Can you mandate that your employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine? What will the Department of Justice be like under President-elect Biden? As in-house counsel, what can we do to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
For answers to these and other burning questions, please join us for the Corporate Counsel Section’s annual CLE: In-House Practice in the Age of COVID-19, which will be held in half-day increments on January 21 and 22, 2021. The program offers 6.0 MCLE hours, including 1.0 hour of Substance Abuse/Mental Health credit and 2.0 hours of Technology Training credit. This CLE was prepared by in-house counsel, for in-house counsel. Click here for more information or to register!
At the conclusion of the session on Day 1, your section is offering a Corporate Counsel Diversity Discussion event sponsored by Smith Anderson: “Where We Stand and Taking it Forward Together: How Corporate Counsel Can Move Forward and Increase Allyship and Inclusion in the Workplace,” presented by Dr. Arin Reeves (this event is not for MCLE credit and is offered free of charge to section members). We can all become a part of the solution by creating an inclusive workplace and a space for everyone to be their authentic selves. Please RSVP for the Corporate Counsel Diversity Discussion event by clicking here.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00CorporateCounselhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngCorporateCounsel2021-01-15 09:18:382021-01-15 09:18:38There's Still Time to Register for the Corporate Counsel Section’s Annual Meeting and CLE!
When I first started working from home ten years ago, I really wasn’t sure what exactly that was going to look like. Quite often, when people found out that I worked from home, the response was usually something along the lines of, “Oh, must be nice, going to work in your pajamas and doing whatever you want whenever you want to.” And they had a point. As a contractor (instead of an employee), I have complete control over my schedule, meaning that I don’t have to take time off for appointments or to be in court for one of my Guardian ad Litem cases; I just have to let my attorney client know by blocking out the time on the office calendar.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2021-01-13 16:59:352022-10-24 12:57:46The Perils of Working from Home
The YLD Communications Committee, in conjunction with YLD leadership, is excited to announce that its 2021 Writing Competition, “Getting Creative During Quarantine,” is open as of today, January 13!
We invite you to submit an original piece of creative writing in one of two broad categories: (1) Inspirational experiences, thoughts, reflections, and lessons learned; or (2) Challenges faced personally and/or your perspective on those faced by society at large. The subject matter should be at least loosely related to COVID-19; however, it need not be law related. Entries can be fiction or nonfiction and should be written in accordance with the rules set forth below.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Administrativehttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngAdministrative2021-01-11 14:29:512021-01-11 14:29:51Do You Advise or Work with State Government Agencies, Boards or Commissions?
January is YLD Wellness month, with a different wellness-themed event scheduled for each week of the month. We hope you were able to take advantage of our free virtual yoga and meditation class during week 1 and that you will be on the lookout for another free virtual workout in week 4.
This week (January 11 to 15), we are holding a healthy eating photo contest! To enter, simply post pictures of your healthy meals this week on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #myNCBA or #YLDWellness. We will be awarding prizes to the three best-looking healthy meals! For bonus points, let us know if you cooked the meal or where you got it from and what it is.
In addition to the photo contest, we will also be hosting a free virtual cooking class on January 13 at 5:30 p.m. Chef Josh Crawford will be teaching us how to “cook in harmony” while we prepare a healthy meal of herb-crusted chicken with brown rice and succotash. To participate, register here by Tuesday, January 12, at 5:00 p.m.
Save the date for January 21 at noon. During week 3 of Wellness Month, we will be offering a free presentation on mental wellness by Brett Bowers, NCCU Director of Wellness, and Richard Hicks, Executive Director of HRC. To learn more about Richard Hicks, click here and to learn more about Brett Bowers, click here.
The YLD is happy to be able to make wellness the Division’s focus during January and plans to continue making it a focus with a series of blog posts on the topic, which will be offered throughout the bar year.
Is a pandemic classified as a “natural disaster” in your company’s force majeure clause? In your next contract negotiation, what’s your legal strategy to mitigate risk associated with ever-increasing global outbreaks?
If a force majeure is declared by your supplier, is your company prepared to handle any resulting reputational risk, increased costs or any unforeseeable ramifications due to the force majeure declaration? And what if your agreement has to be terminated due to a force majeure declaration? Did you negotiate appropriate termination assistance from the supplier in order to pivot to your alternate supplier? Overall, is your service agreement sufficient to address these contract risks and their potential consequences and liabilities?
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00CorporateCounselhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngCorporateCounsel2021-01-11 09:41:072021-01-11 10:09:19Have You Registered for the Corporate Counsel Section's Annual Meeting and CLE?
I am pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2020 Fall Paralegal Division $250 Student Scholarship is Rachel Roberson of Vance-Granville Community College!
The Paralegal Division would like to thank each and every student who took the time to submit an application and essay for the Fall Student Scholarship. Rachel Roberson’s topic “Why do you want to be a paralegal?” was truly inspiring. We hope that you will all take the time to read it. Although we were unable to congratulate Ms. Roberson in person, I hope to meet Rachel in person in the near future. Good luck, Rachel!
Additionally, we will start the application process for the 2021 Spring Student Scholarship in late February. Therefore, we encourage those who are interested and eligible to look out for the forthcoming details and apply.
Have you recently renewed your NCBA Membership, including all of your section memberships? During this time of social distancing and remote working, you may find it important to review the benefits of your section membership and how it can help you boost your business network and professional development.
Thanks to a recently upgraded technology platform at the NCBA, we are able to offer unique benefits and virtual events to our section members during COVID-19. With this in mind, here are three of the most important benefits to joining, or rejoining, this section.
Members of the Sports & Entertainment Law Section (“SEL”) found the following recent third-party articles to be of potential interest to Section members. Feel free to reach out to the SEL Communications Co-chairs, Kelly Ryan and Jourdan Williams, if you would like to submit either personally written pieces or other third-party articles that would be of interest to SEL members.
Pro Bono Projects: NC LEAP, Wills for Heroes, Lawyer on the Line
By Allison Constance Even though Alexa Whiteside has not lived in North Carolina long, she has already made her mark as a pro bono volunteer. Alexa moved to Davidson from Los Angeles in April 2019 and works for Ramo Law PC as a motion picture and television attorney. In just a year and a half as a North Carolinian, she has served clients through NC LEAP, Wills for Heroes, and Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Lawyer on the Line program, and she encourages others to take on pro bono work alongside her.
Alexa is currently working to get more sports and entertainment law attorneys involved in NC LEAP because the work is rewarding and very applicable to what they are already doing. Alexa often finds links between pro bono projects and her practice in unexpected ways. As a motion picture and television attorney, Alexa represents producers in all areas of the law, including general business affairs and contract negotiations.
There’s Still Time to Register for the Corporate Counsel Section’s Annual Meeting and CLE!
Corporate CounselCan you mandate that your employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine? What will the Department of Justice be like under President-elect Biden? As in-house counsel, what can we do to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
For answers to these and other burning questions, please join us for the Corporate Counsel Section’s annual CLE: In-House Practice in the Age of COVID-19, which will be held in half-day increments on January 21 and 22, 2021. The program offers 6.0 MCLE hours, including 1.0 hour of Substance Abuse/Mental Health credit and 2.0 hours of Technology Training credit. This CLE was prepared by in-house counsel, for in-house counsel. Click here for more information or to register!
At the conclusion of the session on Day 1, your section is offering a Corporate Counsel Diversity Discussion event sponsored by Smith Anderson: “Where We Stand and Taking it Forward Together: How Corporate Counsel Can Move Forward and Increase Allyship and Inclusion in the Workplace,” presented by Dr. Arin Reeves (this event is not for MCLE credit and is offered free of charge to section members). We can all become a part of the solution by creating an inclusive workplace and a space for everyone to be their authentic selves. Please RSVP for the Corporate Counsel Diversity Discussion event by clicking here.
The Perils of Working from Home
Paralegal DivisionWhen I first started working from home ten years ago, I really wasn’t sure what exactly that was going to look like. Quite often, when people found out that I worked from home, the response was usually something along the lines of, “Oh, must be nice, going to work in your pajamas and doing whatever you want whenever you want to.” And they had a point. As a contractor (instead of an employee), I have complete control over my schedule, meaning that I don’t have to take time off for appointments or to be in court for one of my Guardian ad Litem cases; I just have to let my attorney client know by blocking out the time on the office calendar.
Read more
NCBA YLD Announces Its 2021 Writing Competition: ‘Getting Creative During Quarantine’
Young Lawyers DivisionClaire O’Brien
Christina Cress
By Claire O’Brien and Christina Cress
The YLD Communications Committee, in conjunction with YLD leadership, is excited to announce that its 2021 Writing Competition, “Getting Creative During Quarantine,” is open as of today, January 13!
We invite you to submit an original piece of creative writing in one of two broad categories: (1) Inspirational experiences, thoughts, reflections, and lessons learned; or (2) Challenges faced personally and/or your perspective on those faced by society at large. The subject matter should be at least loosely related to COVID-19; however, it need not be law related. Entries can be fiction or nonfiction and should be written in accordance with the rules set forth below.
Read more
Do You Advise or Work with State Government Agencies, Boards or Commissions?
Administrative LawThe State Archives is again hosting a series of free workshops on records management. Learn more here.
YLD Wellness Month, Week 2 – Healthy Eating Photo Contest and Virtual Cooking Class
Young Lawyers DivisionBy Kristen Kirby
January is YLD Wellness month, with a different wellness-themed event scheduled for each week of the month. We hope you were able to take advantage of our free virtual yoga and meditation class during week 1 and that you will be on the lookout for another free virtual workout in week 4.
This week (January 11 to 15), we are holding a healthy eating photo contest! To enter, simply post pictures of your healthy meals this week on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #myNCBA or #YLDWellness. We will be awarding prizes to the three best-looking healthy meals! For bonus points, let us know if you cooked the meal or where you got it from and what it is.
In addition to the photo contest, we will also be hosting a free virtual cooking class on January 13 at 5:30 p.m. Chef Josh Crawford will be teaching us how to “cook in harmony” while we prepare a healthy meal of herb-crusted chicken with brown rice and succotash. To participate, register here by Tuesday, January 12, at 5:00 p.m.
Save the date for January 21 at noon. During week 3 of Wellness Month, we will be offering a free presentation on mental wellness by Brett Bowers, NCCU Director of Wellness, and Richard Hicks, Executive Director of HRC. To learn more about Richard Hicks, click here and to learn more about Brett Bowers, click here.
The YLD is happy to be able to make wellness the Division’s focus during January and plans to continue making it a focus with a series of blog posts on the topic, which will be offered throughout the bar year.
Have You Registered for the Corporate Counsel Section’s Annual Meeting and CLE?
Corporate CounselIs a pandemic classified as a “natural disaster” in your company’s force majeure clause? In your next contract negotiation, what’s your legal strategy to mitigate risk associated with ever-increasing global outbreaks?
If a force majeure is declared by your supplier, is your company prepared to handle any resulting reputational risk, increased costs or any unforeseeable ramifications due to the force majeure declaration? And what if your agreement has to be terminated due to a force majeure declaration? Did you negotiate appropriate termination assistance from the supplier in order to pivot to your alternate supplier? Overall, is your service agreement sufficient to address these contract risks and their potential consequences and liabilities?
Read more
2020 Fall Student Scholarship Recipient – Rachel Roberson
Paralegal DivisionI am pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2020 Fall Paralegal Division $250 Student Scholarship is Rachel Roberson of Vance-Granville Community College!
The Paralegal Division would like to thank each and every student who took the time to submit an application and essay for the Fall Student Scholarship. Rachel Roberson’s topic “Why do you want to be a paralegal?” was truly inspiring. We hope that you will all take the time to read it. Although we were unable to congratulate Ms. Roberson in person, I hope to meet Rachel in person in the near future. Good luck, Rachel!
Additionally, we will start the application process for the 2021 Spring Student Scholarship in late February. Therefore, we encourage those who are interested and eligible to look out for the forthcoming details and apply.
Benefits of Section Membership
Small Firm & Technology SectionBy
Erin Baker Edgar
Have you recently renewed your NCBA Membership, including all of your section memberships? During this time of social distancing and remote working, you may find it important to review the benefits of your section membership and how it can help you boost your business network and professional development.
Thanks to a recently upgraded technology platform at the NCBA, we are able to offer unique benefits and virtual events to our section members during COVID-19. With this in mind, here are three of the most important benefits to joining, or rejoining, this section.
Read more
Articles of Interest (Dec. 15-31, 2020)
Sports & Entertainment Law SectionMembers of the Sports & Entertainment Law Section (“SEL”) found the following recent third-party articles to be of potential interest to Section members. Feel free to reach out to the SEL Communications Co-chairs, Kelly Ryan and Jourdan Williams, if you would like to submit either personally written pieces or other third-party articles that would be of interest to SEL members.
Read more
Pro Bono Volunteer Spotlight: Alexa Whiteside
Pro Bono CommitteePro Bono Projects: NC LEAP, Wills for Heroes, Lawyer on the Line
Even though Alexa Whiteside has not lived in North Carolina long, she has already made her mark as a pro bono volunteer. Alexa moved to Davidson from Los Angeles in April 2019 and works for Ramo Law PC as a motion picture and television attorney. In just a year and a half as a North Carolinian, she has served clients through NC LEAP, Wills for Heroes, and Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Lawyer on the Line program, and she encourages others to take on pro bono work alongside her.
Alexa is currently working to get more sports and entertainment law attorneys involved in NC LEAP because the work is rewarding and very applicable to what they are already doing. Alexa often finds links between pro bono projects and her practice in unexpected ways. As a motion picture and television attorney, Alexa represents producers in all areas of the law, including general business affairs and contract negotiations.
Read more