Jason F. Hicks to Receive Inns of Court Award

Jason F. Hicks, a deputy county attorney for Guilford County, has been appointed to serve as the Chair of the Program Review Committee for the American Inns of Court.  The Committee reviews programs submitted from Inns across the country and selects winners for the annual program awards.  This is his fourth year on the committee.

The Guilford Inn of Court recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary.  To celebrate the milestone the Inn hosted a panel of founding members, Steve Crihfield, Larry Moore, and Trey Aycock. There was discussion about the Inns of Court in England, the Inns of Court movement in the United States, how the Guilford Inn got started, and the changes they have seen over the years.

At the conclusion of the program, the Inn President, Jon Wall, and member, Judge Robbie Hassell, presented founding President Steve Crihfield with a plaque honoring his accomplishments, service to the Inn, and his vision in creating the Guilford Inn.

The purpose of the American Inns of Court is to encourage professional growth, mentoring, and reconnecting with the profession.

For information on the American Inns of Court you can visit https://www.innsofcourt.org/ and for information about the Guilford Inn of Court reach out to President, Jon Wall; Vice-President, Jason Hicks; or Secretary/Treasurer, Sarah Roane.

Please join the GBA Business & Corporate Law Section for a FALL SOCIAL

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

5:00 to 7:00 PM

Joymongers Brewing Company
576 N. Eugene Street, Greensboro

RSVP to Ben Edwards

Professional Responsibility and Technology Competence in a New World

This session explores the impact of evolving technology on ethics obligations in legal practice.

Competency, confidentiality, duties to supervise, duties to potential/current/former clients, and other rules of professional conduct help frame how law firms choose and implement technology in their law practice. We also look at ethics opinions that help law firms consider hypotheticals on different technology may enhance or hinder a firm’s ethical responsibilities, including the proposed opinion on the use of AI in practice.

Finally, we explore security best practices and real-world pitfalls that can lead to inadvertent disclosures.

Presented by Catherine Sanders Reach of the NCBA

This CLE is free to GBA members; $20 for non-members.

Register Here

In the fast-paced world of law, clear and effective writing is essential. But legal professionals often find themselves stuck – trying to fit complex ideas into rigid outlines that don’t reflect how their minds naturally work. Enter mind mapping: a dynamic, visual approach to organizing ideas that can unlock creativity, speed up your process, and improve your writing.

What Is Mind Mapping?

Mind mapping is a visual tool for brainstorming and structuring ideas around a central concept. Instead of writing in a straight line from top to bottom, you start in the middle of the page (or screen) and branch outwards, connecting related ideas like a spider web. This mirrors how the brain actually processes information – non-linearly.

Daphne Gray-Grant on Mind Mapping

I first learned about mind mapping through my writing coach Daphne Gray-Grant, a longtime advocate of mind mapping. She explains:

“Outlining forces you into a logical, linear way of thinking. That’s not a totally bad thing of course, but it’s not very creative. When you write you want your brain to operate in the most creative way possible.”

Here is a free guide on mind mapping from Daphne –  Resilient Writers – Mindmapping – Publication Coach

She encourages mind mapping not just to organize ideas but to generate them, especially when you’re facing writer’s block or trying to tackle a complex subject.

How Lawyers Can Use Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is especially powerful for legal professionals who work with dense material and high-stakes communication. Here are just a few examples of how mind mapping can enhance your practice:

• Legal Writing: Use mind maps to plan motions, briefs, and memos. Seeing your argument visually helps identify weak points and redundancy.
• Case Analysis: Plot out timelines, evidence, parties, and key legal questions.
• Client Strategy: Map a client’s legal issues and potential responses to organize your case approach.
• CLE & Presentation Planning: Outline presentations for continuing legal education or client seminars.
• Succession Planning: Visualize firm leadership, roles, and future needs to prepare for transitions.

Online Mind Mapping Tools to Try

When I use mind mapping, my preference is a spiral notebook of blank paper. However, you don’t need to start with pen and paper. There are powerful digital tools that make it easy to mind map, save your work, and collaborate with others:

1. MindMeister – Intuitive, cloud-based, and good for collaboration.
2. Miro – A versatile online whiteboard with mind mapping capabilities.
3. XMind – A sleek desktop app ideal for detailed professional maps.
4. Lucidchart – Combines mind mapping with flowcharts and diagrams.
5. Whimsical – Clean and simple, great for fast mind maps with minimal distractions.
6. Coggle – A user-friendly browser-based tool with real-time collaboration.

Choosing the Best Tool for You

When selecting a mind mapping tool, consider the following:

• Ease of Use: Is the interface intuitive, or does it require a learning curve?
• Collaboration Features: Do you need to share or co-edit with a team?
• Export Options: Can you download or integrate your mind map with other tools like Word or PDF?
• Price: Many tools have free versions, but paid tiers offer more features and typically better privacy features (e.g., version history, templates, integrations).
• Templates and Design: Do you prefer structured templates or a blank canvas?

For most solo or small firm lawyers, MindMeister, Miro, or Coggle are great starting points due to their ease of use and low cost.

Conclusion

Mind mapping offers a flexible and creative alternative to traditional outlining. Whether you’re writing a brief, advising a client, or planning a CLE presentation, this tool can help you organize ideas quickly and effectively. As Daphne says, “Mind mapping gives your brain the space it needs to do its best thinking.” And in the practice of law, good thinking is everything.

Camille Stell is the Vice President of Risk & Practice Management for Lawyers Mutual and is the co-author of the book, RESPECT – An Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans available from Amazon, 2nd Edition published October 2024. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or 800.662.8843.

An Update from the Young Lawyers Section

The Young Lawyers Section has had a productive and energizing start to the bar year. Our executive board gathered on October 15, 2025, for our monthly meeting to discuss ongoing initiatives, upcoming service opportunities, and ways we can continue to support one another and our community. With a strong slate of events already underway and more on the horizon, our members remain committed to making a meaningful impact both within the profession and beyond.

Welcoming the Next Generation of Attorneys

In October, the Young Lawyers Section proudly hosted our Swearing-In Ceremony, welcoming fourteen newly licensed attorneys to the practice of law in North Carolina—whether in state, federal, or both jurisdictions. It was an inspiring and memorable event, presided over by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, the Honorable Bill Wood, and the Honorable Bill Davis. We are grateful to these distinguished judges for joining us in celebrating this important milestone in the careers of our newest colleagues.  We were also joined by guest speakers Hillary Kies on behalf of the GBA, Butch Segal on behalf of the North Carolina Bar Association, and Dean Zachary Kramer on behalf of Elon University School of Law.

Looking Ahead: Service and Impact

Looking ahead, our Section is excited to continue giving back to the community through upcoming service initiatives. We are preparing for our next Urban Ministries dinner, where members will join together to cook and serve a meal to those in need in our community. Additionally, we’re continuing to explore meaningful ways to strengthen our impact at Hunter Elementary School, building on the strong partnership we’ve cultivated over the years.

Stay tuned—more updates and opportunities to get involved are just around the corner!

Connect with YLS

To provide feedback & suggestions for future events/programming, please email the Young Lawyers Section at younglawyerssection@greensborobar.org.

The Young Lawyers Section would like to celebrate the personal milestones and professional accomplishments of its members. Email YLS at younglawyerssection@greensborobar.org to share achievements that you would like celebrated on our social media platform and in the GBA’s member newsletter!

Kit E. Kniss
Church World Service Greensboro
Caregory: Newly Licensed
Endorser: Sarah H. Roane

Tyson Child
Guilford County District Attorney’s Office
Caregory: Newly Licensed
Endorser: Sarah H. Roane

Gaaron U. Goldsmith
Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
Caregory: Newly Licensed
Endorser: Jeremy S. Shrader

Troy C. Reid
Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
Caregory: Newly Licensed
Endorser: Robert N. Young

A few years back, I was with some friends, and one raised a question for fun discussion: if you’re stranded on a deserted island with 30 people, what are the things that you’d work on first?  Naturally, some of the friends were focusing on getting shelter in place, finding food, and similar initial concerns.  But the first answer that came to me was: “Deciding how we’ll make decisions and work together as a group.”  You can imagine that this answer was promptly razzed by others in the discussion.

Although it’s not the answer that may come first to mind for many people, it is an essential early step.  Absent a shared understanding of how decisions will be made, the group risks wasting time on unnecessary conflicts and avoidable disagreements.  Some people in the group may be treated unfairly.  The group may fracture and be unable to work together at all.

This demonstrates what I see as the most fundamental importance of our profession in the law.  The law is our collective process for making decisions and ensuring that people adhere to them.  Predictable and consistent laws and legal processes provide people with the fundamental tools necessary to order and plan their lives.  They let us know how to form and plan families, what freedoms and protections we have, how we may own and utilize property, how we may enter and maintain contracts, how we can uphold our responsibilities to others, how to seek redress if they do not uphold their responsibilities to us, and so much more.  The law is the foundation for an ordered society.

There are many reasons to be proud of a career in the law, but this is the most important of them.  However, the significance of this purpose carries equally significant responsibility.  We must ensure, both individually and collectively, that we are attentive to this high purpose and our part in it.  This is not only true in our legal practice, but also in our work as leaders in the community.

In March of 2025, with the guidance of President Manisha Patel, the Greensboro Bar Association adopted a Statement in Support of the Rule of Law.  I hope that all of you have read it, and that each of you supports the major themes that it states on behalf of our organization (echoing statements from other bar organizations). As stated so eloquently in that letter is the principle that “the rule of law is the bedrock of American democracy, ensuring that laws are applied fairly, rights are protected, and justice is accessible to all.”

This is not a statement for or against any political party or official; it is a restatement of an essential principle of an ordered society – one which lawyers are uniquely positioned and responsible to protect.  I am grateful to President Patel and proud that GBA remains committed to stand in support of the role that the rule of law plays in our lives.  This is not only our profession and our livelihood, but also our duty.

If you have not read the GBA’s statement, you can view it at the following web address: https://www.greensborobar.org/frontpage-article/statement-from-the-gba-in-support-of-the-rule-of-law/

 

Hon. Bill Davis
President, Greensboro Bar Association
and the 24th Judicial District Bar