The recent death of O.J. Simpson brought out reflections by many on the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, and the enrapturing period that ensued. From the white Ford Bronco slow-speed police chase to the image of Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., wearing a black knit cap while arguing before the jury, many of us were glued to our televisions for over a year because of the larger-than-life image that Simpson held in American pop culture. And while even in death, O.J. Simpson remains a polarizing figure, his double-murder trial, famously dubbed the “Trial of the Century,” remains one of the most fascinating trials in American history. It changed the public’s view of lawyers for a generation. And the names of so many people involved in the trial – Marcia Clark, Christopher Darden, Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro, F. Lee Bailey, Barry Scheck, and Mark Fuhrman – are indelibly etched in our memories for their roles in Simpson’s trial.
From the moment the LAPD zeroed in on Simpson, his lawyers outmaneuvered the prosecution at seemingly every turn. Simpson’s defense team employed a strategy that was quite sophisticated, in that from the earliest days of their representation of Simpson, the defense team understood the intangible and tangible elements necessary to successfully defend Simpson: assembling a team of seasoned and venerable lawyers and experts; using defense experts to impeach and undermine prosecution experts; using publicity to shape the public’s perception of Simpson; frontloading defense theories into the public consciousness early and often so that those theories gained traction and acceptance prior to trial; challenging everything, no matter how minimal; disrupting the prosecution; and (almost) always presenting to the public as unified and supportive of Simpson’s innocence. Simpson’s defense team’s zealous advocacy was relentless and full throttle, and ultimately paid dividends, in the form of Simpson’s acquittals.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00CriminalJusticehttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngCriminalJustice2024-05-10 09:12:202024-05-10 09:16:58O.J. is Dead, But Our Duty to be Zealous Advocates Endures
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?
A half hour of your time is all we need to make this program a success! We are seeking attorney volunteers to connect with a law student and pass on the valuable insights you have about succeeding in law school and entering the practice of law. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out this attorney sign-up form (law students can sign up with this student sign-up form). If you have signed up during a previous GaC session, you will need to sign up again.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBA YLDhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBA YLD2024-05-08 12:00:502024-05-08 12:01:27Searching for Volunteers for the Grab-a-Coffee Program: Summer 2024
Like many other lawyers, I grew up in a competitive family. The dinner table was a debate stage. Jeopardy was a full-contact sport. Performance and achievement led to reward and affirmation. This environment prepared me for many of the challenges I would face in my adult life—law school, the bar exam, and the stress of practicing law. Somewhere along the way, though, I realized that something was missing. This way of living was not sustainable for me. So, I set out on a journey ten years ago to explore my own well-being and to redefine what flourishing looked like for me. I’d like to share some of what I have learned.
This is not another article encouraging readers to meditate, write a gratitude journal, practice mindfulness, exercise, sleep and eat better, engage in service work, get out in nature, or change their mindset. While these are all valuable practices, by now, most of us know what we can do to improve our well-being. We have been inundated with well-being content offering specific wellness tools. Instead, what follows are principles that I have found helpful in guiding my well-being journey.
Like many other lawyers, I grew up in a competitive family. The dinner table was a debate stage. Jeopardy was a full-contact sport. Performance and achievement led to reward and affirmation. This environment prepared me for many of the challenges I would face in my adult life—law school, the bar exam, and the stress of practicing law. Somewhere along the way, though, I realized that something was missing. This way of living was not sustainable for me. So, I set out on a journey ten years ago to explore my own well-being and to redefine what flourishing looked like for me. I’d like to share some of what I have learned.
This is not another article encouraging readers to meditate, write a gratitude journal, practice mindfulness, exercise, sleep and eat better, engage in service work, get out in nature, or change their mindset. While these are all valuable practices, by now, most of us know what we can do to improve our well-being. We have been inundated with well-being content offering specific wellness tools. Instead, what follows are principles that I have found helpful in guiding my well-being journey.
Jack Cummings received Tax Notes’ inaugural Award for Excellence in Tax Commentary on May 3 at the ABA Tax Section’s annual meeting. Jack is counsel in Alston & Bird’s Raleigh and Washington offices.
The quality and quantity of Jack’s tax articles and other scholarly work are extraordinary. Many of us are like Salieri in “Amadeus.” Our lesser talents allow us to appreciate, but not replicate, Jack’s insightful work.
Congratulations, Jack! Below is a conversation with him:
Over the years, what percentage of your time was spent on client work, and what percentage on scholarly pursuits?
That’s a good question. Only in the last few years has it become pretty heavily weighted towards articles, scholarly or not!
How have you found time to write so many excellent and thorough articles?
Often an article grows out of a practice issue, so research can do double duty.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00TAXhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngTAX2024-05-07 10:18:272024-05-07 10:21:00Jack Cummings Receives Tax Notes’ Award for Excellence in Tax Commentary
I came into law school having no interest in commercial law. So, how did I spend the past summer in Rome drafting international factoring law at a prestigious international institution? How did I get the opportunity to spend my fall break presenting at the 14th Annual Transnational Commercial Law Professor Conference? The answer: an outstanding professor who believed in me and taught me how commercial law can be more than it seems.
During my first week of 1L, the older students warned me about Professor Gabriel. I was told he was an “old-school” law professor with high expectations for his students. Hence, I was nervous when winter term came around because I had him for Contracts. Going into the first class, I was expecting someone who would do his thing and leave, not caring whether or not we understood the material. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. It was evident from the first day that, although his humor was extremely dry, he cared about the material and hoped we would, too. As the trimester continued, I knew I would take every class he offered. Fast forward one year and two more classes with Professor Gabriel: it was my 2L Winter trimester, and I figured I would ask Professor Gabriel how to get involved in this field of law. He asked me if I had an internship lined up for the summer and if I was open to international travel. Read more
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBA YLDhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBA YLD2024-05-02 10:51:302024-05-02 10:58:57The Professor Who Changed the Trajectory of My Career
Approximately four years ago, on March 10, 2020, Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in North Carolina due to the covid-19 outbreak which had originated in Wuhan, China in the late Fall of 2019 and began spreading to the United States in early 2020. The public is aware of the doctors, nurses and other medical workers who helped so many North Carolinians through the covid-19 crisis. The public is less aware of the significant role that lawyers played in providing pro bono legal services to North Carolinians with covid-19 legal issues, one of whom was attorney John Noor with the Asheville law firm of Roberts and Stevens.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Pro Bonohttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngPro Bono2024-05-01 16:21:582024-05-09 12:32:23Pro Bono Spotlight: John Noor and the Western North Carolina COVID Legal Hotline
The 2024 Pro Bono Award winners have been selected and will be recognized during the NCBA Annual Meeting on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Charlotte. The honorees are:
Greenblatt Outstanding Lawyer Award: Rona Karacaova – Legal Aid of North Carolina
Thorp Pro Bono Service Award: Kerry A. Friedman – Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, PA
YLD Pro Bono Award: Palmer E. “Tripp” Huffstetler III – Sosna & Huffstetler
Outstanding Paralegal Pro Bono Service Award: Andrea M. Blosser – Robinson Bradshaw
Law Firm Pro Bono Award: Robinson Bradshaw
Outstanding Collaborative Pro Bono Award: NCBA SOGI LGBTQ+ Legal Clinics
Law School Pro Bono Service Award: “Better Together” – Duke University School of Law, NC Central University School of Law, UNC School of Law
The Filling the Justice Gap Award: Rachel Royal: Royal Touch Project Solutions, LLC
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Pro Bonohttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngPro Bono2024-04-30 11:20:312024-05-09 12:33:382024 Pro Bono Recipients Announced
Kimberly E. Zirkle has joined the Charlotte office, where she will practice with the Banking & Financial Services Practice Group. She focuses on corporate finance and acquisitions transactions, and works with lenders and private equity portfolio companies and other private companies. She brings more than 15 years of experience in finance. Zirkle has engaged in pro bono and public service throughout her career. In her pro bono work, she has represented individuals who have experienced domestic violence and was on the board of Safe Alliance. She is the board chair of Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses, Inc. She received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Capua Law Welcomes Attorney
Glenn Conway focuses on construction and business litigation. A native of New Haven, Conn., Conway formerly practiced criminal defense, civil rights and police misconduct matters. Conway is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and Connecticut. As an attorney, he has obtained approximately 100 jury verdicts. He earned a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Connecticut.
Appellate Attorney Joins The Dowling Firm
Troy Shelton has joined The Dowling Firm. Shelton is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice, and he works with trial counsel on critical motions. From 2014 to 2015, Shelton served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder of the Middle District of North Carolina. Shelton also served as a member of the NCBA Appellate Rules Committee. In 2023, he received the North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award. He holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University.
Elon University School of Law appreciates all the support from the legal community and welcomes volunteers for this year’s 17th Annual Intramural Moot Court Competition and Legal Method & Communication (LMC) oral arguments at Elon Law. The LMC arguments will be held from Monday through Thursday, May 13-16, at various times during the day between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Intramural Moot Court Competition will be held on Monday and Tuesday, May 20-21, with rounds at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. We would ask that judges arrive at the law school at least 15 minutes before their argument time. You will be sent the appellate brief problem and bench brief for review before the oral arguments.
To volunteer for the LMC arguments (Week of May 13) and/or the Intramural Moot Court Competition (Week of May 20), please complete the Registration Form as soon as possible and by Wednesday, May 8. The registration form will allow you to sign up for oral arguments during either or both weeks. If you have questions, please contact Kelly Moye at Elon Law via email or by phone at (336) 279-9304).
Thank you again for your consideration of this request. We appreciate your support of Elon University School of Law, and we hope to see you soon.
O.J. is Dead, But Our Duty to be Zealous Advocates Endures
Criminal JusticeThe recent death of O.J. Simpson brought out reflections by many on the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, and the enrapturing period that ensued. From the white Ford Bronco slow-speed police chase to the image of Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., wearing a black knit cap while arguing before the jury, many of us were glued to our televisions for over a year because of the larger-than-life image that Simpson held in American pop culture. And while even in death, O.J. Simpson remains a polarizing figure, his double-murder trial, famously dubbed the “Trial of the Century,” remains one of the most fascinating trials in American history. It changed the public’s view of lawyers for a generation. And the names of so many people involved in the trial – Marcia Clark, Christopher Darden, Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro, F. Lee Bailey, Barry Scheck, and Mark Fuhrman – are indelibly etched in our memories for their roles in Simpson’s trial.
From the moment the LAPD zeroed in on Simpson, his lawyers outmaneuvered the prosecution at seemingly every turn. Simpson’s defense team employed a strategy that was quite sophisticated, in that from the earliest days of their representation of Simpson, the defense team understood the intangible and tangible elements necessary to successfully defend Simpson: assembling a team of seasoned and venerable lawyers and experts; using defense experts to impeach and undermine prosecution experts; using publicity to shape the public’s perception of Simpson; frontloading defense theories into the public consciousness early and often so that those theories gained traction and acceptance prior to trial; challenging everything, no matter how minimal; disrupting the prosecution; and (almost) always presenting to the public as unified and supportive of Simpson’s innocence. Simpson’s defense team’s zealous advocacy was relentless and full throttle, and ultimately paid dividends, in the form of Simpson’s acquittals.
Read more
Searching for Volunteers for the Grab-a-Coffee Program: Summer 2024
Young Lawyers DivisionDo 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?
A half hour of your time is all we need to make this program a success! We are seeking attorney volunteers to connect with a law student and pass on the valuable insights you have about succeeding in law school and entering the practice of law. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out this attorney sign-up form (law students can sign up with this student sign-up form). If you have signed up during a previous GaC session, you will need to sign up again.
Read more
Of Competition, Stress, and Well-Being
Featured PostsLike many other lawyers, I grew up in a competitive family. The dinner table was a debate stage. Jeopardy was a full-contact sport. Performance and achievement led to reward and affirmation. This environment prepared me for many of the challenges I would face in my adult life—law school, the bar exam, and the stress of practicing law. Somewhere along the way, though, I realized that something was missing. This way of living was not sustainable for me. So, I set out on a journey ten years ago to explore my own well-being and to redefine what flourishing looked like for me. I’d like to share some of what I have learned.
This is not another article encouraging readers to meditate, write a gratitude journal, practice mindfulness, exercise, sleep and eat better, engage in service work, get out in nature, or change their mindset. While these are all valuable practices, by now, most of us know what we can do to improve our well-being. We have been inundated with well-being content offering specific wellness tools. Instead, what follows are principles that I have found helpful in guiding my well-being journey.
Read more
Of Competition, Stress, and Well-Being
Professional Vitality, Professional Vitality CommitteeLike many other lawyers, I grew up in a competitive family. The dinner table was a debate stage. Jeopardy was a full-contact sport. Performance and achievement led to reward and affirmation. This environment prepared me for many of the challenges I would face in my adult life—law school, the bar exam, and the stress of practicing law. Somewhere along the way, though, I realized that something was missing. This way of living was not sustainable for me. So, I set out on a journey ten years ago to explore my own well-being and to redefine what flourishing looked like for me. I’d like to share some of what I have learned.
This is not another article encouraging readers to meditate, write a gratitude journal, practice mindfulness, exercise, sleep and eat better, engage in service work, get out in nature, or change their mindset. While these are all valuable practices, by now, most of us know what we can do to improve our well-being. We have been inundated with well-being content offering specific wellness tools. Instead, what follows are principles that I have found helpful in guiding my well-being journey.
Read more
Jack Cummings Receives Tax Notes’ Award for Excellence in Tax Commentary
Tax SectionBy Herman Spence III
Jack Cummings
Jack Cummings received Tax Notes’ inaugural Award for Excellence in Tax Commentary on May 3 at the ABA Tax Section’s annual meeting. Jack is counsel in Alston & Bird’s Raleigh and Washington offices.
The quality and quantity of Jack’s tax articles and other scholarly work are extraordinary. Many of us are like Salieri in “Amadeus.” Our lesser talents allow us to appreciate, but not replicate, Jack’s insightful work.
Congratulations, Jack! Below is a conversation with him:
Over the years, what percentage of your time was spent on client work, and what percentage on scholarly pursuits?
That’s a good question. Only in the last few years has it become pretty heavily weighted towards articles, scholarly or not!
How have you found time to write so many excellent and thorough articles?
Often an article grows out of a practice issue, so research can do double duty.
Read more
The Professor Who Changed the Trajectory of My Career
Young Lawyers DivisionI came into law school having no interest in commercial law. So, how did I spend the past summer in Rome drafting international factoring law at a prestigious international institution? How did I get the opportunity to spend my fall break presenting at the 14th Annual Transnational Commercial Law Professor Conference? The answer: an outstanding professor who believed in me and taught me how commercial law can be more than it seems.
During my first week of 1L, the older students warned me about Professor Gabriel. I was told he was an “old-school” law professor with high expectations for his students. Hence, I was nervous when winter term came around because I had him for Contracts. Going into the first class, I was expecting someone who would do his thing and leave, not caring whether or not we understood the material. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. It was evident from the first day that, although his humor was extremely dry, he cared about the material and hoped we would, too. As the trimester continued, I knew I would take every class he offered. Fast forward one year and two more classes with Professor Gabriel: it was my 2L Winter trimester, and I figured I would ask Professor Gabriel how to get involved in this field of law. He asked me if I had an internship lined up for the summer and if I was open to international travel. Read more
Pro Bono Spotlight: John Noor and the Western North Carolina COVID Legal Hotline
Pro Bono CommitteeJohn Noor
By Paul Yale
Approximately four years ago, on March 10, 2020, Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in North Carolina due to the covid-19 outbreak which had originated in Wuhan, China in the late Fall of 2019 and began spreading to the United States in early 2020. The public is aware of the doctors, nurses and other medical workers who helped so many North Carolinians through the covid-19 crisis. The public is less aware of the significant role that lawyers played in providing pro bono legal services to North Carolinians with covid-19 legal issues, one of whom was attorney John Noor with the Asheville law firm of Roberts and Stevens.
Read more
2024 Pro Bono Recipients Announced
Pro Bono CommitteeThe 2024 Pro Bono Award winners have been selected and will be recognized during the NCBA Annual Meeting on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Charlotte. The honorees are:
Read more
Checking In: April 30, 2024
Checking InCompiled by Jessica Junqueira
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Adds New Partner
Kimberly E. Zirkle has joined the Charlotte office, where she will practice with the Banking & Financial Services Practice Group. She focuses on corporate finance and acquisitions transactions, and works with lenders and private equity portfolio companies and other private companies. She brings more than 15 years of experience in finance. Zirkle has engaged in pro bono and public service throughout her career. In her pro bono work, she has represented individuals who have experienced domestic violence and was on the board of Safe Alliance. She is the board chair of Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses, Inc. She received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Capua Law Welcomes Attorney
Glenn Conway focuses on construction and business litigation. A native of New Haven, Conn., Conway formerly practiced criminal defense, civil rights and police misconduct matters. Conway is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and Connecticut. As an attorney, he has obtained approximately 100 jury verdicts. He earned a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Connecticut.
Appellate Attorney Joins The Dowling Firm
Troy Shelton has joined The Dowling Firm. Shelton is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice, and he works with trial counsel on critical motions. From 2014 to 2015, Shelton served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder of the Middle District of North Carolina. Shelton also served as a member of the NCBA Appellate Rules Committee. In 2023, he received the North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award. He holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University.
Read more
Volunteer Judges Needed for Elon Law Appellate Oral Arguments
Young Lawyers DivisionElon University School of Law appreciates all the support from the legal community and welcomes volunteers for this year’s 17th Annual Intramural Moot Court Competition and Legal Method & Communication (LMC) oral arguments at Elon Law. The LMC arguments will be held from Monday through Thursday, May 13-16, at various times during the day between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Intramural Moot Court Competition will be held on Monday and Tuesday, May 20-21, with rounds at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. We would ask that judges arrive at the law school at least 15 minutes before their argument time. You will be sent the appellate brief problem and bench brief for review before the oral arguments.
To volunteer for the LMC arguments (Week of May 13) and/or the Intramural Moot Court Competition (Week of May 20), please complete the Registration Form as soon as possible and by Wednesday, May 8. The registration form will allow you to sign up for oral arguments during either or both weeks. If you have questions, please contact Kelly Moye at Elon Law via email or by phone at (336) 279-9304).
Thank you again for your consideration of this request. We appreciate your support of Elon University School of Law, and we hope to see you soon.