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Annual Jones Elementary Book Project Donations Now Being Accepted

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in announcement, Frontpage Article, News, Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Please help the Greensboro Bar Association continue the wonderful holiday tradition of buying and presenting a book to each student in the traditional program at Jones Elementary School.

You may donate online at Jones Elementary Project Donations or mail your check made payable to the “Greensboro Bar Foundation” to:

Greensboro Bar Association Foundation
P.O. Box 1825
Greensboro, NC 27402

Although donations will be accepted at any time, we encourage members to act before November 30, 2017 in order to allow time for the books to be ordered through Scholastic.

Please join us for book wrapping at the Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 13th at Elon University School of Law. Wrapping supplies will be provided.

If you have any questions regarding the book drive,
please contact Adam Kerr at adam@kerrlawnc.com
or (336) 500-7599.  Donate Today! Thank you!

Jones Elementary Book Project

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Stell: Can Data Save Law Firms?

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

We live in a world where everything is tracked. A device on my wrist tells me how many steps I’ve taken and my current heart rate. I use apps on my phone to track how much money I have, what bills have been paid and how my investments are growing. Data is everywhere. The question is “can data save law firms.”

Can Data Save Law Firms?

By many measures, today’s law firm model is struggling. By some measures, today’s law firm model is irrevocably broken. I’d suggest, though I’m not the first nor will I be the last, that you can correct course by using data.

While there are many challenges for solo and small firm lawyers today, here are three problems often identified:

  1. Reaching new clients;
  2. Being attuned to the needs of clients (client service, types of services provided, fee arrangements); and
  3. Spending too much time on administrative tasks and running the business.

The good news is we can address these concerns by mining a few of our systems and recording some numbers.

At the Clio Conference in late September, Clio released the 2017 Legal Trends Report, which you can find at clio.com.

Clio 2017 Legal Trends Report

Out of an average workday, here’s how lawyers are spending their time:

  • Utilization rate: 2.3 hours
  • Realization rate: 1.9 hours
  • Collection rate: 1.6 hours

This means lawyers are spending 2.3 hours of their day doing client work and getting paid for 1.6 hours of work a day. This is not a sustainable business model.

Let’s talk about data around the challenges we discussed earlier, finding more work, providing excellent client service and administrative efficiencies.

Reaching New Clients

There is an old adage, “I know that half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, I just don’t know which half.” Without data, how do we know where to spend our time or our money?

Lawyers are advertising by using their websites, google ad words, print advertising and referrals from clients, friends, family and other lawyers.

Today, there is an array of marketing automation tools and customer relationship management tools. Solos and small firms are using products such as Salesforce to manage client interactions such as scheduling events with clients, maintaining potential client contact information, and providing clients, potential clients and referral sources with newsletters, alerts or evites.

Using the data collected in these tools can help you determine how to allocate resources, which clients come from which advertising campaigns and which clients are most profitable.

A low-tech solution is to ask your client how they heard about your service. Add this step to your client intake process. Once you collect the data, analyze it.

If you find clients come to you based on referrals, then keep up the coffees and networking lunches. If you find your clients are coming to you from ads, you can increase your ad spend. Digital advertising can be much less expensive than traditional advertising campaigns and can be targeted directly to your likely client.

The October issue of the ABA Journal features an article titled “Statistical Significance” featuring Drew Vaughn, founder of NuVorce. Vaughn was a speaker at the national bar-related insurance company conference this summer. He shared his results (and costs of) doing traditional networking compared with digital advertising where he can pinpoint his potential client by age, income and geographical location. Vaughn did some “back of the envelope” numbers showing his competitors profit was 16% compared to his 37.9% profit.

Vaughn has developed algorithms that help him in pricing matters for clients. His use of algorithms has garnered interest in his law firm from venture capitalists interested in investing in his firm, as well as other law firms interested in buying his law firm to have access to his algorithms.

An Easy Kick Start to Better Client Service

When consumers are surveyed, the vast majority say lawyers do not return phone calls. This is no different from the complaints that the State Bar gets, the vast number involve clients complaining about lawyers failing to return phone calls.

Many of the calls you fail to return may be because you do not believe you can assist the client. However, responding to a potential client to say “I’m not the lawyer for you, but let me make a referral” allows you to provide a service to a consumer in need and if handled well, could leave the consumer with a positive experience. A positive experience is good for the profession and may result in a referral to you later for a matter that is a better fit.

These calls are a great opportunity to refer clients to other lawyers thereby strengthening your network of referral sources, or to provide a referral to your bar association’s Lawyer Referral Service. If you are concerned about how long this process will take, look for ways to automate this process or delegate the calls to your paralegal, your receptionist or to your virtual assistant.

Where Can I Find the Data?

There are many sources for locating data about your firm. Depending on the tools you are using, analytics from Google, Facebook, Sales Force, or Avvo are a few. You can build Excel reports to track and analyze the data or if that is not in your skill set, hire someone to help you with this. The best treasure trove of data can be found in your own billing records. There, you should be able to determine how much it costs you to take a deposition or try a criminal traffic case. A lawyer told me about a real estate closing several years ago. The client complained about the price of the closing. When the lawyer went back to her billing records, she found that she or her paralegal had taken 50 phone calls from the client during the course of the closing. If these calls were billed at her lowest billing rate at a minimum time increment, the closing would have cost 10 times more than the flat fee. It is no accident that this lawyer is no longer practicing real estate law.

What questions are you trying to answer with this data? How are prospective clients finding me? What is my rate of turning prospects into clients? Is online marketing bringing in paying clients? Are my fees reasonable?

Move from “I think” to “I know”

It’s easy to say, “This won’t work for me”. “I don’t have time to track data.” “I’m not a numbers guy.”

Once you incorporate data analysis into your practice, you are no longer guessing about the effectiveness of your marketing, the accuracy of your pricing or the continued inefficiencies in your practice. Welcome to a data-driven law practice!

Camille Stell is the Vice President of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. Continue this conversation with Camille at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or 800.662.8843.

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Free 2.5-Hour CLE: Expunction of North Carolina Criminal Records

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

On November 30, 2017, the Greensboro Bar Association’s Second Chance Project, in partnership with Legal Aid of NC—Greensboro Office, will be presenting a FREE CLE for Greensboro Bar Association Members on Expunction of North Carolina Criminal Records.  This CLE will be an overview of recent significant changes to North Carolina statutes relating to expunction and will provide training on how to assist a client through the process of getting an eligible criminal charge or conviction expunged.  The presenter will be Daniel Bowes, a Staff Attorney at the NC Justice Center who focuses his work on behalf of individuals, families, and communities isolated from opportunities to prosper by the collateral consequences of criminal records.  The CLE will be held at the offices of Smith Moore Leatherwood, 300 N. Greene St., Suite 1400, Greensboro, NC 27401.  Registration will begin at 8:30 AM and the program will run from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Register online for Second Chance CLE here

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Message from the President, November 2017

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

It is time for the Greensboro Bar Association to heed the call of our state’s legal leaders. According to the Greensboro Police Department, more than 20 people have died from opioid overdoses in Greensboro this year. In 2015, both Guilford County and North Carolina as a whole saw approximately 73% increases in opioid deaths as compared to 2005, with Guilford County ranking fourth in the state for total opioid-related deaths in 2015.

“There is an opioid epidemic that we ignore at our peril.”

-Mark W. Merritt, President, North Carolina State Bar
  The North Carolina State Bar Journal, Fall 2017

“Many of you have witnessed the tragic consequences of this epidemic in your local communities.  Now, the legal community must do its part to address this crisis.   . . . Our communities have too much at stake to remain passive in the face of this growing threat.  Let’s do all we can to protect all North Carolinians from drug overdoses and prescription drug abuse.”

-Chief Justice Mark Martin
  2017 State of the North Carolina Judiciary

Please join us at our next lunch meeting on Thursday, November 16th at 12:30 p.m. in the Empire Room for an important discussion regarding the impact of the opioid crisis on Greensboro, and what we, as citizens and lawyers, can do to help.  The meeting will feature two speakers from the Greensboro Police Department, Lieutenant T.D. Moore, Vice Narcotics, and Jenny Caviness, Community Engagement Manager. Our very own President-Elect, the Honorable Teresa Vincent, will give her perspective as a presiding judge in Guilford County’s Drug Treatment Court. Bring your experiences, your ideas, and your questions!

On a lighter note, I hope you will all plan to attend our Membership Committee’s first Mix-n-Mingle of the year!  The event will take place at Joymongers Brewing Company, 576 North Eugene Street in downtown Greensboro, on Thursday, November 9th at 5:00 p.m., and will feature a visit from the Urban Street Grill food truck.  I am sure we can all think of a colleague who is not a current member of the GBA, but should be! The Membership Committee is offering a prize for the member who brings the most prospective members to the event!

I wish all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

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Volunteer at Potter’s House

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Volunteers are needed to serve food to the less fortunate at the Urban Ministry’s Potter’s House. Shifts are from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community in the company of fellow members of the bar. We need help on the following Sundays:

Nov. 19

Dec. 17

Please email Melissa Duncan at mduncan6@elon.edu  if you are able to help and write POTTER’S HOUSE in the subject line.

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Attorney Barbara Morgenstern Elected President of NC Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles
Barbara Morgenstern

Barbara Morgenstern

Attorney Barbara Morgenstern, with the law firm of Black, Slaughter & Black has been elected 2018 President of the NC Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Morgenstern is a Fellow in the AAML, which recognizes attorneys who are highly skilled negotiators and litigators representing individuals in all facets of family law, including divorce, child custody and support,
and equitable distribution.

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Smith Moore Leatherwood Joins Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Smith Moore Leatherwood has joined the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Founded in 2009, the LCLD has more than 265 members who serve as either general counsel of major corporations or managing partners of the nation’s leading law firms.

“Our firm recognizes and embraces the value of diversity in its many forms,” said Julie Earp, chair of Smith Moore Leatherwood’s management committee. “We look forward to participating in LCLD and utilizing its many resources.”

The LCLD and its members have dedicated themselves to creating a truly diverse legal profession. By producing tangible results in the lives of talented individuals, LCLD works to promote inclusiveness in its institutions, circles of influence and society, with the ultimate goal of building a more open and diverse legal profession.

“Members of LCLD lead by example, which is something we value at Smith Moore Leatherwood,” said Kimberly Gatling, chair of the firm’s diversity committee. “Through law school mentoring programs, fellowship programs and other opportunities the LCLD provides, this partnership will enable us to better prepare future generations of diverse talent for positions of leadership in our firm and our community.”

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New Members, Approved October 11, 2017

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Robert Davis
Endorsed by Marcus Allen Shields

Daniel Adams
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey
& Leonard LLP

Endorsed by Kimberly M. Marston

Britton C. Lewis
Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
Endorsed by Christopher J. Vaughn

Jenny Ann Lane
Elon University School of Law
Endorsed by Linda Nicole Patino

Hon. Paul L. Jones
Emergency Superior Court Judge
Endorsed by Hon. Henry E. Frye

Nicole R. Scallon
Henson & Talley, LLP
Endorsed by Perry C. Henson, Jr.

Joseph Thomas Petrack
National General Insurance Company
Endorsed by Peter R. Lamm

Catherine Stalker
Rossabi Reardon Klein Spivey PLLC
Endorsed by Elizabeth M. Klein

Philip Allan Boyers
Rossabi Reardon Klein Spivey PLLC
Endorsed by Elizabeth M. Klein

James Claiborne King
Sharpless & Stavola, P.A.
Endorsed by Pamela S. Duffy

Ashleigh M. Greene
Sweetapple, Broeker & Varkas, P.L.
Endorsed by Ames Chamberlin

Joseph Anthony McManus
WFG National Title Insurance Company
Endorsed by Jennifer L. Ruby

Laura S. Browder
Wyatt Early Harris & Wheeler LLP
Endorsed by Ames Chamberlin

Brian Kuppelweiser
Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler LLP
Endorsed by Ames Chamberlin

Bethany A. Boring
Law Office of Dennis E. Boring, Attorney
Endorsed by Ames Chamberlin

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Young Lawyers Section: Connections, November 2017

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Last month, the Young Lawyers Section successfully hosted its annual Swearing-In Ceremony and Bridge the Gap program.  There was a great turnout for both events, with 16 participants for Bridge the Gap and 35 attorneys sworn in to state and federal courts at the Swearing-In Ceremony.  Thanks to the judges and attorneys who came out to the events to show support for the newly admitted attorneys.

Swearing-In ceremony participants for Bridge the Gap program.

Swearing-In ceremony participants for Bridge the Gap program.

Happy Hour. The Young Lawyer’s Section will be hosting its next happy hour on November 16 at The Bearded Goat (116 E. Lewis St) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Come meet and socialize with your fellow young lawyers!

Connect with Us.  Do you want more information about upcoming YLS events or how you can get involved? Check out our website at www.greensboroyls.org.  E-mail Grant Sigmon (grant@sklawnc.com) to make sure you are on the listserv.  Also follow us on Facebook (Greensboro Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section).

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New Members, Approved September 13, 2017

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Cynthia Francine Adcock
Elon University School of Law
Endorsed by Luke Bierman

Britainy Ambrosino
Bradley Law Group
Endorsed by Ross J. Simpson III

Jaye Elizabeth Bingham-Hinch
Tuggle Duggins P.A.
Endorsed by Michael J. Wenig

Jonathan M. Bunker
Bradley Law Group
Endorsed by Ross J. Simpson III

Daniel Joseph Burke
Brotherton Ford Berry & Weaver, PLLC
Endorsed by Steven P. Weaver

Christopher L. Carr
Guilford County Attorney’s Office
Endorsed by Brian Tomlin

Joshua Carl Dawson
Oak Ridge Military Academy
Endorsed by Ames C. Chamberlin

Alexander J. Eiffe
A.G. Linett & Associates, PA
Endorsed by Molly Hilburn-Holte

Wendy M. Enochs
Coltrane and Overfield, PLLC
Endorsed by Hon. Teresa H. Vincent

Erik Randall Hamner
Endorsed by Hon. Teresa H. Vincent

Robert A. Hassell
Robert A. Hassell, Attorney at Law, P.A.
Endorsed by Ames C. Chamberlin

William Randall Holcomb
The Law Office of Randall Holcomb, PLLC
Endorsed by Megan E. Spidell

Ross Spencer Holland
Guilford County Public Defender
Endorsed by Hon. Teresa H. Vincent

Michael Jung
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Endorsed by Todd E. Davis

Susan Liemer
Elon University School of Law
Endorsed by Luke Bierman

Benjamin Noah Neece
Woodruff Family Law Group
Endorsed by Jennifer A. Crissman

Sinead Noelle O’Doherty
US District Court/Middle District
Endorsed by Sarah H. Roane

Shannon Peterson
Guilford County Attorney’s Office
Endorsed by Kelvin D. Smith

Alicia C. Phillip
Cordell & Cordell, P.C.
Ames C. Chamberlin

Taniya Donyale Reaves
Guilford County Attorney’s Office
Endorsed by Matthew J. Turcola

Katherine Ann Reynolds
Elon University School of Law
Endorsed by Heather L. Scavone

Curtis J. Shipley
Ellis & Winters, LLP
Endorsed by Andrew S. Chamberlin

Charles Richard Splawn
Elon University School of Law
Endorsed by Luke Bierman

Jamieson H. Stone
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
Endorsed by Ames C. Chamberlin

Janet M. Wallace
Law Office of Steven Foskett, PA
Endorsed by Hon. Teresa H. Vincent

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Mix and Mingle at Joymongers

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

GBA-Mix-and-Mingle-2017

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Attorney C. Scott Meyers Joins Connors Morgan, PLLC, Expanding the Breadth of “The Business Practice”

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

C. Scott Meyers has joined the business law firm Connors Morgan, PLLC, as Of Counsel. Meyers brings in-depth experience in bankruptcy cases as well as superior litigation skills developed during his tenure at some of the area’s largest law firms. He has led teams representing both local and national clients through complex business litigation issues.

C. Scott Meyers

C. Scott Meyers

“We are pleased to welcome Scott to our firm,” said Karen McKeithen Schaede, a partner at Connors Morgan. “He brings deep skills in a new area of practice for us – creditors’ rights in bankruptcy – as well as high-level experience litigating in state, federal and business courts.”

Meyers’ areas of expertise also include helping closely-held business entities efficiently resolve their disputes, litigating trade-secret issues and handling departing employee cases involving non-compete clauses.

“Here at Connors Morgan, I look forward to providing that same level of high-quality representation that you would expect from a large firm, scaled to meet the needs of businesses and individuals who do not necessarily need a large team of lawyers working their case,” Meyers said.

Meyers earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Virginia Tech and his law degree from George Mason University, Antonin Scalia School of Law. After law school, Meyers served as law clerk for Judge William L. Osteen Sr. in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.  Prior to joining Connors Morgan, Meyers practiced at Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP, and, most recently, at Ellis & Winters, LLP, in Greensboro. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina and Virginia.

Meyers can be reached via phone at 336-333-7907, via email at smeyers@connorsmorgan.com or on the web at www.connorsmorgan.com.

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Message from the President, October 2017

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
  -Nelson Henderson

The beauty of that quotation resonated at the September 16th dedication of the GBA’s eighth Habitat for Humanity house.  Palpable joy and love were felt by all who witnessed the R’Mah family’s emotional words of thanks.  Our thanks and congratulations to Bill Cooke, who drove this project from inception to completion, as well as to all GBA members who donated or volunteered on the project.

The spirit of service also shone brightly at last month’s member meeting.  Many of our committee chairs spoke about the activities and goals of their respective committees, and encouraged our members to join them.  As a result of their efforts, 21 members signed up for new committees!  It is not too late to sign up for a committee.  If you would like to participate, please complete the sign-up sheet included in this newsletter.  Thanks to all who signed up, and we look forward to planting some trees with you in the very near future!

On Friday, October 13th at 3:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Room of the Old County Courthouse, our Young Lawyers Section will host the annual swearing-in ceremony for newly licensed attorneys.  Judges from both federal and state court will give remarks before swearing-in the attorneys.  Please consider attending this uplifting event and supporting Greensboro’s newest lawyers.

Our next member meeting will take place on Thursday, October 19th at 12:30 p.m. in the Empire Room.  The meeting will feature an informative presentation on the Middle District of North Carolina’s Civics Initiative.  Launched in March 2017 as part of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ nationwide civics outreach program for middle and high school students, the Middle District offers many different interactive programs (both at the courthouse and at high schools) including the role of the federal judiciary, the law of sentencing, and the search and seizure law of the Fourth Amendment.  To learn more about this educational and important initiative, please come to the meeting and visit www.ncmd.uscourts.gov/node/529.

I hope your fall is off to a great start, and I look forward to seeing you at the swearing-in and the member meeting.

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Young Lawyers Section: Connections, October 2017

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Last month, the Young Lawyers Section partnered with Backpack Beginnings and stuffed 57 backpacks as part of their comfort backpack program.  Thank you to all YLS members who were able to join us.  On Friday, October 13, 2017, the YLS will be hosting its annual Swearing-In Ceremony along with its Bridge the Gap program.  More details can be found below.

YLS volunteers stuffed 57 backpacks for Backpack Beginnings comfort backpack program.

YLS volunteers stuffed 57 backpacks for Backpack Beginnings comfort backpack program.

Bridge the Gap Program.  Our Bridge the Gap Program provides a great opportunity for new lawyers to tour the Federal, State, and Bankruptcy Courts. Other attorneys are also welcome to join us. We will meet at 9:00 am in front of the Federal Courthouse. If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Nicole Patino at lpatino@elon.edu.

Swearing-in Ceremony.  Each year the Young Lawyers Section sponsors a Swearing-In Ceremony for the admission of newly licensed attorneys to the state and federal courts. Our Swearing-In Ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m at the Commissioners’ Meeting Room in the Old Guilford County Courthouse. We would love for members of the GBA to join us and support our newly licensed attorneys. Friends and family are also invited to celebrate the occasion. Cell phones and cameras will be permitted at the event. If you are a newly licensed attorney or you know a newly licensed attorney, please e-mail Kristen Redman at kredman@tuggleduggins.com to receive the application materials.

Reception.  A reception serving complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be held in honor of all newly sworn-in attorneys immediately following the Swearing-In Ceremony at Churchill’s on Elm (213 South Elm Street). We invite you and your guests to attend this reception.

Connect with Us.  Do you want more information about upcoming YLS events or how you can get involved? Check out our website at www.greensboroyls.org.  E-mail Grant Sigmon (grant@sklawnc.com) to make sure you are on the listserv.  Also follow us on Facebook (Greensboro Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section).  If you missed the opportunity to connect with YLS in September, we hope to see you at the Swearing-In Ceremony and/or reception on October 13, 2017!

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Volunteers Needed for Wills for Heroes

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

The NCBA Young Lawyers Division will be holding a Wills for Heroes event in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday, October 28, from 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (the last appointment will be scheduled at 4:00 pm) at the Elon University School of Law.  Volunteer registration and additional event information will be available on the NCBA website in October.

We need as much help as possible! Licensed NC attorneys are needed to draft the Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Powers of Attorney.  Paralegals, notaries, and law students are also needed to notarize and witness the execution of documents.  No prior estate planning background is required to serve as an attorney or non-attorney volunteer.  Please consider volunteering all day, but we appreciate any time that you can volunteer.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Rebecca Rushton at rrushton@safranlaw.com or Chad McCullen at CIM@youngmoorelaw.com.

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Attorney Afi Johnson-Parris Invited to Teach at the Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Ward Black Law attorney Afi Johnson-Parris recently served as a faculty member at the Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute in Boulder, Colorado sponsored by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and the American Bar Association (ABA) Family Law Section.  NITA’s team of professors, judges, and practicing lawyers apply their knowledge, credentials and experience to train and develop legal advocates that will help improve the adversarial judicial system. Johnson-Parris was invited as an expert in the area of family law trial advocacy to teach other lawyers about presenting child custody, equitable distribution, and divorce cases in court.

Afi Johnson-Parris

Afi Johnson-Parris

On the heels of returning from NITA, it was also announced that Johnson-Parris had earned the distinction of being named by U.S. News & World Report to The 2018 Best Lawyers in America© listing in the area of family law. Best Lawyers© has been regarded as one of the most reliable and unbiased sources for legal referrals in the country for more than 30 years. Recipients of the Best Lawyers© distinction have been chosen by other attorneys using confidential, exhaustive peer evaluations.

“I am incredibly honored to be held in such high regard by my peers,” said Afi Johnson-Parris.  “It is also humbling to be recognized as a leader in my field and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to invest in the careers of fellow legal advocates.”

In 2013, Afi Johnson-Parris joined forces with Ward Black Law combining her existing family law practice with the opportunity to also pursue her passion for helping veterans through a veterans disability practice. A North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Johnson-Parris was recently named the 2017 Legal Elite Winner for family law by Business North Carolina magazine. Johnson- Parris is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. Prior to attending law school, she attended the University of Miami on a ROTC scholarship and later served as an officer in the Air Force. During her service, she continued in her pursuit of education, earning an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix- Southern Colorado Campus.

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Habitat for Humanity Thanks Volunteers

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

At a dedication ceremony on Saturday, September 16, we celebrated the completion of the Greensboro Bar’s Habitat House No. 8 with our homeowner family, the R’mahs.  It was a joyous occasion highlighted by a moving expression of appreciation from Tona, the father, who described his family’s flight from Vietnam to escape persecution.  They escaped to a refugee camp in Cambodia and eventually found their way to Greensboro and to Habitat.  Tona struggled to find his words in English and was so overcome that he had to speak in his native tongue to fully express his feelings. We have developed an especially strong relationship with this family as we have worked on the site with them to build this house. They will now own the house and will pay back the cost to Habitat through their monthly mortgage payments.

GBA-Habitat-House-No8-3

GBA-Habitat-House-No8-1

GBA-Habitat-House-No8-2

We have previously conveyed our thanks to all of you who contributed so generously to raise the $50,000 that was required for this project.  We now need to thank all of you who contributed your time and effort to make the project a success:

Ken Keller, who gave his full support to the project, worked on the site, and contributed generously to the cost.

The following law firms who organized work crews:  Oxner Permar, Schell Bray, Nexsen Pruet and Brooks Pierce.

The Federal Court Unity Committee, led by Sarah Roane, who took on two of the workdays.

The District Court judges, led by Judge Vincent, who contributed money and a workcrew to this house, as they have on our previous Habitat projects.

The UNCG Student Veteran’s Association, led by Tyler Freeman, who partnered with us on the work site. We hope to continue our partnership together.

Justice Paul Newby, who once again gave his support to our work and who worked on the first workday.

Nancy Ferguson, who once again provided leadership for the project.

Diane Lowe, who kept us organized and on task throughout the fundraising and building effort.

And, of course, all of the many volunteers who worked on the site, some multiple times, to build a first class home and share the effort with our partner family.

Our Habitat projects have become a part of the rich tradition of the Greensboro Bar Association, now going back 25 years to our first Habitat house in 1991.  Our long-standing and on-going commitment to Habitat has made us unique among the Bar Associations in this country and is a testament to our commitment to serve the needs of low-income families in our community.

Now we need to be looking ahead to House No. 9.

Many thanks to you all,
Bill Cooke

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Volunteer at Potter’s House

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Volunteers are needed to serve food to the less fortunate at the Urban Ministry’s Potter’s House. Shifts are from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community in the company of fellow members of the bar. We need help on the following Sundays:

Oct. 15, Nov. 19, and Dec. 17

Please email Melissa Duncan at mduncan6@elon.edu if you are able to help and write POTTER’S HOUSE in the subject line.

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Stell: Lessons in Leadership

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

Asheville lawyer, Tom Grella, is the author of the ABA publication, Lessons in Leadership: Essential Skills for Lawyers.

In Tom’s book, he states, “not only are lawyers difficult to manage, they are even more difficult to lead.” Tom served for 12 years as the managing partner for his firm, McGuire Wood & Bissette in Asheville, as well as serving as the Chair of the ABA Law Practice Management Section. I expect that Tom knows quite a bit about the difficulties of leading lawyers. Yet, Tom finds leadership to be deeply fulfilling, though something that is always a work in progress.

Tom opens his book with a John Maxwell quote, “Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” For people who have followed “leaders” who lead by force, rule or intimidation, this is a welcome definition. How can you be a leader by influence?

Respect. Do not rely on your title as “leader” to earn you the ability to lead. Being an effective leader does not happen when the new leadership term begins. Rather, respect is a journey we take together. I see you in action, I hear that your words match your actions and over time, I trust you. You have earned my respect.

Trust. A leader creates an atmosphere where mutual trust resides. It takes time to develop trust yet trust can be squandered in an instant. Trust grows when our actions speak louder than our words. An effective leader does much more than make an impassioned inaugural address when stepping up to lead the committee or the organization.

Be positive. Being positive is not the default attitude for everyone. Those with a negative outlook on life or a negative view of their organization are going to have to work hard to overcome negativity. Negativity will weaken company morale, it will defeat your managers and it will beat down your employees. We have the ability to improve our attitude and to increase our positivity quotient. But first you must realize that negativity is going to hurt your leadership ability and you have to make efforts to work around it.

Be authentic. Tom says, “Allow followers to be honest with you, and be honest with them. Such honesty is difficult in a law firm, largely because of the very flat organizational structure, with licensed lawyers on the top level and everyone else beneath. Empowerment is about giving someone else the power not only to take action but also to speak up honestly without the fear of negative consequence. Authenticity needs to be understood as a two-way street.”

Vision. A leader’s job is to motivate the members to create organizational purpose. Or vision. Your law firm should have a vision. Your bar organization should have a vision. An effective leader guides all members towards that vision rather than having members off on disparate journeys. Tom quotes Andy Stanley, “Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision demands change. A vision requires an individual who has the courage to act out an idea.”

Courage. A leader will make difficult decisions. A leader will look for the path less traveled. A leader will look to the future rather than reviewing the past. Tom uses the example of dealing with difficult situations head-on as courageous, rather than implementing policies as an easy way out. Every law firm leader I know has chosen the option of expanding the dress code, rather than having difficult conversations with individuals about using good judgment in choosing professional dress. Be courageous and your members will follow you.

“We need better leaders” is a common refrain for every ill facing us from politics to religion to business. How can you improve your leadership skills this year?

  1. Find a mentor. Look for a firm leader or a bar leader and ask for guidance.
  2. Be a student. Listen to podcasts, one of my favorite ways of learning. Search for leadership topics on your app or Google.
  3. Read. Lawyers Mutual’s Lending Library, a free service available to our insureds, includes Tom’s book on leadership, as well as “Learning to Lead: What Really Works for Women in Law”.
  4. Visit our website, www.lawyersmutualnc.com, to view books and checkout procedures.

Visit the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro or online at www.ccl.org, for articles and classes.

Good luck in becoming the leader that others desire to follow.

Camille Stell is the Vice President of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. Continue this conversation with Camille at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or 800.662.8843.

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NC South Asian Bar Association Event

October 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Newsletter, Old Newsletter Articles

NC-SABA_Oct-Event

NC South Asian Bar Association Event

Host:
NC SABA 919-302-7627

Where:
Marbles Kids Museum,
Oak City Homelessness Shelter,
Brewery Bhavana – Raleigh, NC

When:
Saturday October 14, 9:45 AM to 2:30 PM

Join the North Carolina South Asian Bar Association for its first event! Learn more about the organization, participate in a great service activity, and have lunch with your fellow attorneys! Please contact Dharmi Tailor at dbtailor@gmail.com or 919-302-7627 for more details.

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