NCBA Professionalism Committee Strategic Plan for 2025-2026

Jim, a white man with grey and brown hair, wears a white shirt, pale blue tie and navy suit.By Jimbo Perry

Goal: “Always leave your campsite better than you found it.” — Allan Head

I am excited to serve as Chair of the NCBA Professionalism Committee. The Professionalism Committee has 40 members this year. Each member is committed to promoting professionalism and civility across the state and leaving our profession better than we found it. Committee members are involved with subcommittees as reflected in this post. In order to accommodate our 19 members who practice west of the Triangle, we will be holding an in-person meeting at the Charlotte offices of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. on January 27, 2026. Other quarterly meetings will be held at the North Carolina Bar Center. A Zoom meeting option will be provided.

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The Myth of “Local Counsel”

By Jeremy, a white man with brown hair and a beard, wears a white shirt, navy suit and burgundy tie.Jeremy Sugg

A few years ago, I ran into a law school classmate in the courthouse elevator. In discussing where we were headed, I let her know I was on my way to a hearing on a motion to dismiss. She wished me good luck as we reached her floor, and I responded, “Oh, I’m just local counsel,” while smiling in recognition of the stress-free afternoon ahead.

Fast forward one year, after learning a lot more about the underlying facts of the case, I found myself questioning whether I had satisfied my professional obligations in permitting my signature to appear on the initial pleading. To say the least, it was no longer a stress-free endeavor.

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