YLD e-Blast: January 2021

By Christina Cress and Claire O’Brien

Dates to Know

Jan. 28, 2021 | Law Student Networking Event | 5 to 6 p.m.

Jan. 29, 2021 | Insurance Law Section CLE & Annual Meeting | 8:25 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Feb. 4, 2021 | Antitrust & Complex Business Disputes Law Section CLE | 7:55 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Feb. 11, 2021 |Mingling with Membership: Crafting Enforceable Settlement Agreements at Mediation: Paths and Pitfalls | 4 to 5 p.m.

Feb. 28, 2021 | Deadline to Submit YLD Writing Competition Entry | 5 p.m.

March 11, 2021 | Mingling with Membership: Movies About the Law | 4 to 5 p.m.

March 18, 2021 | Estate Planning Section CLE | 8:55 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

Committee and Section Updates 

Civic Engagement Committee – 2020 Election Post-Mortem Panel

The NCBA YLD Civic Engagement Committee held its second panel of the bar year, “Election 2020 Post-Mortem: What Went Right, Wrong and Lessons Looking Forward,” on Jan. 14. The panel was moderated by Professor Shea Denning of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government and included commentary from Dr. J. Michael Bitzer of Catawba College, Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling, and Gerry Cohen of the Wake County Board of Elections and Duke University. The discussion included analysis of state and national races, a look at polling practices and accuracy, and commentary on voting behavior in light of the pandemic. If you would like to view the discussion, it can be found here on the NCBA’s YouTube channel. Keep an eye out for information to come on future panels!

Communications Committee – ‘Getting Creative During Quarantine’ Writing Competition

The YLD Communications Committee, in conjunction with YLD Leadership, is excited to announce that its 2021 Writing Competition, “Getting Creative During Quarantine,” opened on Jan. 13! YLD members are invited 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 here. The deadline for submission is Feb. 28, 2021!

Pro Bono Committee – YLD Pro Bono Day

The YLD Pro Bono Committee will be hosting an inaugural YLD Pro Bono Day on Friday, Feb. 26. The day will consist of a panel discussion in the morning, including the following panelists: the Honorable Judge Richard Dietz, NC Court of Appeals; the Honorable Judge Linda Stephens, former NC Court of Appeals judge; Troy Shelton, attorney at Fox Rothschild LLP; and Evin Grant, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Pro Bono Opportunities at Campbell Law School. The discussion will encompass the importance of pro bono, including how the panelists are making a difference through their pro bono work and how pro bono benefits different communities. The afternoon will consist of a virtual Driver’s License Restoration Clinic. The clinic includes a 1-hour CLE training. Be on the lookout for a sign-up sheet, which will be available soon. All YLD and NCBA members are encouraged to attend the panel discussion to learn how they can make a difference in their own communities. If you would like to sign up for the clinic, please contact Samantha E. Gordon or Nisel Desai.

Insurance Law Section – CLE Program and Annual Meeting

The NCBA Insurance Law Section will host its annual CLE program and Annual Meeting on Jan. 29, 2021. The section’s CLE will be livestreamed and will include a wide variety of informative and timely insurance law topics, including preparation and trial of bad faith cases, insurance claims arising from COVID-19 related losses, and choice of law issues. It will also include presentations on Remote/Virtual proceedings in the era of COVID-19. This year’s CLE has been approved for 6.75 MCLE hours, including 1.0 credit hour of Ethics/Professional Responsibility, 1.0 credit hour of Substance Abuse/Mental Health, and 1.0 credit hour to satisfy the Technology requirement. For more information and to register, click here.

Law Student Outreach Committee – Grab a Coffee Program

The Law Student Outreach Committee of the Young Lawyers Division has temporarily revamped the Grab a Coffee Program (“GAC Program”) into a new virtual networking opportunity! Instead of meeting in person, attorneys and law students will meet virtually via Zoom or other software agreed upon by the attorney and student. The GAC Program is looking for volunteers who are willing to get together virtually with current law students at a time convenient to both parties. This is a great opportunity to connect with a law student and pass on valuable insight you may have about succeeding in law school, passing the bar exam, or entering the practice of law. This is only a one-time commitment of 30 minutes  but could have a lasting impact on a student! If you would like to volunteer, please fill out this form (law students can sign up here). Volunteers will be notified by email with more information once they are paired with a law student.

Law Week and Liberty Bell Committee

The YLD’s Law Week and Liberty Bell Committee is gearing up to start preparing for 2021 Law Day on Friday, May 7, 2021. Please be on the lookout for updates on the virtual luncheon. The committee hosts five competitions that bring together teachers, students, attorneys, and law students across the state. This year’s Law Day theme is “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.” YLD members are encouraged to share this information with teachers, parents, and students in your area. For more information and to access registration forms for each of the events below, please click here. A brief description of each competition follows:

• Liberty Bell: 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. To be considered for the Liberty Bell award, a person must be nominated and once all nominations are received, the Law Day Committee will determine the winner. The deadline for Liberty Bell nominations is March 19, 2021. For more information, please contact Vince Walton or Madison Alligood.

• McIntyre Award: The NC Bar Foundation’s McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge allows middle and high school students to develop plants to help their communities and share those plans through public speaking on citizenship. Finalists are invited to attend the Law Day Celebration, and the first-place winner will have a $1,000 donation made in the student’s honor to an organization that addresses the issue the student identified through the program. Students will need to sign up by Feb. 26, 2021 through the competition website, and competition materials will be due later this spring. Please share with any students, educators, and/or parents you may know! For more information, please contact Ashley Page.

• Essay Competition: The Law Day Essay Contest is a fun and challenging experience for North Carolina middle and high school students and their respective schools. Three prizes will be awarded in each category this year. Essays must be postmarked on or before March 2, 2021, and entries should be mailed or emailed to YLD c/o Kayla Russell, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, 110 Oakwood Drive, Suite 500, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. For more information, please contact Kayla Russell.

• Poster Competition: The Law Day Poster Art Contest is a fun and challenging experience for North Carolina students in third through fifth grade and their respective schools. Three prizes will be awarded for each category this year. Posters must be postmarked on or before March 6, 2021, and entries should be mailed or emailed to YLD c/o Kayla Russell, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, 110 Oakwood Drive, Suite 500, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. For more information, please contact Kayla Russell.

• Moot Court Competition: The Moot Court Competition brings together middle and high school students for a chance to take on real life legal scenarios and to showcase their preparation, logical reasoning, and oral advocacy skills. These students argue in front of volunteer attorneys, and those that reach the final round have a chance to present their argument to appellate justices and judges on the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals, respectively. This year’s regional competition will be held virtually on Saturday, March 20, 2021. This will be a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their skills and network with law students, attorneys, and judges, in addition to learning more about the law and what it means to join the legal field. Moot court teams must register by Feb. 28, 2021. For more information, please contact Kadija Locklear.

Legal Feeding Frenzy

The NCBA YLD Legal Feeding Frenzy (LFF) is an annual joint program sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General, NCBA Young Lawyers Division, the North Carolina Bar Foundation, and Feeding the Carolinas. It aims to fight hunger across North Carolina by uniting the legal community in support of local food banks. Mark your calendars for the upcoming LFF, which is scheduled for March 1-31, 2021. Until then, keep in mind that hunger won’t wait for March. Our local food banks are currently struggling to meet increased demand caused by COVID-19. While we all are in the spirit of giving, please consider donating to Feeding the Carolinas or your local FTC food bank this holiday season. If you are well and able, please also consider volunteering. For a special message from Attorney General Josh Stein and Feeding the Carolinas CEO, Mike Darrow, and more information on how you can donate and/or volunteer, click here.

Foundation & Development Committee / Pro Bono Committee

If your NCBA Section or Committee is planning a pro bono or public service project for the 2021-22 bar year, you can apply for an NCBF Endowment grant to request funding to supplement your Section or Division budgets in order to expand scope or add capacity to those projects. Successful applications advance the Foundation’s values of access to justice, volunteer service, civic education, and professionalism. Please remember that the funding cycle for this new application is for the term of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Applicants should apply for grant funding needed for use within this time frame. The deadline for applications to be submitted is Feb. 1, 2021. Examples of recent grants to NCBA Sections, Divisions, and Committees have included: (1) Education Law Section: Legal Information for Teachers (or LIFT program); (2) YLD: Civic Engagement Project, Law Week, Legal Feeding Frenzy; (3) NCBA: Leadership Academy; (4) Minorities in the Profession Committee: Diversity and Inclusion Symposium; and (5) Antitrust and Complex Business Disputes Section: Privacy Protection Education. Notify your Communities Manager if you would like additional information about applying for an NCBF Endowment grant, and feel free to visit the Endowment Webpage for more information.

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!