Join Us For A Complimentary Webinar on Law School Debt

By Erin Winters 

Do you have questions about law school debt? Are you a law school student and want a look at how student debt can affect you? Are you a young lawyer interested in learning about your options on managing and handling law school debt? Well, we have a free webinar to help guide you through those questions!

The ABA Young Lawyers and Law Student Divisions are co-sponsoring a complimentary webinar on law school debt in collaboration with the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, December 12, at 1 p.m. CST. You will see a few of your YLD leaders are participating as panelists, and we hope you will join us!

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/447540327/.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Winters, Section Director, Section of Legal Ed at Erin.Winters@american.

Start Here, Stay Here: Why Law Students Should Join the North Carolina Bar Association

Courtney, a white woman with brown hair, wears a beige blouse. By Courtney Latourrette 

As a law student, there are many activities and organizations available for students to join, including Moot Court and Law Review. Law students attending American Bar Association (commonly referred to as the “ABA”)-accredited or provisionally accredited law schools are eligible for complimentary membership in the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. The NCBA offers many valuable resources and opportunities for law student members, including Networking events, Pro Bono Opportunities, Practice Seminars, and so much more.

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Friendsgiving Social & Music Trivia

By Megan Reilly-Dreas

The NCBA’s Young Lawyers Division, together with the Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee, are excited to host Friendsgiving & Music Trivia: an evening of food, drinks, friends, and drag, at the Velvet Hippo in beautiful downtown Durham.

Come celebrate with old friends and make a few new ones as we give thanks for another great bar year.

Open to legal professionals, law students, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community alike, we will meet at 6:30 p.m. to mix and mingle ahead of music trivia bingo beginning at 8 p.m. hosted by Vivica Coxx and guest DJs.

Thursday, November 21
Friendsgiving Social – 6:30 p.m. | Music Trivia – 8 p.m.
Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge | 119 Orange St, 3rd Floor, Durham

The purple flyer reads "Music Trivia Bingo, fun prizes, no cover, guest DJs every week, 3 rounds of fun and games, free to play all rounds! Every Thursday night at 8 p.m."

How To Lose Your Law License

MJ, a white person with brown curly hair, wears a grey shirt and olive green button-down shirt. MJ is holding a coffee cup in a brightly lit coffee shop and sitting with a window in the background.By MJ Segal 

You’re a freshly licensed North Carolina attorney. Finding your footing in the job market is hard, and there seems to be a lot of important information you didn’t learn in law school. Then you get your first copy of the ABA journal, and, wow, there’s a whole section on attorneys who have gotten disciplined for breaking various rules. But that won’t happen to you . . . right?

Let’s make sure.

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Know Your Rights

Laura, a white woman with brown hair, wears a white blouse and black blazer.Carlo, a man with brown hair and a beard, wears a white shirt, blue tie and grey suit.By Laura Merriman and Carlo Ballesteros-Flores

We will cover frequently asked questions regarding in-person North Carolina voting and special issues. If you have any questions, you should check with the North Carolina State Board of Elections (“NCSBE”) and your local county board of elections.

When can you vote?

Early Voting began on October 17 and will continue until November 3 at 3 p.m. Election Day is November 5, polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Any voter in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote. You must be registered to vote before Election Day.

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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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Belonging With Purpose: The Benefits of Joining the NCBA Young Lawyers Division

Samantha, a white woman with blond hair and brown glasses, wears a white shirt and navy blazer. By Samantha Gordon

As a young lawyer in North Carolina, one of the most valuable steps you can take in shaping your career is becoming actively involved in the North Carolina Bar Association’s (NCBA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD). Not only does this provide numerous professional and personal benefits, but it also opens doors to meaningful networking opportunities, professional development, and ways to give back to the community. Here’s why you should get involved, how to sign up, and why it matters.

Why You Should Get Involved

1. Professional Development

Starting your legal career can feel daunting, but the YLD provides an invaluable opportunity for young attorneys to enhance their legal skills, build leadership experience, and access mentorship. The YLD offers a variety of workshops, CLE programs, and conferences that allow you to stay updated on the latest legal trends and practice areas, which will set you up for success. Read more

Searching for Volunteers for the Grab-a-Coffee Program – Fall 2024

Matt, a white man with brown hair, wears a pale blue shirt, grey suit, and mint green tie.Tae, a Black woman with Black hair wears a white blouse and a black blazer.By Mary Beth Davis, Matt Meinel and Tae Storr

Do you have time to grab a cup of coffee? Instead of taking this one to-go, how about spending thirty meaningful minutes with a future lawyer?

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A Letter to My Younger Self

Bob Hunter, a white man with grey hair and wire-rimmed glasses, wears a white button-down shirt and pale blue tie and a black judge's robe.By Bob Hunter

Bobby Cooke (now Bob Hunter),

Here I am Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Senior Lawyers Division, Justice on the Cherokee Supreme Court, Chairman of the North Carolina Property Tax Commission, former North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge, and former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. How in the world did a child from a meager home in Marion, North Carolina, whose father was an alcoholic and left home when I was five and never contacted my mother or me again, accomplish this?

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Taking a Different Path: Alternative Legal Careers

Maya, a Black woman with black hair, wears a white blouse and maroon blazer.By Maya Davis

On March 22, 2024, the New Lawyers in Practice Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association hosted a panel event: “Taking a Different Path: Alternative Legal Careers.” The dynamic panel included the following speakers: Alexandra Davis, Managing Editor at Public Discourse; Debra Hamilton, Certified Mediator (Animal Conflicts); Kearra Richardson, Project Review Analyst; Sarah Clayton, Director of ADR at the American Arbitration Association; and Najib Azam, Senior Risk Manager at UBS.

Every story has a beginning, and at the beginning of the event, panel attendees first learned about the pivotal moment, or moments, that led the panelists to choose an alternative career path. While some panelists knew right away that they didn’t want to practice or litigate, some panelists litigated and stepped away from litigating after several years. A common thread seemed to be that everyone found their perfect niche and had a unique story to finding that path, whether they discovered it immediately after law school or years later.

Another commonality every panelist shared was the benefit of having a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Najib Azam believes this degree can set you apart in non-attorney roles. The J.D. will often lead people to hold you to an esteemed degree, but with great power comes great responsibility. Going through the rigor of the law and the bar often reflects the analytical and problem-solving skills people have. Kearra Richardson and Debra Hamilton encouraged the guests to obtain additional certifications which will allow for greater knowledge, new skills, and better communication in an ever-changing society.

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