YLD e-Blast: April 2021

By Christina Cress and Claire O’Brien

Dates to Know

May 6 | Labor & Employment Law Section Annual Meeting | 3 to 3:30 p.m.

May 7 | 2021 Law Day Ceremony | 12:30 p.m.

May 14 | Minorities in the Profession Committee & YLD: How To Build Your Brand as a Diverse Attorney | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

May 19 | Final YLD Lunch & Learn Series: Part 4 = Working in Big Law | noon

Committee and Section Updates

Law Week and Liberty Bell Committee

The American Bar Association hosts Law Day every first Friday of May to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession. Law Day 2021 will focus on “reminding us that we the people share the responsibility to promote the rule of law, defend liberty, and pursue justice.” The North Carolina Bar Association’s Law Week and Liberty Bell Committee hosts several competitions to recognize students and legal professionals throughout the State that have dedicated their time to pursuing justice and being a voice for all. Please see a list of the competitions below:

• Liberty Bell Award: The Liberty Bell award is one of the most prestigious awards a North Carolinian can receive. The award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions or exemplify lifelong service to the law in North Carolina. Past recipients have included prominent lawyers, judges, and legislators.
• McIntyre Award: The McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge allows middle school and high school students to develop plans to help their communities and share them through public speaking on citizenship.
• Essay Competition: The Law Day Essay Contest is a fun and challenging experience for North Carolina students in sixth through 12th grade and an opportunity for their respective schools to participate in Law Day.
• Poster Competition: The Law Day Poster Art Contest is a fun and challenging experience for North Carolina students in 3rd-5th grade and an opportunity for their respective schools to participate in Law Day.
• Moot Court Competition: The Moot Court Competition brings together middle and high school students for a chance to take on real-life legal scenarios to showcase their preparation, logical reasoning, and oral skills. These students argue in front of volunteer attorneys, and those who reach the final round have a chance to present their argument to the N.C. Supreme Court Justice and Court of Appeals Judges.

Please join us in celebrating these public officials, attorneys, and students who continue to strive to make a difference in our State on Friday, May 7 at 12:30 p.m.! Please RSVP here to join the event.

Civic Engagement Committee

On Thursday, April 22, the YLD Civic Engagement Committee held a panel entitled “Running for Elected Office as an Attorney in the Age of Covid-19.” The panel was moderated by past YLD Chair Rachel Blunk and featured Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court Tamara Barringer, Judge Jefferson Griffin of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and Senator Mujtaba Mohammed. The panelists shared their experiences in running for and holding office as an attorney and provided advice to younger lawyers on how to position themselves to run for office later on in their careers. It was a lively discussion with this outstanding group of attorneys who provided a look at life as an elected official. The YLD has a link to the recording, which is below, and we encourage everyone interested to give it a watch!

Legal Feeding Frenzy Committee

The Legal Feeding Frenzy had another record-breaking year. The total number of donations and winners of the 2021 Legal Feeding Frenzy were announced on April 23 by Attorney General Josh Stein via Facebook Live. This year’s total donations were $230,539.89 (the equivalent of 922,160 pounds of food) – crushing last year’s total of $150,000! In case you missed the award ceremony in live time, you can view it here any time. The winners in each category were: Large Firm – Moore & Van Allen (Charlotte); Medium Firm – McGuireWoods (Charlotte/Raleigh); Small Firm – Morningstar Law Group (Raleigh); Solo Practitioner – Fisher Law (Raleigh); Corporate/In-House – Atrium Health (Charlotte); Public Interest/Government Division – Legal Aid of North Carolina; and Law School – Campbell Law School. The Attorney General’s Cup was presented to Harris Gilreath & Powers of Kill Devil Hills. The Altruist Award, which recognizes a “volunteer, participant, and/or partner who has given selflessly and made a significant impact” on the event, was presented to Communities Manager Cheyenne Merrigan. Thank you to everyone for your donations and your participation. Please remember that hunger does not disappear just because the Legal Feeding Frenzy has ended. Donations to your local food banks are always encouraged and welcomed.

Minorities in the Profession Committee & YLD

The Minorities in the Profession Committee and the Young Lawyers Division are pleased to invite diverse attorneys to join their event: Building Your Brand: Establishing Resilience and Growing Your Network as a Diverse Attorney on Friday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to sharing insight into their personal success, this collaboration will feature a panel of attorneys from various backgrounds and practice areas who will share their perceptions in the areas of Networking, Perfectionism, Emotional Intelligence, and Interpersonal Skills – all to assist participants in building/honing their distinct brand as a diverse attorney in their particularly corporate/company environment. RSVP here by 5 p.m. on May 12.

YLD Final Lunch and Learn Series

The YLD is hosting a new four-part lunch and learn series focused on various practice areas. Every third Wednesday at noon, you will hear from one of our YLD liaisons and a member of the YLD council about what it’s like to work in their practice areas. The fourth and final series will be held on May 19, 2021, at noon and will cover working in large law firms. Join us to learn what it takes to work for a large regional law firm, what a typical day is like, and what some of the pros and cons are, and ask questions and network with fellow YLD members! Whether you are a young lawyer, transitioning lawyer, or law student, find out what it’s like to work in various practice areas and the best way to position yourself to get there. Register here! ICYMI, see Part 1, “Sports and Entertainment Law,” Part 2, “Working In House,” and Part 3, “Small Firm and Government/Non-Profit” below.

Lunch & Learn – Part 1, “Sports and Entertainment Law”

Lunch & Learn – Part 2, “Working In House”

Lunch & Learn – Part 3, “Small Firm and Government/Non-Profit”

Get Involved

Connect with the YLD through the New Online Community Platform

We encourage all YLD members to connect with the YLD through the New Online Community Platform! To learn more about the New Online Community Platform, check out this blog post and these FAQs.

Volunteer with the Young Lawyers Division

We want your talents, energy and viewpoints in the YLD! Whether your passion is for serving the public, serving the profession, writing articles for publication, improving the administration of justice, building your skills and gaining experience, or helping those in need, we’ve got a role that’s perfect for you! To get involved and join one of our committees, please review your options and complete this online form. If you have questions about membership or committee participation, please reach out to Administrative Division Director Jonathan Bogues.

NCBA Pro Bono Opportunities

Be sure to check out the exciting pro bono opportunities available across the state! Click here for NCBA/NCBF Volunteer Opportunities.

BarCARES

COVID-19 has brought about many changes to our everyday lives. Oftentimes, unprecedented changes serve as triggers or stressors. BarCARES is an organization focused on improving the mental health and overall quality of life for NCBA members, local bar groups, and law students, offering no-cost assistance in dealing with personal, family, financial, work, and/or career stressors. Visit BarCARES online or call 800.640.0735 to speak to someone immediately or arrange a telehealth appointment.

NCBA Career Center

Our online career center averages between four to seven new North Carolina jobs a week! Members searching for employment can post their resumes anonymously, and members searching for employees receive a 15% discount on postings! Email questions to Tesha Blancett.

e-Blast Ideas? NCBarBlog Post Ideas?

If you’d like to see additional or new content in the e-Blast Newsletter or featured on the NCBarBlog, email your YLD Communications Committee Co-Chairs, Christina Cress and Claire O’Brien – they’d love to hear from you!