year in Wyoming for AmeriCorps, then, two years of graduate school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and finally, choosing to attend law school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

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Young Lawyers Mobilize for Disaster Legal Services

Brooks, a white woman with long, light brown hair, wears a white shirt and light blue blazer.By Brooks Savage 

In response to Tropical Storm Helene, the Disaster Legal Services (DLS) Program has been activated and young lawyers across the state, and the nation, are mobilizing to volunteer.

Disaster Legal Services

Disaster Legal Services (DLS) is authorized under the Stafford Act to provide pro bono legal services for low-income individuals who are unable to secure legal services to meet their needs as a consequence of a major disaster. After the President declares a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD), DLS is authorized as an Individual Assistance (IA) Program through the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) and is administered through the states in partnership with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association (ABA).

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10 Points of Retirement Planning: An Overview of Recommendations from Professionals

Martin, a white man with white hair and a beard, wears a pale blue button-down shirt.By Martin A. Ginsburg

Retirement is a significant milestone in life, and preparing for it requires careful planning, smart investments, and a disciplined savings strategy. With the right plan in place, you can ensure a financially stable and fulfilling retirement. This guide aims to provide a thorough overview of retirement planning, from setting your goals to making the most of your Social Security benefits and managing healthcare costs. Whether you are just starting your paralegal career or nearing retirement, this comprehensive guide will help you develop a clear strategy to meet your retirement goals.

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Assignment of Income Doctrine

John, a white man with dark brown hair, wears a pale blue shirt, lime green and blue tie, and black suit. By John G. Hodnette

The assignment of income doctrine was established in Lucas v. Earl, 281 U.S. 111 (1930). It is a judicial doctrine that requires income earned by a taxpayer to be taxed to the taxpayer regardless of to whom it is paid. In Lucas, the taxpayer assigned to another individual his right to receive a payment for services. In Blair, 300 U.S. 5 (1937), the Supreme Court confirmed the doctrine applies to income arising from property as well as service income.

The anticipatory assignment of income doctrine is a longstanding “first principle of income taxation.” Commissioner v. Banks, 543 U.S. 426, 434 (2005) (quoting Commissioner v. Culbertson, 337 U.S. 733, 739–40 (1949)). The doctrine ensures income is taxed “to those who earn or otherwise create the right to receive it,” Helvering v. Horst, 311 U.S. 112, 119 (1940).  Tax cannot be avoided “by anticipatory arrangements and contracts however skillfully devised,” Lucas v. Earl at 115.

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