Councilor’s Corner

On February 10, 2022, the NC State Bar published the Synopsis for the January 2022 meeting, which was held remotely. The meeting consisted of committee meetings, virtual receptions to welcome new councilors and a joint event with NCBA and law student attendees. Please remember you can always check out the NC State Bar’s YouTube channel for livestreams of selected public meetings as well as view past committee, subcommittee, and Council meetings.

Which standing committees met and what do they do?

(27 N.C.A.C. CHAPTER 1A – SECTION .0700)

These committees of the perform the work of the Council and subsequently report to the Council for final decision-making. The committees are made up of State Bar councilors and officers, advisory members, and public members and each committee is assisted by NC State Bar staff.

• Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP)– this committee provides information on North Carolina to (current or former) members of the military and their families. This Committee also publishes various articles specific to NC law as well as non-state specific information for service members (current or retired) or their families regardless of where they are located.
• Communications– this committee develops coordinate NCSB communications to members, third parties, including but not limited to printed publications, electronic, and social media messages.
• Administrative– this committee studies and makes recommendations on policies concerning the administration of the State Bar, including but not limited to facilities, automation, personnel, retirement plan, and district bars, the membership functions of the State Bar, collection of dues, the suspension of members for failure to pay dues and other fees, and the transfer of members to active or inactive status.
• Authorized Practice– this committee responds to and/or investigates inquiries and complaints about conduct that may constitute the unauthorized practice of law, studies and advises the Council on the appropriate and lawful use and regulation of legal assistants, paralegals and other lay persons in connection with the provision of law-related services and professional organizations.
• Grievance (with I, II, and III subcommittees)– this committee reviews investigations and communications with complainants, lawyers, NCSB staff and Counsel, and makes recommendations to the Council for action.
• Issues– this committee reviews new questions, matters, or concerns (e.g. regulatory changes) that are identified by officers, committees, councilors, and staff.
  • Current focus: amending the rules on secured leave and compensation of court-appointed attorneys.
• Finance and Audit– this committee oversees the preparation of the NCSB’s annual budget, make recommendations to the Executive Committee regarding financial policies, review quarterly financial statements and report the same to the Council.
• Ethics– this committee studies the rules of professional responsibility, make recommendations to the Council for amendments to the rules as the committee deems necessary or appropriate, examine and respond to questions that arise concerning the meaning and application of the rules of professional conduct and to issue opinions in response to questions of legal ethics.
• Executive– this committee receives and reviews reports and recommendations from standing committees, boards, and special committees, nominate individuals for appointments made by the council, finally, this committee makes long range plans for the State Bar.

The second quarter meeting of the NC State Bar Council will be held in Raleigh, NC at the Crabtree Marriott and the NC State Bar Headquarters. The meeting of the full NC State Bar Council will be held on Friday, April 22nd, 2022 (beginning at 8:30am) and can be viewed  on the NC State Bar’s YouTube channel.