It’s probably fair to say that each attorney wants to be competent in his or her area of practice, but how can you set yourself apart in a particular area of law and take your practice to the next level? Having just reached my ninth year as an elder and special needs law attorney and my third year as a Board-Certified Specialist in elder law, I’ve recently reflected on what factors of my practice and education have supported developing a broad knowledge base in this area of law.
One factor of my practice and volunteer involvement that cannot be understated is with the NCBA Elder and Special Needs Law Section. Early on in my practice, a former colleague volunteered me to present recent developments at the Elder and Special Needs Law Symposium. Presenting in front of such a large group seemed a daunting task, particularly since I was certain that I would forget the entirety of my research. I was also certain that everyone in the audience would know more than me.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00ElderLawhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngElderLaw2022-01-10 15:17:152022-01-10 15:17:15Getting Involved in Your NCBA Section: A Case Study
As an NCBA Law Student Representative for North Carolina Central School of Law this year, I appreciated the YLD Law Student Outreach Committee hosting “Salary Negotiations 101 with Karen Chopra” on November 1. If you missed the event, I encourage you to view the recording here.
As a non-traditional law student with a background in Human Resources, I can attest that Karen did not hold back in sharing valuable information on salary negotiations. Some of the key takeaways from the presentation include:
Do you know a land use law superstar? Please consider nominating them for the Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section Award of Excellence! This award recognizes a member of the Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section who has shown outstanding dedication to land use matters while exhibiting the highest ethical standards and a commitment of service to clients and the profession. The full nomination guidelines and forms are available here: https://www.ncbar.org/members/communities/sections/zoning-planning-land-use/zoning-planning-and-land-use-section-award-of-excellence/.
Nominations for the award will close February 1, 2022. The award will be presented at the ZPLU Annual Meeting and CLE on April 21, 2022. Mark your calendars! Jamie Schwedler and Jannice Ashley are planning a great CLE focused on equity and inclusion issues, and we’ll explore various aspects of this theme in land use regulations and practices as well as in general legal practice. This CLE will be valuable for all practitioners, regardless of primary practice area.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00ZPLUhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngZPLU2022-01-04 12:14:002022-01-04 12:14:00Call for Nominations – Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section Award of Excellence
The financial and physical impacts of pregnancy disproportionately affect women, as biology makes it easier for men to evade their equal responsibility. However, laws that provide robust pregnancy support can make women and children more secure, while also ensuring more equitable pregnancy cost distributions. Regardless of whether pregnancy support is framed as prenatal child support or preglimony,[1] society benefits. This idea of support during pregnancy is within North Carolina statutes and case law, but the type of support and ability to receive support is limited and fails to provide for the full range of women or children’s needs.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00FamilyLawhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngFamilyLaw2022-01-04 11:56:422022-01-04 11:56:42The Limits on Pregnancy Support In North Carolina
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.pngParalegals2021-12-20 15:13:252022-10-24 12:54:58Preparing for the Holidays
Efficiency is a lawyer’s best friend. Below you will find a cheat sheet with information and resources you need to apply for admission to the United States District Courts of North Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States, with links to the various courts’ websites.
Before you begin digging through the requirements, you should verify whether your employer is willing to handle the application process and/or pay the fees on your behalf. Also, you must be a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina (or another state) for three years before you can apply for admission to the Supreme Court of the United States.
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 YLD2021-12-20 09:28:242023-09-08 16:08:47How to Apply for Admission to Federal Courts
In the summer of 2009 I traveled to a small village in the Ramsdalen valley of Norway to shoot a story for 60 Minutes about a group of adventurers jumping off cliffs and flying to the ground in wingsuits. We hired one of them to shoot video while they were in flight. He was from South Africa but had been living for the past few years with his girlfriend in a VW Bus in the French Alps. Julian Boulle was his name.
I lived with Julian in a farmhouse for two weeks during our shoot. We were together morning, noon, and night. Julian proved to be incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the techniques and mechanics of wingsuit flying, but also some of the greater existential aspects of living so close to death. As the days wore on, and the nights became longer, our conversations branched out far beyond the story we were shooting. The more we talked, the more it seemed Julian had been everywhere and knew something about everything we talked about – war, politics, world culture. Picture Forrest Gump in dreadlocks. That was Julian . . . if he was to be believed. Halfway through our shoot, I decided I didn’t.
It’s that time of year again – when the library becomes your second home, caffeine becomes your best friend, and many, many law students become acquainted with high stress and anxiety. You guessed it: it is exam season.
This is my third exam season, and as I look back on my first exam season, I did practically everything wrong. No, not in my studying, but in the way I let the stress of exams control my life. I studied all day, every day, making no time for myself. Law school’s practical reality is that exams require daily hard work for many hours, but that should never mean sacrificing your mental health and overall well-being.
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 YLD2021-12-15 15:45:392021-12-20 11:31:43Managing Stress During Final Exams
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Adds Brett Lawrence
Brett Lawrence has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice group, as well as the Banking and Financial Services Practice group. His practice is focused on data privacy and cybersecurity issues, insurance coverage and professional liability, and he is a Certified Information Privacy Professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He holds a J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Florida Atlantic University.
New Associates Join the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Patrick Clare has joined the firm and practices in the workers’ compensation department. He has represented plaintiffs in workers’ compensation cases. He also has experience in personal injury litigation, premises liability, and general negligence. Clare earned a J.D. at Campbell Law School, where he was an articles editor for the Campbell Law Review. While in law school, Clare served as an NCBA Law Student Representative. He received a B.A. in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Tom Wilmoth has joined the firm. He has more than ten years of experience practicing law as a corporate litigator. During that time, he has represented Fortune 500 companies. Before becoming a litigator, Wilmoth served as a law enforcement officer in Greensboro for more than eight years. He received a J.D. from Elon University School of Law and a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
It’s commonplace for plaintiffs in construction cases, especially owners, to assert unfair trade practice claims. But those claims rarely succeed. Most construction disputes involve a breach of contract between two sophisticated parties. In those circumstances, North Carolina law requires a substantial aggravating factor to turn the breach of contract into an unfair trade practice under G.S. 75-1.1 But a new decision in Gilmore’s Farm, Inc. v. Herc Rentals, Inc. from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has recognized that wrongfully asserting a lien can be the basis for a claim under G.S. 75-1.1.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Constructionhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngConstruction2021-12-10 10:27:002022-01-03 16:32:16Gilmore’s Farm, Inc. v. Herc Rentals, Inc. – A New Basis for Unfair Trade Practice Claims?
Getting Involved in Your NCBA Section: A Case Study
Elder & Special Needs LawIt’s probably fair to say that each attorney wants to be competent in his or her area of practice, but how can you set yourself apart in a particular area of law and take your practice to the next level? Having just reached my ninth year as an elder and special needs law attorney and my third year as a Board-Certified Specialist in elder law, I’ve recently reflected on what factors of my practice and education have supported developing a broad knowledge base in this area of law.
One factor of my practice and volunteer involvement that cannot be understated is with the NCBA Elder and Special Needs Law Section. Early on in my practice, a former colleague volunteered me to present recent developments at the Elder and Special Needs Law Symposium. Presenting in front of such a large group seemed a daunting task, particularly since I was certain that I would forget the entirety of my research. I was also certain that everyone in the audience would know more than me.
Read more
Salary Negotiations: Previous and Upcoming YLD Events!
Young Lawyers DivisionAs an NCBA Law Student Representative for North Carolina Central School of Law this year, I appreciated the YLD Law Student Outreach Committee hosting “Salary Negotiations 101 with Karen Chopra” on November 1. If you missed the event, I encourage you to view the recording here.
As a non-traditional law student with a background in Human Resources, I can attest that Karen did not hold back in sharing valuable information on salary negotiations. Some of the key takeaways from the presentation include:
Read more
Call for Nominations – Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section Award of Excellence
Zoning Planning & Land Use SectionDo you know a land use law superstar? Please consider nominating them for the Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section Award of Excellence! This award recognizes a member of the Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Section who has shown outstanding dedication to land use matters while exhibiting the highest ethical standards and a commitment of service to clients and the profession. The full nomination guidelines and forms are available here: https://www.ncbar.org/members/communities/sections/zoning-planning-land-use/zoning-planning-and-land-use-section-award-of-excellence/.
Nominations for the award will close February 1, 2022. The award will be presented at the ZPLU Annual Meeting and CLE on April 21, 2022. Mark your calendars! Jamie Schwedler and Jannice Ashley are planning a great CLE focused on equity and inclusion issues, and we’ll explore various aspects of this theme in land use regulations and practices as well as in general legal practice. This CLE will be valuable for all practitioners, regardless of primary practice area.
The Limits on Pregnancy Support In North Carolina
Family Law SectionBy
Jessica Wollum
The financial and physical impacts of pregnancy disproportionately affect women, as biology makes it easier for men to evade their equal responsibility. However, laws that provide robust pregnancy support can make women and children more secure, while also ensuring more equitable pregnancy cost distributions. Regardless of whether pregnancy support is framed as prenatal child support or preglimony,[1] society benefits. This idea of support during pregnancy is within North Carolina statutes and case law, but the type of support and ability to receive support is limited and fails to provide for the full range of women or children’s needs.
Read more
Preparing for the Holidays
Paralegal DivisionHello, fellow division members, and happy holidays!
As we come to the end of December, we have made it through another year together, adjusting to the challenges the world has presented us.
I wish you all the best as we continue through our journeys!
With these challenges, the holidays can be a stressful time.
Read more
How to Apply for Admission to Federal Courts
Young Lawyers DivisionEfficiency is a lawyer’s best friend. Below you will find a cheat sheet with information and resources you need to apply for admission to the United States District Courts of North Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States, with links to the various courts’ websites.
Before you begin digging through the requirements, you should verify whether your employer is willing to handle the application process and/or pay the fees on your behalf. Also, you must be a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina (or another state) for three years before you can apply for admission to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Read more
Objectivity
Featured PostsIn the summer of 2009 I traveled to a small village in the Ramsdalen valley of Norway to shoot a story for 60 Minutes about a group of adventurers jumping off cliffs and flying to the ground in wingsuits. We hired one of them to shoot video while they were in flight. He was from South Africa but had been living for the past few years with his girlfriend in a VW Bus in the French Alps. Julian Boulle was his name.
I lived with Julian in a farmhouse for two weeks during our shoot. We were together morning, noon, and night. Julian proved to be incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the techniques and mechanics of wingsuit flying, but also some of the greater existential aspects of living so close to death. As the days wore on, and the nights became longer, our conversations branched out far beyond the story we were shooting. The more we talked, the more it seemed Julian had been everywhere and knew something about everything we talked about – war, politics, world culture. Picture Forrest Gump in dreadlocks. That was Julian . . . if he was to be believed. Halfway through our shoot, I decided I didn’t.
Read more
Managing Stress During Final Exams
Law Student Division, Young Lawyers DivisionIt’s that time of year again – when the library becomes your second home, caffeine becomes your best friend, and many, many law students become acquainted with high stress and anxiety. You guessed it: it is exam season.
This is my third exam season, and as I look back on my first exam season, I did practically everything wrong. No, not in my studying, but in the way I let the stress of exams control my life. I studied all day, every day, making no time for myself. Law school’s practical reality is that exams require daily hard work for many hours, but that should never mean sacrificing your mental health and overall well-being.
Read more
Checking In: Dec. 14, 2021
Checking InCompiled by Jessica Junqueira
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Adds Brett Lawrence
Brett Lawrence has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice group, as well as the Banking and Financial Services Practice group. His practice is focused on data privacy and cybersecurity issues, insurance coverage and professional liability, and he is a Certified Information Privacy Professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He holds a J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Florida Atlantic University.
New Associates Join the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Patrick Clare has joined the firm and practices in the workers’ compensation department. He has represented plaintiffs in workers’ compensation cases. He also has experience in personal injury litigation, premises liability, and general negligence. Clare earned a J.D. at Campbell Law School, where he was an articles editor for the Campbell Law Review. While in law school, Clare served as an NCBA Law Student Representative. He received a B.A. in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Tom Wilmoth has joined the firm. He has more than ten years of experience practicing law as a corporate litigator. During that time, he has represented Fortune 500 companies. Before becoming a litigator, Wilmoth served as a law enforcement officer in Greensboro for more than eight years. He received a J.D. from Elon University School of Law and a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Read more
Gilmore’s Farm, Inc. v. Herc Rentals, Inc. – A New Basis for Unfair Trade Practice Claims?
Construction Law SectionIt’s commonplace for plaintiffs in construction cases, especially owners, to assert unfair trade practice claims. But those claims rarely succeed. Most construction disputes involve a breach of contract between two sophisticated parties. In those circumstances, North Carolina law requires a substantial aggravating factor to turn the breach of contract into an unfair trade practice under G.S. 75-1.1 But a new decision in Gilmore’s Farm, Inc. v. Herc Rentals, Inc. from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has recognized that wrongfully asserting a lien can be the basis for a claim under G.S. 75-1.1.
Read more