Message from the President, February 2025

Dear Members of the Greensboro Bar Association,

As we enter February, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible dedication and service our members continue to bring to the Greensboro Bar Association. Your commitment to our profession and our community is what makes this organization thrive, and I encourage each of you to stay engaged as we move forward in 2025.

January was a very busy month for the GBA! We held a wonderful membership meeting on January 16th with our featured speakers Matt Smith, President of the North Carolina State Bar and Peter Bolac, North Carolina State Bar Executive Director. We celebrated member Kimberly B. Gatling with the Centennial Award and honored member Justice Robert Edmunds with the NC State Bar Distinguished Service Award. We held our second annual Ask-A-Lawyer Day on January 20th, 2025, honoring the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service hosted at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce in Downtown Greensboro. We had over thirty volunteer attorneys providing legal advice and answering questions for over seventy members of our community! 

Our committees remain hard at work, making a real impact through their initiatives and service projects. If you haven’t already, I urge you to get involved with a committee that aligns with your interests. Whether it’s pro bono work, community outreach, or professional development, there are numerous ways to contribute and make a difference. Your participation not only benefits those we serve but also strengthens our legal community. The Herb Falk Society is collecting applications this month from members who provided over seventy-five (75) hours of pro bono legal services beyond the recommended fifty hours by the NC Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 6.1. 

Additionally, our Annual Membership Challenge is in full swing! This friendly competition is a great way to connect with colleagues, encourage new membership, and reinforce our commitment to growing the GBA. Let’s continue to build momentum and reach our goals together. Also this month, I invite you to attend our virtual Annual CLE on February 27, 2025. This event offers valuable learning opportunities, featuring expert speakers and timely topics that will help us stay informed and equipped in our practices. Don’t miss this chance to fulfill your CLE requirements while engaging with fellow members from the comfort of your own space.

From the North Carolina State Bar, Guilford County is in the first quarter group for trust account random audits. This audit period will conclude on April 11, 2025.  Keep an eye out for communications from the NC State Bar audit department if you have any questions.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our profession and our community. I look forward to seeing your active participation in the months ahead.

Most sincerely,

Manisha P. Patel, Esq.
President, Greensboro Bar Association and the 24th Judicial District