MIP’s Get to Know Our Members series is a blog feature to spotlight members of the MIP Committee from North Carolina’s community of diverse attorneys and legal professionals. Members have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the broader community through a brief set of interview questions.
Everyone, meet Huma Khursheed.
What law school did you attend, and what was your graduation year?
I attended the University of North Carolina School of Law and graduated in 2024.
The North Carolina Bar Association’s Minorities in the Profession (MIP) Committee hosts an annual 1L Summer Associate Program (1L SAP) that offers corporate offices and law firms an opportunity to recruit for summer internships from a candidate pool of some of the most talented students. 1L SAP candidates are well-rounded students with outstanding academic credentials and a demonstrable ability to enhance employers’ commitment to diversity, inclusion and excellence.
Members of the MIP 1L SAP subcommittee are working diligently to increase employer participation and offer students more opportunities for a summer placement. We are currently seeking employers from all sectors who can support a 1L intern for either a half-summer or full-summer position in 2026. Opportunities can include placements in law firms (large or small), in-house legal departments, public interest organizations or other legal settings. If your firm or company is interested in participating in 1L SAP 2026, please contact BreAnne Shieh.
The Minorities in the Profession Committee (MIP) of the North Carolina Bar Association is pleased to welcome all members — returning and new — to an exciting and meaningful bar year. As we step into the 2025–2026 year, we are thrilled to introduce ourselves as co-chairs: Erin Locklear and Cherell Harris, two dynamic leaders who bring experience, vision, and a deep commitment to advancing and supporting belonging for all attorneys in the legal profession.
Meet Your Co-Chairs
Erin Locklear is a respected attorney and a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, where she advises on policy, compliance, and governance matters. Erin is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Math, Princeton University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Her career has been marked by a strong focus on public service, and she has a particular interest in uplifting underrepresented voices in the legal field. Erin’s leadership reflects her passion for community engagement and systemic equity.
MIP’s Diverse Perspectives is a monthly blog feature to spotlight a member from North Carolina’s community of diverse attorneys and legal professionals. Members have the opportunity to share a personal perspective through a brief set of interview questions.
This month’s perspective is courtesy of Deja Kemp.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBA MIPhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBA MIP2025-03-11 09:39:422025-03-11 09:43:19MIP's Diverse Perspectives: Deja Kemp
The Spanish word “Adelante” translates to “forward,” and one of the Minorities in the Profession’s flagship programs is the annual ¡Adelanté! event, which offers a unique professional development opportunity for law students and young attorneys from diverse backgrounds. This event provides invaluable sessions on key topics such as professionalism and ethics, embracing diversity in practice, and making informed financial decisions throughout your legal career.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBA MIPhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBA MIP2025-01-22 10:20:302025-01-22 14:49:27¡Adelanté! – Lawyers Who Lead
On February 3, 2024, the Adelante event, titled “Legal Blueprints for Minority Law Students,” gathered an impressive turnout from law schools such as North Carolina Central University School of Law, Campbell Law School, and Elon University School of Law, aiming to empower law students from diverse backgrounds.
Planned by the NCBA’s Minorities in the Profession Committee’s ¡Adelante! sub-committee, co-chaired by Lakethia Jefferies and Learla Stefanics, and managed by BreAnne Shieh, the event featured four insightful panels designed to equip attendees with the necessary skills to thrive in the legal profession. Key planning members included Geneva Yourse, Preetha Rini, Jasmine McGhee, Diana Johnson, Valyce Davis, Lauren Brasil, and BreAnne VanHook.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBA MIPhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBA MIP2024-06-06 10:09:272024-06-20 09:22:27MIP Event Recap: ¡Adelante! – Legal Blueprints for Minority Law Students
On March 16, 2024, the North Carolina Bar Association Minorities in the Profession Committee hosted its annual Pre-Law Conference. Targeted to high school, college and second-career professionals, the conference was a day-long event to give a behind-the-curtain look at what it would look like for someone to attend law school, and what benefits and challenges they would face during the journey. Read more
The legal landscape is evolving, and diversity in the legal profession is becoming increasingly important. Recognizing this, the Minorities in the Profession Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association recently hosted an enlightening event – the “Minority Corporate Counsel: Being Diverse in Corporate Law” panel. The purpose of this event was to provide a platform for students and alumni interested in corporate law to connect with and gain insights from diverse in-house attorneys and legal professionals in the corporate sector.
MIP’s Get to Know New Members is a new blog feature to spotlight new members to the MIP Committee from North Carolina’s community of diverse attorneys and legal professionals. Members have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the broader community through a brief set of interview questions. Everyone, meet Michelle Dewkett-Kocchar.
What law school did you attend and what was your graduation year?
Campbell Law School, 2019.
Describe a typical day in your life.
After taking my puppy to the park for our morning play time and meeting our friends, I spend my day in the office working talking to clients and working through workers’ comp cases before coming home and making dinner for my husband and me. I love to spend my free time baking, reading, going on walks with my husband and dog, and just watching TV with them and our three cats.
MIP’s Diverse Perspectives is a monthly blog feature to spotlight a member from North Carolina’s community of diverse attorneys and legal professionals. Members have the opportunity to share a personal perspective through a brief set of interview questions.
This month’s perspective is courtesy of Sidney Minter.
What law school did you attend and what was your graduation year?
North Carolina Central University School of Law; 2011.
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