the mecklenburg bar news - 6/09

June 2009

Volume 35 No. 12

Patron ($2,500-$4,999)

Peter J. CovingtonRobert P. Johnston

Barrister ($1,000-$2,499)

Francis J. BlanchfieldA. Todd BrownJames R. BryantWilliam K. DiehlDouglas R. EdwardsPeter S. GilchristKatherine S. HollidayPatrick E. KellyJohn W. LassiterDeWitt F. McCarleyAlice K. MooreRandel E. PhillipsClaire J. RauscherNancy and David RobersonShapiro & Ingle, L.L.P.Robert C. Stephens

John N. SuhrMr. Richard M. ThigpenChristopher M. VannDavid B. Whelpley

Counselor ($300-$999)

T. Jonathan AdamsStephen BelenkyAretha Venyke BlakeJonathan E. BuchanJohn Howard CobbHeather W. CulpJill Elyse DinermanRobert C. DortchAnthony FoxxTrevor M. FullerHenry A. HarkeyRobert E. HarringtonH. Parks HelmsEdward T. HinsonMichael A. Hudson

Douglas M. JarrellHannah H. KimHoward M. LabinerMary K. MandevilleGeorge J. MillerEric MontgomeryJohn C. NippCharles H. RabonRay Owens & Sara HigginsS. Mujeeb Shah-KhanClaire & Edward ShapackBrent A. TorstrickHenry B. WardJohn R. Wester

Contributor ($1-$299)

Karen J. AdamsRebecca S. ChaffinTricia Morvan DerrKaren Eady-WilliamsDouglas W. Ey

Gregory H. GachWilliam F. HamelTyyawdi M. HandsCyrus M. JohnsonWilliam B. KirkAnthony T. LathropLina James & Steve MeierE. Lynwood MallardStephen Allen MayoDaniel Adam MerlinRoss Howard ParrFrancis M. PinckneyEddie Poe

In Honor of William E. Poe, Sr.LaVenettra Walls ReavesBenjamin Freedman SidburyC. Sydnor ThompsonScott M. TylerSamuel S. Williams

Your donation to the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation’s Patrons Fund Campaignmakes a difference in the lives of our fellow attorneys and the community at large– providing scholarships, development opportunities, and grants to legal-relatedprograms that may not otherwise be funded. It is our responsibility as both membersof the Mecklenburg County Bar and community leaders to ensure that theMecklenburg Bar Foundation (MBF) extends the reach of our growing legal nexus.

Prior to the kickoff of the 2009 Campaign, we made an appeal to theMecklenburg County Bar and Mecklenburg Bar Foundation board members, raisingmore than $35,000 towards our overall goal of $125,000. Their names are listedbelow. While a gift of any amount is greatly appreciated, the success of ourcampaign rests heavily on the shoulders of substantial donors, including our Patrons($,2500-$4,999), our Barristers ($,1000-$2,499) and our Counselor’s ($300-$999).Please consider a jump to “hero status” with a donation of a $1,000 or more.

What does your donation of $1,000 mean to MBF funded programs?• Your gift will help the International House’s immigration law clinic to provide

low-income immigrants direct access via a dedicated phone line to attorneysand paralegals, as well as to establish the case processing and legal softwarefees for seventeen clients.

• Your $1000 donation will help fund the Council for Children’ s RightsCustody Advocacy Program, a program that represents children caught in the

midst of high-conflict custody disputes. Your contribution helps fund a part-time attorney who oversees custody cases for children in need of legalrepresentation. Approximately 180 children receive high quality legalrepresentation through this program annually. With an annual expense budgetof only $250,00 the success of the Custody Advocacy Program, and the,0 children who depend on it, rely on funding sources such as the MBF.

Your heroism is critical to our success. In these difficult economic times, it iseasy to assume the responsibility of supporting the Patrons Fund is that of anothermember. The reality is that we need your help now more than ever. Donate nowand allow the Bar and Foundation to inspire others by recognizing yourcontribution in our ongoing programs and publications.

Enclosed in this issue of The Mecklenburg Bar News is your pledge envelope.Please complete and return it before July 31st. If you intend to be billed, theFoundation is happy to create a billing cycle specific to your needs. You can alsomail a check to MBF Patrons Fund, Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, 438 QueensRd., Charlotte, NC 28207 or donate online at www.meckbar.org by clicking “MBFOnline Donations”.

For additional details, please contact Stephen Belenky, director ofCommunications & Development at [email protected] or 704/375-8624.

Mecklenburg Bar Foundation’s Patrons Fund

Make a Difference Today – Patrons FundCampaign

2008–09 MCB DirectoriesAre Still AvailableThe 2008–09 Annual Membership Directory will be a critical resource for you and your staff to findimportant contact information on the courts, judges, and agencies. You’ll find contact information foreach member, individually and by firm. So order copies for your paralegals and support staff today!Order online at www.meckbar.org by clicking the Annual Directory tile on the right of the homepage, or call 704/375-8624.

June2009 www.meckbar.org 1

newpage1:MCBNews 5/28/09 12:34 PM

’

2 www.meckbar.org June 2009

BY WAYNE P. HUCKEL, CHAIR

The Civil Litigation Section had an active2008-2009 year. The smaller ADR Section of ourBar merged with the Civil Litigation Section andthe combined Section currently has 195 members.In early February 2009, Jim Smith of Bradley Arantpresented a talk at the 2009 Annual Reviewcontinuing legal education program on alternativedispute resolution issues. On February 20, 2009, theSection presented its yearly Civil Litigation ForumCLE. This full-day seminar consisted of sixpresentations on various topics of interest to civillitigators as well as a lunch-time presentation bySuperior Court Judges Robert P. Johnston and AlbertDiaz. The presenters at the Forum were AllanSinger, Ken Raynor, Kiran Mehta, Sam Reaves, ShelRobinson and KPMG CPA Chuck Riepenhoff, Jr.Each of them deserves our thanks for the time andeffort they put into their talks.

The Section hosted a Judges’ luncheon with ourState Court Judges that was well attended by boththe judiciary and Section members. Another Judges’luncheon with our federal judges is scheduled for

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 with a similar turnoutanticipated.

After a lot of effort, the Standard Pretrial Orderused in Mecklenburg County has been revised,adopted, and is now in use by the Trial CourtAdministrator’s office. A special thanks to SeniorResident Superior Court Judge Robert P. Johnston,Trial Court Administrator Todd Nuccio, and CaseFlow Management Administrator Meredith P. Davisfor this accomplishment. Their patience and inputwere essential components of the effort to completethe revision to our county’s Standard Pretrial Order.I would also like to express my appreciation to thelawyers who assisted in the preliminary worknecessary to complete this project and a special noteof thanks goes to Attorney Fred DeVore for hiscontinued input throughout the process.

I have enjoyed my two years as Chair of theCivil Litigation Section and I will be turning overthe responsibilities of this position to the Co-Chairsin July. I wish them the best of luck and this friendlyword of advice: Always rely on the wisdom andexperience of the MCB staff and your liaisonsbecause they usually know best!

Report

Communications CommitteeBY TRICIA DERR, CHAIR

The Communications Committee continues tofocus on ways to improve the timeliness andrelevancy of information communicated via ourelectronic and print media outlets.

Our monthly publication, The Mecklenburg BarNews, runs regular articles that feature programs,committees, sections and Bar members. Individualprofiles of Bar members remain a popular feature in thenewsletter. We have published several articles aboutthe Bar’s upcoming 100-year anniversary, and havehad a strong response to our request for Bar Historydocuments and photographs. We hope to publish apictorial version of the collected documents andphotos in honor of the 100-year anniversary in 2012.

We continue to work with the MecklenburgCounty Bar (MCB) staff to utilize Bar Blasts moreefficiently to ensure information that falls outside ofthe monthly newsletter timeline is disseminated toour Bar members in a timely manner. We are alsofocusing on ways in which we can make the Bar’swebsite more user friendly. See www.meckbar.org.

The website is undergoing a renovation to alloweasier registration for CLE and Bar special events,and full integration into all electroniccommunications to Bar members. The LawyerReferral program now offers Spanish information onour website.

Finally, we produced the annual MecklenburgCounty Bar Membership Directory. This year’sdirectory includes courthouse information, a listing ofcommunity resources and an expanded special areasof concentration listings.

Special thanks to Communications andDevelopment Director Stephen Belenkey andAssistant Director of Communications Rhea Kelleyfor their efforts to ensure quality publications. And,thanks to our committee members who continue towrite articles and research meaningful topics for TheMecklenburg Bar News. The Committee is alwayslooking for folks interested in writing andparticipating on this committee. Please contact Triciaat [email protected] if you would like to help out andhave a front row seat to what is going on in our Bar.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Mecklenburg Bar News accepts editorial andadvertising material of general legal interest to thepracticing Bar of the 26th Judicial District. The implicitpurposes of the newsletter, website, and related methods ofcommunication are to educate members of theMecklenburg County Bar and to create and maintainshared communication with its members. TheCommunications Committee reserves the right to accept,reject, or edit all material.

DISCLAIMER Efforts will be made to provideinformation of interest that is timely, accurate, andrelevant to the legal community. The MecklenburgCounty Bar is not responsible for misprints, typographicalerrors, or misinformation in The Mecklenburg Bar News.The views and opinions are not necessarily those of the26th Judicial District Bar.

Communications Committee: Tricia Derr, Chair,Judge Bob Johnston, Stephen Belenky, Mike Daisley,Alan Edmonds, Will Esser, Jon Goldberg, Allison Karp,Charles Keller, Rhea Kelley, John Lassiter, Phillip Lewis,Nancy Roberson, Michael Shor, Russ Traw

Report

BarHistoryCommittee

The Bar History committee has been busy thisyear. Authors Marion Ellis and Howard Covingtonhave been hired by the Bar and Foundation to writethe history of our Bar. In 2012, the Bar will celebrateits 100th year anniversary. Please continue to look inThe Mecklenburg Bar News and on the website atwww.meckbar.org for future developments. If youhave any photos, minutes, programs, or otherarchival information, please let us know. We willcopy the information and return to you or include inour historical documents. Thank you.

Report

Bar LeadershipInstitute

BY JAMES L. KISER, CHAIR

The Bar Leadership Institute (BLI) successfullycompleted its eighth year, graduating a class of 16lawyers. Beginning with a January weekend retreat atthe Catholic Conference Center and ending with anApril dinner and closing discussion at WhiteheadManor in Charlotte, this group formed strongpersonal bonds while learning a great deal about theMecklenburg County Bar (MCB) and the community.

This year’s graduates of BLI are: Sarah Brady ofJames, McElroy & Diehl; Leslie Cooley of the DistrictAttorney’s Office; Donnie Cureton of Bush & Powers;J.D. DuPuy of Ruff, Bond, Cobb, Wade & Bethune;Melissa Gray of Moore & Van Allen; Amy Hunt ofHorack Talley; Mark Johnson of McGuireWoods;Irene King of James, McElroy & Diehl; Mark Kutnyof Hamilton Moon Stephens Steele & Martin;Danny Merlin of Johnston, Allison & Hord; LindaMontgomery of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson;Valerie Mullican of Hunton & Williams; DanMumford of K&L Gates; Ben Royster of the DistrictAttorney’s Office; David Saye of Mayer Brown; andBrad Thomas of the City Attorney’s Office.

The three-month program includedpresentations from the following:• Jim Cooney, discussing the moral, ethical, and

legal issues raised by the Duke Lacrosse case;

• Anne Tompkins, discussing her work as anassistant U.S. attorney in Baghdad;

• Tom Hanchett, historian of the Levine Museumof the New South, on the history of segregationin North Carolina;

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Director DebraCampbell, discussing issues of growth,transportation, and neighborhood preservationin Mecklenburg County;

• Dean Jack Boger, discussing recent legaldevelopments affecting public schools;

• Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), addressingchallenges and opportunities within CMS;

• Mark Merritt, discussing the use of social capitalto improve the local Bar and legal system;

• City Council Member Anthony Foxx, speakingon issues and challenges facing the city and itsjustice system; and

• MCB President-Elect Pat Kelly, Past MCBPresident Bob Stephens, and MCB ExecutiveDirector Nancy Roberson, discussing thestructure of the Mecklenburg County Bar and theimportance of BLI graduates assuming leadershiproles within the Mecklenburg County Bar.

Hosts for the evening sessions were MecklenburgCounty District Attorney Peter Gilchrist, longstandingBLI Committee member Bob King, Chief U.S. DistrictCourt Judge Robert J. Conrad, Immediate Past BLIChair Jon Buchan, and Mecklenburg Bar FoundationPresident Claire Rauscher.

The program was led by Mike Whitehead andTom Lane of Whitehead Associates, who do anoutstanding job of encouraging participants toanalyze their personal strengths and weaknesses andto examine how those traits can impact theirleadership styles.

BLI thanks the MCB and the Mecklenburg BarFoundation for their financial support, MCB staffmember Leah Reed for her tireless assistance, JonBuchan for his insight and leadership as theimmediate past BLI Chair and Bob King for his manyyears of putting his energy, commitment, andimagination into BLI.

Report

Civil Litigation Section

MCBNews6-09v8:MCBNews 5/28/09 12:32 PM

BY MARIA LONG, SUSAN WEIGAND& JONATHAN VOGEL,

TRI-CHAIRS

The Criminal Justice Section of theMecklenburg County Bar (MCB) made a concertedpush to increase our membership for the 2008-2009year. Our membership presently consists of 66attorneys, including defense attorneys, assistantdistrict attorneys and judges.

In December, the Section hosted a lunch andlearn CLE on White Collar Crime. This CLE waspresented by former Assistant United StatesAttorney Peter Anderson, who now has a strongwhite collar crime practice. It was attended by morethan 30 members of the Section.

In February, Section co-chair Jonathan Vogelpresented a segment on criminal defense work withAssistant Public Defender Tony Purcell for the two-

day MCB Annual Review for attorneys in all areas ofpractice.

In March, the Section presented a lunch andlearn CLE entitled “Competency: What It Is, WhatIt Isn’t” that was attended by approximately 30Section members. This was presented by VirginiaSparrow Hart, Ph.D., Forensic Services Coordinatorfor the Behavioral Health Centers of the CarolinasHealthcare System; Russell Hancock, Ph.D.; andTerri Watters, Psy.D., who conducts competencyevaluations in Mecklenburg County.

We anticipate holding one or two more lunchand learn CLE’s during the summer months.

We attribute the good attendance at these CLE’s tothe fact that the cost to members of the Section andgovernment attorneys was $25 and included lunch.In addition, these CLEs were held in the fourth floorconference room for the Trial Court Administrator,making it easier for attorneys to attend.

June 2009 www.meckbar.org 3

Report

Community Schools ProjectReport

ContinuingLegalEducationCommittee

BY JOHN REIS &HEATHER CULP, CO-CHAIRS

The Continuing Legal Education (CLE)Committee began fiscal year 2008–09 with thechallenge of reaching $424,000 in gross and$284,000 in net proceeds to the MecklenburgCounty Bar (MCB). At the same time, thenational and local economy took a downturn,hitting Charlotte lawyers particularly hard. Yet wemet our challenge and in fact exceeded it. As ofmid April 2009, our gross proceeds are $430,000which, after deduction of operating costs, brings usto $322,749.44 net proceeds to the Bar. By the timeour fiscal year is over, the CLE committee projectsover $300,000 in net proceeds to the MCB. Wewill also have run 71 live programs and 77 videoreplays. From July 2008 through March 2009, 450.5hours were viewed online. As of April 15, 2009, wehave had 3165 attendees at CLEs – including live,video replays, and online courses.

Next to mandatory Bar dues, CLE is the largestfunding resource to keep the MCB running. It isalso a key resource for building community amongthe Bar, a function especially critical in times likethese. The key to success has been the energy,enthusiasm, and long-term dedication of MCB staffmember Lisa Armanini, with the excellentassistance of newcomer Sally Kenney, who joinedthe staff as our 2008-09 fiscal year began. Thankyou, Lisa and Sally, for your commitment andresults.

We also thank the many individual lawyers inour Bar whose ideas and follow-through resulted ina creative new crop of excellent CLE programs.Without lawyers willing to volunteer their talentsand time, these programs cannot happen. Withoutthese programs, we are less connected as a legalcommunity.

For those crunch times, we also offer theconvenience of online viewing and in-housevideos. Online CLE viewing is as easy as a fewclicks on www.meckbar.org. The State Bar allowsup to four hours per year of online viewing, thoughthey do not count toward your “live” and videoCLE allotment. The on-site videos do satisfy “liveviewing” requirements and scheduling one is aseasy as an email to Lisa Armanini [email protected]. Only three participantsneed to be registered for a course in order for videoreplays to be scheduled.

Many thanks to all MCB members whocontinue to support CLE programs. By choosingMCB CLE, you are helping keep MCB dues fromincreasing. We have a challenging budget for nextyear and look forward to meeting or exceeding thatbudget for the seventh consecutive year.

If you have ideas for new programs, or wish topresent and/or plan programs yourself, pleasecontact us. We look forward to your input andassistance. If you have any interest in serving onthe CLE Committee or any ideas or suggestions forimprovement, please contact John Reis at 704-37603400 or [email protected]; Heather Culp at704-333-0630 or [email protected]; or LisaArmanini at 704-375-8624 [email protected].

BY JON ADAMS &ANNE CROTTY, CO-CHAIRS

The Community Schools Project, an initiativewith the Community Outreach Committee, saw arevitalization this year with increased involvementfrom members of the Mecklenburg County Bar(MCB). Firms and individual lawyers generouslydonated schools supplies and served as class readers,tutors, and mentors in our partner schools – AshleyPark Elementary, Devonshire Elementary, and theCommunity Charter School. In addition, the Barwas able to provide a Teacher AppreciationBreakfast at Devonshire and a donation to theCommunity Charter School for the purchase ofbooks. An event for a special recognition of AshleyPark teachers is currently being planned.

Special thanks go to several firms and

individuals for their extraordinary work on behalf ofthe Project: Hatcher Law Group, McGuire Woods,and Moore & Van Allen have been particularlyactive in providing volunteers and sponsoringprojects to benefit the schools. In addition, Alston& Bird, Hamilton Moon Stephens Steele & Martin,and Maria Blue Minsker all made generousdonations towards the special events for the schools.

As the end of the school year approaches, weare preparing for the Partnership’s annual ice creamcelebrations at the schools. If you are interested inparticipating, please let Mary Jordan Mullinax atthe MCB know at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued support of thisgreat Project and the Committee. We hope to haveeven more members of the Bar, paralegals, and staffparticipate next year.

Report

Criminal Justice Section

Report

Estate Planning and ProbateSection

BY CHRIS J. C. JONES, CHAIR

The Estate Planning and Probate Section hadan active 2008–09. The Section organized aluncheon hosted by Moore & Van Allen, PLLC andsponsored by the Stanford Financial Group for allSection members. This event was intended to helpSection members renew old friendships and makenew ones. The Estate Planning and Probate Sectionorganized and sponsored a breakfast series ofcontinuing legal education programs. This was thethird year that the Estate Planning and ProbateSection put on such a breakfast series. This year’sbreakfast series of continuing legal educationprograms were held on Tuesday mornings from lateJanuary through late February. The programs werewell attended and the Section would like toacknowledge the following presenters for theiroutstanding presentations:• Michael Paschall with Banister Financial who

spoke on Valuation Issues in Estate Planning;

• Richard E. Marsh, Jr., with The Marsh Law

Firm who spoke on The Marital Deduction;

• Andrea Chomakos and Melissa Gray of theCharlotte office of Moore & Van Allen, PLLCwho spoke on the Practical (Non-Tax)Considerations in Estate Planning and EstateAdministration; and

• Andrew Nesbitt also with the Charlotte officeof Moore & Van Allen who spoke on Ethics inEstate Planning.

Members of the Estate Planning and ProbateSection were very active in the “Wills for Heroes”program sponsored by the Young Lawyers Divisionof the North Carolina Bar Association. The “Willsfor Heroes” program provides free essential estateplanning documents including wills and powers ofattorney to first responders including policemen,firefighters, and emergency medical technicians.Additionally, the Section continued its proudhistory of facilitating requests for pro bono estateplanning advice.



M a j o r ,

Lindsey

A f r i c a®

&

A t t o r n e y S e a r c hC o n s u l t a n t s

Report

Family Law Section

Report

Fee DisputeResolutionCommittee

BY EDWARD S. SHAPACK, CHAIR

The Fee Dispute Resolution Committeemediates and in some cases arbitrates fee disputesbetween lawyers who are members of theMecklenburg County Bar and their clients. Underthe North Carolina Rules of Professional ConductRule 1.5(f), North Carolina licensed attorneys mustparticipate in good faith in the Fee DisputeResolution process if a client has made a timely andproper claim.

A Committee member determines whether thisCommittee has jurisdiction for Fee DisputeResolution, then mediates if it is. Cases that resolvein mediation are closed with a writtenmemorandum. Cases that reach an impasse may(with mutual consent) be referred to a three-personarbitration panel consisting of two lawyers and onelay person, none of whom was the mediator or(absent mutual consent) are closed to allow theparties to pursue other remedies.

Fee Disputes may be filed locally or with theNorth Carolina State Bar, but most are handledlocally. All lawyer members of the Committee aretrained and certified mediators or have extensivemediation experience. All proceedings are confidential.

From July 1, 2008, through May 1, 2009,approximately 80 new files were opened and 55 wereclosed. Of these closed files, nearly 50% were settled.This past year, the Committee saw an increase infilings by clients, as well as more Bar membersseeking to collect on past due accounts and notifyingclients of the Fee Dispute Resolution process.

Report

Future MCB-MBF CenterCommittee

BY PENDER R. MCELROY &WILLIAM H MCMULLEN, JR., CO-CHAIRS

The Committee has reached a consensus thatthe current location of the Mecklenburg County BarCenter is inadequate due to lack of necessary spacefor staff, CLE, meetings, events, and permanentadequate parking. Furthermore to remain in theQueens Road location, rezoning would have to beaccomplished for both the Queens Road property andthe Luther Street property, substantial renovationwould have to be done to the Queens Road buildingand a new building would have to be constructed onLuther Street. The Board of the Bar and the Board ofthe Foundation have not formally approvedrelocation of the Bar Center although both boardshave directed the Committee to continue toinvestigate new locations. Accordingly, the initialissue facing this Committee is whether the currentfacility is expanded and has new construction orwhether the Bar Center is relocated. If the directiveis to relocate, then the issue is to what location andinto what kind of facility the Bar Center will berelocated. Further issues facing the Committee arethe limitations imposed upon acquisition of newspace due to an inadequate level of bar dues. Bar dueshave not been increased commensurate with the costof living and increased operating expenses, such thatnow a higher incremental increase in bar dues wouldbe required in order to pay for adequate space. Whilesecuring a smaller space and outsourcing larger CLEclasses, meetings and other events is an alternative, itis not the desire of the Committee to do so.

Report

GrievanceCommittee

BY MARK A. MICHAEL, CHAIR

The Grievance Committee investigatescomplaints against Mecklenburg County Barmembers and reports its findings andrecommendations to the North Carolina State Bar(NCSB). The Committee’s recommendations arenonbinding, and the Committee has no role in anydiscipline that might be imposed. Grievances may befiled locally or with the NCSB, but all grievancesother than those alleging criminal conduct or trustaccount violations are investigated locally. TheCommittee is comprised of 13 lawyers and 2 laymembers. Investigations are assigned to lawyermembers, and all reports are considered by theCommittee as a whole. All proceedings areconfidential.

For the period from July 1, 2008, through May 1,2009, 16 new files were opened and 55 were closed.This past year, the Committee worked with theNCSB to implement a quicker response time togrievances investigated at the local level. TheCommittee recommended a finding of probable causeas to a violation of one or more of the Rules ofProfessional Conduct in 6 of the closed files.Criminal and domestic law consistently generate themost complaints. Regardless of the type of lawinvolved, most complaints allege violations of Rule1.4, Communications, and Rule 1.3, Diligence.

The Committee works closely with both the FeeDispute Resolution Committee and the LawyerLifeResource Committee, and referrals are freely made asappropriate. Any lawyer with a question about theprocess or a particular issue should feel free to contactthe Chair or any member of the Committee.

BY J. HUNTINGTON WOFFORD, CO-CHAIR& K. MITCHELL KELLING

The Mecklenburg County Bar Family LawSection continued its regular “Lunch and Learn”series for Spring 2009. Attorney Stan Brown presidedover the March 19, 2009 meeting which includedpresentations by the new Chief District Court JudgeLisa Bell and Judge Rebecca T. Tin as well as ElisaChinn-Gary and other members of the Family Courtadministrative staff.

On April 16, 2009, the Section enjoyed a paneldiscussion moderated by attorney Tate Sterrett and inwhich Judges Ronald L. Chapman, Gena P. Culler,Donnie Hoover, Christy T. Mann, Paige B.McThenia and Rebecca T. Tin participated. Thejudges responded to questions from Mr. Sterrett andSection members on numerous topics that were ofinterest to the judges and the attorneys.

The May 13, 2009 presentation will involve theuse of parenting coordinators in custody cases. The

Section plans to conclude its spring series with a halfday seminar in June, 2009 with a programconcentrating on equitable distribution issues.

The Family Law Section will resume the “Lunchand Learn” series in the fall. If you would like tosuggest additional activities or programs of interest tothe Family Law Section, please email Hunt Wofford([email protected]) or MCB staff liason AmyYoung ([email protected]).



Report

Law & SocietyCommittee

BY PETE ANDERSON &LUTHER MOORE, CO-CHAIRS

The Mecklenburg County Bar andMecklenburg Bar Foundation hosted the 19thannual Law & Society Luncheon on January 29,2009. The Luncheon featured a keynote address byDr. Holden Thorp, University of North Carolina atChapel Hill Chancellor, speaking on “TheChanging Nature of Relationships BetweenUniversities and Society.” Thorp’s backgroundincludes work at UNC, the California Institute ofTechnology, Yale University, and North CarolinaState University.

During the Law & Society Luncheon, TheHon. Robert P. Johnston and Senior ResidentSuperior Court Judge presented the AyscueProfessionalism Award to North Carolina SupremeCourt Chief Justice Sarah Parker. The awardrecognized Justice Parker’s contributions to both thelegal profession and the community.

Bar members also witnessed MecklenburgCounty District Attorney Peter Gilchrist receivethe Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Gilchristreceived this honor for service in his profession andto his community for a period of at least 25 yearsafter attaining the level of Eagle Scout.

The Law & Society Committee thanks thefollowing firms for supporting the 2008–09 Law &Society Luncheon: Gold Sponsors King &Spalding; Moore & Van Allen; and WombleCarlyle Sandridge & Rice; Silver Sponsors Alston& Bird; James, McElroy & Diehl; Johnston, Allison& Hord; Littler Mendelson; McGuireWoods;Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough; Ogletree,Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart; Parker PoeAdams & Bernstein; and Robinson, Bradshaw &Hinson; Contributor Sponsors AndersonTerpening; Carolina Legal Staffing; Cranfill,Sumner & Hartzog; Dixon Hughes; GoodrichCorporation; Hamilton Moon Stephens Steele &Martin; Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo;and Poyner & Spruill.

Report

Law Day Committee

Report

Lawyer Referral ServiceCommittee

BY MICHAEL HUDSON &LOIS COLBERT, CO-CHAIRS

The Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB)celebrated the nation’s 51st Law Day on May 1,2009 with its annual Law Day Luncheon. Held atthe Hilton Charlotte Center City, the event drewmore than 250 attendees. Co-Chair Lois Colbertkicked off the ceremony by thanking the eventsponsors. Irene King blessed the ceremonies with astirring a cappella rendition of “God BlessAmerica.” Ozzie Ayscue led us in the invocationand an update on the Bar History Project. FannieFlono of the Charlotte Observer presented the LawDay Essay Contest first place award to local highschool student Kyle Newsom. Introduced byMichael Hudson, keynote speaker Justice PatriciaTimmons-Goodson of the North Carolina SupremeCourt delivered an address on Lincoln’s legacy.

A regular highlight of the Law Day Luncheon isthe presentation of the Liberty Bell Award, given toa nonlawyer who has made a significantcontribution to the law. Representative MarthaAlexander, unaware that she had been chosen to

receive the award, looked on as Senator DanClodfelter announced the winner. SenatorAlexander stated that she was humbled andhonored to be this year’s recipient.

Law Day was established by a proclamation ofPresident Dwight Eisenhower in 1958. In the midstof the Cold War, the President encouragedAmericans to reflect on the importance of the ruleof law in the preservation of democracy. This yearstudents and bar organizations across the nationcelebrated Law Day and its theme for this year, "ALegacy of Liberty-Lincoln’s Bicentennial.”

The Law Day Luncheon was organized by theLaw Day Committee, chaired by Michael Hudsonand Lois Colbert. The Committee members areMiriam Dixon, Connelia Houston, Grady Jessup,Irene King, Chase Saunders, George Sistrunk, TerryWallace, and Nikki Woods. Leah Reed of the MCBserved as the Committee’s liaison.

The hosting of nearly 30 judges from the NorthCarolina Court of Appeals, North CarolinaSupreme Court, North Carolina AdministrativeLaw, Mecklenburg County Superior Court,

Mecklenburg County District Court, and U.S.District Court; Liberty Bell Award recipients; andhard-working MCB staff at this year’s Law Day waspossible because of the support we received from oursponsors. Seventeen law firms and corporate lawdepartments were Table Sponsors this year,including Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft; CentralPiedmont Community College ParalegalDepartment; Charlotte School of Law; James,McElroy & Diehl, P.A.; John S. Leary BarAssociation; Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A.; K & LGates; Law Office of Grady Jessup; Moore & VanAllen PLLC; Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough,LLP; Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP;Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.; Wells FargoLegal Department; and Womble Carlyle Sandridge& Rice, PLLC. The Law Day Committee is gratefulfor generous support of the Bar’s Year-Round SilverSponsor Lawyers Mutual Liability InsuranceCompany of North Carolina and the event’sSupporter Sponsors Stewart Title of the Carolinas.The Law Day Committee would also like to thankour Donor Sponsor Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP.

BY CONNELIA HOUSTON &DAVID STRICKLAND, CO-CHAIRS

The Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) has had ayear marked with change and progress for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

The focus for this fiscal year was to instate amarketing campaign that will increase the number ofcalls the LRS receives each day and thereforeincrease the number of client fees generated. Withseveral meetings throughout the year, the MarketingSubcommittee developed a clean and informativebrochure that was distributed throughout MecklenburgCounty by local businesses and organizations toexpand the LRS client base. Additional marketinginitiatives have been developed through use of yellowpages and other print options, distribution of LRSbusiness cards and the discussion of a presence atcommunity and neighborhood events to targetspecific audiences. We particularly thank those onthe Marketing Subcommittee for their time andefforts in these endeavors.

The LRS saw an increase in Panel membershipthroughout the year with an unprecedented nineadditions in the third quarter alone. We are alwaysseeking additional Panel members in all of ourpractice areas. The Panel is a great way to increaseclients in practice areas that you currently serve, plusdevelop a practice in areas into which you hope toexpand. In anticipation of our additional marketingefforts, a natural increase in calls should occur. Takeadvantage of this flood by signing up for the Panel.

The newsletter was utilized throughout the year,particularly to keep Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB)members aware of the needs of the Lawyer ReferralService. Particular outreach was done for taxattorneys and there is an ever-present need forSpanish-speaking attorneys in LRS.

The LRS also welcomed four student interns fromCentral Piedmont Community College’s ParalegalStudies Program to the LRS office to help in callintake, client follow-up, and other administrativeneeds. Through CPCC’s Cooperative Education

Program, the LRS staff was able to host these studentsand expose them to the wide range of legal needs inMecklenburg County. Staff would like to thankPatricia Arteaga, Margrita Harrison, Sarita Kearse, andCynthia Young for their hard work this year with LRS.

As always, we are also on the lookout forvolunteers to fill the Committee. It is a great way toget involved in the local Bar and to serve the public.With the many initiatives being planned for nextfiscal year, now would be an exciting time to join andparticipate in the continued revitalization of theprogram.

The Committee Chairs are grateful to the staffcoordination that goes on daily at the Bar throughSarah Darby and newly hired Mary Jordan Mullinax.We also thank Maya Madura Engle, assistantexecutive director of MCB, and Nancy Roberson,executive director of MCB, for their continuedmanagement and support, particularly during thetransition of coordinators.

The LRS thanks its Committee members: RyanDings, David Driscoll, Ben Thalheimer, WilliamWallace, Lauren Vaughn, Stephen Ashley, StephenRook and Allen Smith.

As this fiscal year winds down, the LRS is doingthe opposite by increasing its outreach and presencein the community. We thank everyone for their timeand efforts to continue to make the program areliable and relevant service of MCB and thank youfor the opportunity to work so closely with it.

Office Condofor Rent

101 North McDowell Street1200 sq. ft. – Furnished

US and NC Rep. 1965-20002 spacious lawyer offices

Recently RenovatedGeorge Daly 703/333-5196


Report

McMillan Fund CommitteeBY RANDEL E. PHILLIPS, CHAIR

The Mecklenburg Bar Foundation’s McMillanFund Committee administers and raises money forthe McMillan Fellowships. The Fellowships areawarded each year to promising law school studentsto do public service work in not-for-profit andgovernment agencies in Mecklenburg County.

Established in 1995 as a separate fund of theMecklenburg Bar Foundation, the McMillan Fundseeks to support justice and innovation within ourlocal legal system and to encourage law students whomight be interested in a career in public interest lawin Mecklenburg County. To date, some 37 Fellowshave worked at such agencies as Legal Services ofSouthern Piedmont, the Mecklenburg Trial CourtAdministrator’s Office, the U.S. Equal EmploymentOpportunity Commission, the U.S. District Court,International House, Office of the Public Defender,Council for Children’s Rights, and the DistrictAttorney’s Office.

The Fellowships are primarily funded throughthe annual McMillan Fund Dinner, which was heldthis year on April 14, 2008, at Byron’s South End.This event marked the second year of ourCommittee’s fruitful collaboration with theMecklenburg County Bar’s Special Committee onDiversity. Notwithstanding the difficult economicclimate for fundraising this year, the combined effortsof the two Committees helped make this year’s

McMillan Fund Dinner the second-most successful inits 12-year history—surpassed only by last year’sturnout. The event raised approximately $14,000,after expenses, for summer fellowships (compared tomore than $19,000 last year). There were 147registrants for the event, including 40 Individual($300) Sponsorships and representatives from our fiveCorporate/Firm Sponsors, who supported the Dinnerand our Fellows through $1,500 table sponsorships(compared with 14 such sponsorships in last year’srosier economic climate). The McMillan FundCommittee and the Special Committee on Diversitywould like to thank Compass Group USA; GoodrichCorporation; Moore & Van Allen PLLC; Robinson,Bradshaw & Hinson; and Charlotte School of Lawfor their generosity.

The dinner was the setting for the second annualpresentation of the Special Committee on Diversity’sJulius L. Chambers Diversity Champion Award,which celebrates persons who have advanced thecause of diversity and equal opportunity in ourcommunity. The Award, named for last year’shonoree, was presented this year to former MCBpresident George V. Hanna III, who launched theSpecial Committee on Diversity during his tenure aspresident of the Mecklenburg County Bar and spurredits initiatives in the diversity area. (See also theSpecial Committee On Diversity Report on page 7).

The after-dinner program was headlined by JackBoger, Dean of the University of North Carolina LawSchool. Dean Boger gave a thought provoking addresson the current status of efforts to equalize educationalopportunity in both the Charlotte area and nationwide.The program continued with the presentation of theDiversity Champion Award by Rob Harrington, andconcluding remarks from Mr. Hanna.

Thanks largely to the fundraising dinner andapplications from a number of local agencies, theMcMillan Fund Committee was able to make fivefellowship grants of $3,000 each. These grants willhelp support seven law students working at the U.S.Attorney’s Office, the Council for Children’s Rights,International House, the Mecklenburg County DistrictAttorney, and Legal Services of Southern Piedmont.

McMillan Committee members for 2008–09include Ozzie Ayscue, Maria Long, George Daly, JohnGresham, Ray Owens, Marion Cowell, KatieHolliday, and Randy Phillips. The Committee thanksBar staffers Leah Reed and Stephanie Marella fortheir able administrative support for the McMillanFund Dinner and this year’s activities.


Ambition is an asset. But failing to calculate the risks associated with your goals can land you in trouble.

Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company is founded, governed and staffed by North Caro-lina attorneys, so we know the direction in which you are headed. Our exceptional risk management programs help you foresee and avoid liability problems, and our malpractice coverage is backed by a seasoned team of claims attorneys who boast a 90% rate of favorable outcomes when notified of a reparable error at the earliest possible date.

Let Lawyers Mutual help you calculate your next steps before you take them. With us, you can be

sure you’re headed in the right direction.

919.677.8900 800.662.8843 Fax: 919.677.9641 www.LMLNC.com [email protected] Mutual. Think Ahead.

How well have you planned your journey?

Report

Lawyers’LuncheonSeriesCommittee

BY SALLY HIGGINS &DOUG JARRELL, CO-CHAIRS

This year the Lawyers’ Luncheon Series becamea regular monthly gathering for the MecklenburgCounty Bar (MCB). Beginning in October, we meton the second Thursday of the month at FirstPresbyterian Church uptown. Members of the Barenjoyed an informal and collegial setting, areasonably priced meal, and an engaging speaker, allin an hour or less.

Over the course of the year, our speakers includedCharlotte Regional Visitors Authority President TimNewman, Police Chief Rodney Monroe, HumpyWheeler, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superinten-dent Peter Gorman, and recently-retired CharlotteObserver Editorial Page Editor Ed Williams. InFebruary, we enjoyed an engaging presentation onnon-profit governance by Dianne Chipps Bailey thatearned attendees an hour of CLE ethics credit.

Although Bar luncheons have occurred on anoccasional basis over the years since first instituted byMCB President Ben Horack in 1967, this year theyhave become a regular occurrence that we hope willearn a spot on members’ monthly calendars. TheCommittee is already at work on luncheons for the2009–10 Bar year and welcomes members’suggestions of speakers.

BY HENRY PHARR &WARD MCKEITHEN, CO-CHAIRS

For a number of years, it has been our Bar’stradition to honor the memory of members of the Barwho have died during the year. When the familydesires, a memorial ceremony is conducted for adeceased member at a special session of the SuperiorCourt, presided over by one of our resident superiorcourt judges (or occasionally a district court judge),and attended by the deceased member’s family andfriends, the president of the Bar, a co-chair of theMemorials Committee, and other members of the Bar.

On behalf of the Memorials Committee, a

Report

Memorials Committee

Deceased Member Resolution Presenter Memorial Proceeding Presiding Judge

Francis Iredell Parker C. Sydnor Thompson September 25, 2008 Hon. Robert P. Johnston

Ernest S. Delaney Jr. Ernest S. Delaney III January 15, 2009 Hon. Robert P. Johnston

Robin L. Hinson Russell M. Robinson II April 30, 2009 Hon. Robert P. Johnston

B. Irvin Boyle Robert C. Hord Jr. May 7, 2009 Hon. Robert P. Johnston

The Committee extends special thanks andappreciation to the judges who presided on theseoccasions, to those members of the Bar who haveprepared and presented the resolutions, to the Barmembers and family and friends who have attended

these memorial proceedings, and to Sally Robinsonand Linda Brooks who have handled the variousarrangements necessary to the continuing of this finetradition of the Bar.

designated member of the Bar prepares and presentsat this memorial ceremony a special resolutioncommemorating the life and services of the deceasedmember. This resolution becomes a permanent recordin the minutes of the Court. The Court is

subsequently adjourned in memory of the deceasedmember.

During the past year, proceedings have beenconducted for the following deceased members of ourBar:



Report

Professionalism, Lawyer Life and CultureCommittee

BY SARAH J. KROMER,D. CHRISTOPHER OSBORN,

W. LEWIS GLENN III,HON. SELINA M. BROOKS

The Bar 2010, LawyerLife Resources, andProfessionalism Committees have combined forces tobecome the Professionalism, Lawyer Life and CultureCommittee (PLLC). The PLLC has adopted thefollowing purpose statement: “To enhance andsupport the Mecklenburg County legal community,through the active development and promotion ofeducational programs, resources, and mentoringrelationships, in order to facilitate healthy,collaborative, rewarding, and service-orientedprofessional lives and culture among its members.”

In the past, all three of the former committeeswere working towards a common goal—improvingthe way lawyers live and work together and in thecommunity—but each from its own individual focusand by its own means and methods. Bar 2010 focusedon the “culture” of the Mecklenburg County Bar(MCB); the Professionalism Committee addressedlawyers’ relationships with one another and their

interaction with the community at large; andLawyerLife Resources focused on the individualmembers of the MCB. The MCB hopes that bybringing these three Committees together under oneumbrella, the resources of each will be morecomprehensively and effectively used to further thevision of all.

The Committee is in the beginning stages ofdetermining its structure and how best to utilizecombined efforts. Among other things, this groupwill serve as an avenue to respond quickly to ourmembers in times of need. The new Committeefinished the 2008-2009 year by addressing how theBar will respond to the needs of its members duringthis difficult economic time.

A brief summary of the past fiscal year for theindividual committees are as follows:

Bar 2010: The Bar 2010 Committee completed itsjoint project with the Charlotte School of Law andthe McColl School of Business: the development of asurvey on a variety of important issues for the MCB,including the intersection of lawyer productivity,satisfaction, professionalism, and retention in our Barwith economic factors that impact these issues. This

Group began to collect raw data from the survey tolearn about the issues raised by the survey. As thecombined PLLC group takes shape, more analysis ofthe data will be completed.

LawyerLife Resources Committee (LLRC):The LLRC continued to meet monthly to plan CLEsand other proactive activities to address the impact ofthe economic crisis on the practice of law, to supportDon Carroll’s work trough the Lawyer AssistanceProgram, and to discuss content for Bar newslettercolumns. The Committee developed a series ofarticles entitled “Lawyers in Love: How to StopLitigating Ourselves out of Good Relationships”written by Committee Chair, Chris Osborn.

Professionalism: The Professionalism Committeecontinued to look at ways to enhance the legalprofession in Mecklenburg County. As part of thisprocess, the Committee continued to oversee theSilent Partners program. The theme for this year’sclass was “Integrity has no need of Rules,” and theprogram kicked off on November 12 with an addressfrom noted South Carolina defense attorney JackSwerling on what it means to be a lawyer. A secondevent is planned for late summer of 2009.

Report

Special Committee on DiversityReport

Real PropertySection

BY ERIKA M. ERLENBACH,CHAIR

This has been an active year for the RealProperty Section. We have had quarterly meetingsto address the needs of the Section and currentpractice concerns. The inclusion of roundtablediscussions and Section sponsored ContinuingLegal Education programs have provided a greatopportunity for us to interact with members ofour Section and with the Bar as a whole. We meta number of the goals set at the start of the yearand look forward to furthering our goals in thecoming year.

We invite you to join us for our annual socialwith cocktails and heavy hors d’œuvres on June18th at 6:00pm at the Mecklenburg County Bar. Itwill be a great opportunity to connect withcolleagues and wrap up the year.

The section would like to give a resounding“Thank You!” to Binder Title Agency; Katten,Muchin, Rosenman, LLP; Morehead Title Companyand Peoples Bank for supporting the Section, evenin these economically difficult times.

BY VALECIA M. MCDOWELL &PETER J. COVINGTON, CO-CHAIRS

The Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) SpecialCommittee on Diversity utilized the 2008-2009 yearas an opportunity to augment its current diversityinitiatives and expand its support for traditionallyunderrepresented populations within our legalcommunity.

The Special Committee on Diversity continuedto provide programming opportunities designed torecruit and retain minority attorneys to theCharlotte-Mecklenburg legal community from widelyvarying constituencies, from eighth grade students topracticing attorneys. The “pipeline” programs include:Lunch with a Lawyer, a mentorship program designedin partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools;Diversity Day, an annual conference inviting highschool and undergraduate students to engage withCharlotte attorneys and law school administrators;and the Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship, atwelve-week internship program for diverse first yearlaw students. The Special Committee on Diversityhopes that through intervening at a young age it canbetter introduce students to the legal profession andprovide support to individuals in every stage of theirlegal career. The Committee also provides support tocurrent practicing minority attorneys througheducational development opportunities.

In April the Committee held its first jointContinuing Legal Education (CLE) program with theJohn S. Leary Bar Association, North Carolina AsianPacific Bar, and the newly established MecklenburgCounty Hispanic Latino Lawyers Bar. The programfeatured nine superior, district, and immigration courtjudges discussing tips for effective courtroomadvocacy. Additionally, the Committee offeredsupport to the Charlotte Women’s Bar spring CLEprogram titled Women Lawyers 2009: Retention,Advancement, Equity & Satisfaction.

This year the Advisory Group to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg General Counsel and Managing PartnersDiversity Initiative launched its inaugural survey to

retain statistics from its law firm signatories. Surveyedfirms provided information regarding the recruitment,hiring, retention, and promotion of their minorityattorneys. The Advisory Group hopes to utilize thisinformation to better examine the extent to whichvarious law practices “have successfully incorporatedlawyers from traditionally underrepresented groups intheir organizations,” as stated in the SpecialCommittee on Diversity’s Statement of Purpose.

On April 14, 2009, the Committee honored pastMCB and Mecklenburg Bar Foundation presidentGeorge V. Hanna, III with the second annualpresentation of the Julius L. Chambers DiversityChampion Award. The Award, fittingly named afterits first recipient, seeks to honor individuals who helppromote the ideals of diversity in the legal profession.Hanna was selected by the Committee because of his“passionate advocacy for making diversity a key focusof our Bar,” said Norfleet Prudent, member of theCommittee. Hanna played a pivotal role in foundingthe Committee during his tenure as MCB presidentand continues to commit to the Charlotte legalcommunity through various civic engagements.

The Committee looks forward to a successful2009-2010 year and hopes to further establishpositive relationships between MCB entities andlocal affinity Bars.

Assistant NeededCharlotte attorney needsPersonal Injury assistant.

Approximately 20 hours per week.Primarily Auto and Workers

Compensation. Experience desired,but not prerequisite.

Schedule may be flexible.Need outgoing personality.

No smokers please.Contact 704/375-7200.

Seeking AttorneyEmory Law Firm seeking attorneyfor successful Charlotte office.1+ years experience required,

solid background intraffic and criminal law.

The attorney must be self-motivatedand possess strong interpersonal skills.

Send resume and salary history toATTN: Office Manager,

1000 Seaboard Street, Ste. B3,Charlotte, North Carolina 28206.



Report

Social Sports Committee

Report

Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section

BY MATT ARNOLD & JOHN NIPP,CO-CHAIRS

The Social Sports Committee continued itsmission of promoting a sense of community in theMecklenburg County Bar (MCB) by organizingseveral events this year. On the sports front, theCommittee supervised the basketball and softballleagues, and worked with the Bar staff to organizeanother successful Golf Tournament held at PineLake Country Club. The Committee plans to holdthe 2009 MCB Golf Tournament at Raintree CountryClub on Wednesday, August 26, 2009. Check TheMecklenburg Bar News for details on the golftournament and our new venue in the coming months.

The Committee also continued the tradition ofholding events that allow Bar members to socializeand network in a variety of ways. The Bar HolidayParty—which was again held at Byron’s South End in

December—saw the popularaddition of both a Wii bowlingtournament and a foosballtable, allowing our members toshare in a little friendlycompetition while enjoying thefestivities. The Committee alsohelped organize the Bar’s 97thAnnual Meeting and Barbequeon May 21. In addition toenjoying barbeque andfellowship, Annual Meetingattendees witnessed theswearing in of new BarPresident Patrick E. Kelly, aswell as the new Boardmembers. There will be a fullreport on the Annual Meetingin the July issue of the BarNews.

The Social SportsCommittee is grateful to all thesponsors who support the Barby helping us provide thesegreat opportunities to bring Barmembers together. We hopeour members also continue tosupport these sustainingorganizations. We’d also like tothank the MCB Boardmembers for helping theCommittee spread the wordabout our events and encouraging their firms toparticipate. Our success wouldn’t have been possiblewithout their enthusiastic support!

Thanks to all for a great year. If you want to getinvolved in the Social Sports Committee, pleasecontact Leah Reed at [email protected].

BY N. RENEE HUGHES, CHAIR

The Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Sectionenjoyed a successful and eventful year. We openedthe year on October 2, 2008 with a kick-off “meetand greet” luncheon to discuss ideas related to futuremeeting topics and speakers. On November 13th, ourluncheon included a presentation titled “BestStrategies for Business Development in a DownMarket,” presented by Mary Kaczmarek, a formerpracticing attorney and the principal of SkillfulMeans Marketing LLC, a Charlotte-based consultingfirm. Ms. Kaczmarek provided a timely, informative

and interesting presentation during which she sharedher knowledge in business and professionaldevelopment strategy, market position and branding,and organizational effectiveness.

In January, the Section held a networking lunchduring which members had an opportunity to catchup with each other after the holiday season anddiscuss Section sponsored CLEs for the spring. TheFebruary lunch topic was “Accounting, Bookkeepingand Insurance Issues and Considerations for SoloPractitioners and Small Firms,” presented by DaphneMorgan, CPA; Jeff Morgan, Co-Owner of AccTechSolutions; and Steve Smith, Principal of InSouth

Insurance Agency. In March, John F. Rudisill, Esq.spoke on “10 Questions about Estates That Family,Friends and Prospective Clients Will Ask You theMost to Which You Fear to Give or Feign anAnswer”. In April, the Section co-sponsored a CLEat the Mecklenburg County Bar, titled “Hard Times:How to Survive & Thrive in the EconomicRecession,” which addressed law firm management ina recession, working with clients in crisis, theemotions of job loss in the legal community, andlessons from the depression and how to apply them toyour practice. To conclude the year, the Sectionsponsored a luncheon in May titled “Working WithClients Facing Economic Crisis,” presented byHeather Culp, Esq. Ms. Culp discussed counselingclients through business failure, job loss, and personaleconomic crisis and building and solidifying clientrelationships in the recession.

In addition to providing education andprofessional development opportunities, our meetingsthroughout the year gave members an opportunity tonetwork, discuss practical day-to-day firmmanagement issues and share their own experienceand knowledge in their respective practices.

The Section encourages and invites local Barmembers to join for networking opportunities and tofurther develop professionally and personally. If you’reinterested in joining for the upcoming year, pleasecontact Section Liaison Amy Young [email protected] or 704/375-8624 ext. 124. Ifyou are not in solo practice or a small firm, but wouldlike to attend future meetings, we would be delightedto have you join us.

S SSMALL OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE

SHARON ROAD

SOUTHPARK

MALL

MIchael Hoefling, Russ Andrew, and John NIppcelebrate winning the 2008 Golf Tournament.

(Above) Danny Merlin, Amy Hunt, Amy Foxhall and Joey Foxhall at the2008 MCB Holiday Party.

(Below) Nancy Roberson and Judge Albert Diaz square-off at foosball.



Report

Volunteer Lawyers Program CommitteeBY LARRY GWALTNEY &

SEAN PERRIN, CO-CHAIRS

Support to Community PartnersThe Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP)

continues its longstanding support of its communitypartners: Legal Aid of North Carolina, Legal Servicesof Southern Piedmont (LSSP), and the Council forChildren’s Rights. VLP worked closely with LegalAid to support the Landlord/Tenant Project to recruitlaw firms to partner with Legal Aid to assist withintake and representation of new landlord/tenantcases. Following Dechart’s prior commitment, Moore& Van Allen now conducts intake one day a monthand represents clients interviewed during intake. VLPis now focused on assisting LSSP with a similarpartnership for employee benefits appeals.

Attorney for the DayVLP’s Attorney for the Day program with the 26th

Judicial District provides consultations for low incomeclients who are handling family law matters pro se.The SelfServe Center has consultation topics toinclude Small Claims and Landlord Tenant clinics.Several firms committed to regular, monthly assignedschedules, and the remainder of the shifts are coveredby more than 100 trained volunteers recruited by VLP.More than 200 volunteer hours have been dedicatedto this program. In January, over forty new volunteerswere trained in the full spectrum of the SelfServeCenter services and many of them signed up for theprogram free of charge in exchange for their commit-ment to four hours of volunteer time in the clinics.

VLP and the SelfServe Center continue tocollaborate with the Charlotte School of Law tocreate a pro bono program for law students. Thestudents teach weekly family law, landlord/tenant ordomestic violence clinics to pro se litigants. Studentsare trained and VLP attorneys serve as supervisors atthese clinics.

Wills & Estates ProgramThe Wills & Estates program continues to serve

the community by working most closely with Habitatfor Humanity as their clients fulfill their homeowner’sobligations. More than 25 wills and health care powersof attorney have been assigned or completed this year.

Pro Bono for NonprofitsThe Pro Bono for Nonprofits (PBNP) program

introduced a new application this fiscal year in orderto have a simpler and more accessible process forclients. PBNP has opened six cases this fiscal year(with several currently in the review process)including a math and science summer camp at anarea elementary school, an organization introducingphotography to orphaned children around the world,and a program providing education, counseling andprofessional networks to lower-income citizens inMecklenburg County on home-ownership, financialliteracy, and self improvement.

Representatives from the PBNP Subcommittee

and several City of Charlotte officials met during themiddle of the fiscal year to offer services through thePBNP program to neighborhood and communityorganizations. This collaboration should be a successfulone for the PBNP program, the communityorganizations and the city of Charlotte. Inquirieshave already been made by several organizations forfuture participation.

Best Practices for Law Firms andAttorneys Providing Pro BonoServices in the MecklenburgCommunity

VLP members created a Best Practices documentthat can be used as a resource for attorneys and firmswho are developing their own pro bono services. It isanticipated that the document will be presented to theBoard of Directors at its May meeting for discussion.

Continuing Legal Education andCommunity Education

Several volunteer training CLE’s were presentedin the areas of domestic violence, nonprofits, pro seassistance, estate planning and landlord tenantdisputes throughout local firms to support VLPPartners. The SelfServe Center coordinated with theBar’s CLE Department to hold a training on updateson family law cases and to newly train volunteers inthe landlord/tenant area. In addition to these partnertrainings, a free “Forum on Immigration” was held onOctober 2, 2008 and on March 13, 2009, animmigration CLE reviewing VAWA and U-Visaprotocols was presented to recognize and anticipatefuture immigration needs in the community –particularly with the opening of the ImmigrationCourt this year. Coordination with the NC Bar tohave a Foreclosure Prevention CLE on December 12,2008 was successful as well.

Volunteer Recruitment andPromotion

VLP has worked with the Mecklenburg CountyBar Communications Committee to publicizeopportunities for pro bono to Bar members throughnewsletter articles, e-blasts, website features and probono awards. The Committee also enlisted aVolunteer Spotlight that is published monthly via theBar’s newsletter and our March spotlight, Sean Lew,was referenced in the Charlotte Observer’s “NotableNames” column.

Eight pro bono awards will be given at the MCBAnnual Meeting:

Outstanding Large Firm: Hunton & WilliamsLLP-Attorneys at Hunton & Williams donated over3000 hours (that is over four months of volunteering)with organizations such as the Urban MinistryCenter, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Legal Servicesof Southern Piedmont, Council for Children’s Rights,NC LEAP, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, andMcDowell Street Center for Family Law.

Outstanding Small Firm: Hatcher Law Group-

Hatcher Law Group will be presented with theOustanding Small Firm award the second year in arow and was also nominated by United FamilyServices’ Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Unit.They have spent over 350 hours working withUnited Family Services and the Mecklenburg CountyWomen’s Commission family law seminars.

Outstanding Individual Attorney: William K.Packard – Mr. Packard, with Robinson, Bradshaw &Hinson, was nominated by his firm as well as theCharlotte Housing Authority for his 150+ hoursdonated to CHA, Hall House, Thompson Child &Family Focus, and Shared Services for Agencies ofChildren and Family Services Center.

LANC Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Thomas P.Holderness of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson willreceive recognition from Legal Aid of NorthCarolina for his over one hundred hours dedicated in2008 – particularly in the domestic violence andlandlord/tenant cases.

LSSP Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Richard S.Wright of James, McElroy & Diehl is beingrecognized for his work on an equitable distributiondispute that required over 120 hours of volunteertime at Legal Services of Southern Piedmont.

CFCR Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Heidi S.Risser of Redenbaugh and Risser will be recognized bythe Council for Children’s Rights for her dedicatedwork as a child advocate on a particular caseinvolving a thirteen year old girl who relied on Ms.Risser to help her through the custody and visitationissues that had been present for most of her life.

Pro Bono for Nonprofits Attorney of the Year:Christopher Tucci will be recognized by the Pro Bonofor Nonprofits program for his continued success as aleader of this initiative. He worked patiently duringthe transition of the new VLP coordinator and is alsocontinuously expanding the outreach of the program.

Jane V. Harper Pro Bono Attorney of the Year:For outstanding pro bono work with the 26th JudicialDistrict SelfServe Center, Kimberly Zirkle of Moore& Van Allen will be recognized for her many hoursas Attorney for the Day volunteer in addition to heradditional support through her firm’s commitment tothe SelfServe Center.

Report

Strategic Planning CommitteeBY ROBERT C. DORTCH, CARLA ARCHIE,

& MICHAEL WILSON, TRI-CHAIRS

The Strategic Planning Committee recruitedmembers and began working together as a group todevelop a strategic plan in the fall. The goal is todevelop both short term and long range vision for theMecklenburg County Bar (MCB). The Committeebegan the process by looking through the results of

the MCB membership survey conducted last summerand the results of the ABA Operational Review fromOctober 2008. These resources have provided theCommittee with some insight as to both what Barmembers want, and suggestions for improvementfrom an operational perspective. The Committee willcontinue to work with MCB staff, the Board andvolunteers as it develops a comprehensive StrategicPlan.

Report

Finance andOperationsCommittee

As this fiscal year comes to a close, the Financeand Operations Committee continues to closelymonitor the Bar’s income and expenses. We expectthe budgeted income goal for 2009 to be met andexpenses have been held to a minimum in responseto the economy. Pursuant to the procedureestablished in the Finance and Operations policy, a2010 budget has been recommended for approval bythe board. Public input is scheduled for June 3rd atthe Bar Center.

The committee and staff worked hard to ensurethat the recommended budget for 2010 does notreflect a dues increase. The last dues increase was infiscal year 2002.

The 2010 approved budget and 2009 year endfinancial reports will appear on the Bar website atwww.meckbar.org in August.


On April 22, 2009, nearly 100 womenattorneys gathered at the Van Landingham Estate inCharlotte for a Continuing Legal Education coursetitled Women Lawyers 2009 – Advancement,Retention, Equity and Satisfaction. The event was co-hosted by the Charlotte Women’s Bar and theMecklenburg County Bar.

The Honorable Shirley Fulton opened up theprogram reflecting on her experience as one of thefirst female attorneys and judges in the area. LaurenStiller Rikleen, a partner at Bowditch & Dewey inBoston, Massachusetts and founder and director ofthe Bowditch Institute for Women’s Success offeredthe featured address which was titled AdvancingWomen in the Legal Profession – Keeping Our Focus inDifficult Times. Lauren speaks to bars andorganizations across the country, and provides

consulting services to lawyers and law firms onissues relating to the advancement and retention ofwomen it the legal industry. Lauren has writtenextensively on issues facing women lawyers but mostnotable is her recent book, Ending theGauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women’s Success in theLaw.

The Play Fair and Pay Fair: Achieving Pay Equitysession included a presentation by Abbie Baynes(Abbie G. Baynes PLLC), Valecia McDowell(Moore & Van Allen), and Marlon Nesbeth(Hinrichs Flanagan Financial). The audienceparticipated in a negotiation exercise designed todevelop skills when negotiating for a compensationincrease, lateral hire terms, credit for work done orclient acquisition, and partnership.

Jennifer Schenk (OrthoCarolina) led a panel

discussion titled Lawyer Life: Is That an Oxymoron?She questioned the following panelists about howthey find satisfaction and balance in a demandinglegal career: Angela Cummings (LittlerMendelson), Kate Maynard (Robinson, Bradshaw &Hinson), Sally Higgins (The Higgins Law Firm)Timika Shafeek-Horton (Duke EnergyCorporation), and The Honorable Tyyawdi M.Hands (District Court Judge).

Following the event, the group gathered on theoutside patio of the Estate for a cocktail receptionhosted by Littler Mendelson PC.

Lauren Stiller Rikleen can be contacted atBowditch Institute for Women’s Success175 Crossing BoulevardFramingham, MA 01702Phone: 508/416-2411Email: [email protected]


Report

Young Lawyers SectionBY ANNE J. RANDALL, CHAIR

The Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of theMecklenburg County Bar had another productiveyear in terms of service initiatives.

Academic Internship ProgramThe 2008 Academic Internship Program was a

great success thanks to the speakers and theCharlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Sixteen high schoolstudents spent the semester learning about the legalprofession. Each week the students would meet witha local attorney who would teach the students aboutvarious areas of law ranging from sports law tointellectual property to the immigration system.Special thanks to all of the volunteers who donatedtheir time and energy to this program, but mostsignificantly the co-chairs of this committee, AmyFoxhall and Amy Hunt.

Community Service ProjectsMany thanks to Tara Agnew Harris and Amanda

Smiley who headed up the community servicecommittee this year. In November, attorneys and stafffrom law firms and companies across MecklenburgCounty provided Thanksgiving meals to 79 familieswho are DSS clients. In December, the communityservice committee coordinated the Holiday GivingTree Program, which supplied nearly 500 holiday giftsto underprivileged children and seniors in the

community. In April, the YLS organized a clothingdrive to benefit Crisis Assistance Ministry. The YLSappreciates the support of each person whoparticipated in these worthy initiatives.

Swearing-In CeremoniesJason James, Libby James and Will Medlin co-

chaired the swearing-in committee for the fall andspring swearing-in ceremonies. Approximately 180new attorneys were sworn in during the 2008-2009fiscal year, and the swearing-in committee did a greatjob in making these events successful.

Ask-A-Lawyer DayThe YLS co-sponsored the North Carolina Bar

Association’s Ask-A-Lawyer Day on February 21,2009. Thanks to the leadership of Lauren Vaughnand Nick Cushing, 16 attorneys in the MecklenburgCounty Bar participated in a walk-in clinic at theWest Boulevard public library to provide free legaladvice to members of the community. The volunteerlawyers assisted about fifty members of the generalpublic by providing brief legal consultations in a widevariety of areas of the law.

Law Explorers ProgramThe Law Explorers program exposed high school

students to the legal profession. The students heardfrom various lawyers with diverse practice areas, andthey likewise participated in a mock trial. Thanks to

Dwayne Norton, Jessica Sibley and Tony Taylor forheading up this worthy initiative.

Social CommitteeThe Social Committee coordinated a number of

social events that allowed young lawyers to networkwith other members of the Mecklenburg County Bar.The winter social was a joint effort with the CriminalJustice Section and allowed members of both groupsto vote on the Big Read high school photographycompetition. Thanks to Tony Taylor, Tonya Graser,Carrie Mansfield, and Claire Samuels for heading upthis committee.

Mecklenburg County Big ReadPhotography Competition

The YLS and the Criminal Justice Sectionsponsored a photography contest for high schoolstudents as part of the Mecklenburg Public Library’sBig Read project. Students were asked to submit aphotograph depicting life in his or her shoes, a majortheme from the Big Read’s book, To Kill andMockingbird. Over thirty high school studentsparticipated in the project and the five winnersreceived gift certificates to Borders and theopportunity to shadow a member of the CriminalJustice Section to experience what it is like in theirshoes. A special thanks to Chip Howes whospearheaded this project.

Charlotte, NC(704) 573-3919

6047 Tyvola GlenCircle

South Carolina Office Locations:

Charleston(843) 722-8414

Columbia(803) 731-5224

Greenville(864) 234-7030

Myrtle Beach(843) 839-3376

Hilton Head(843) 785-3263

A. William Roberts, Jr. & Associates Court Reporting800-743-DEPO

www.scheduledepo.com

AWR...helping the North and South Carolina Bar Associations WIN cases for over 25 years!

e are about service! When you work with AWR, you can always expect fast, accurate, and friendly services! Whether it’s a routine deposition or complex litigation worldwide,one call to AWR handles your court reporting, videography, litigation support andvideoteleconferencing needs nationwide and around the globe.

ncluded free of charge when you schedule with AWR:• Litigator’s Briefcase CD: Includes E-Transcript, ASCII and PDF files• Video Synchronization• Trial Presentation Software• Online Transcript Repository: Schedule and Manage your depositions 24/7

eed a competitive edge? AWR provides trial presentation assistance to help WIN cases!This service includes document management, video-to-text synchronization, and softwareconsultation. AWR continues to lead the industry with new, innovative technology sothat we may provide you with superior services while maintaining competitive rates.

A W R

W

I

N

Isn’t it about time you put to work for you?A W R

The Charlotte Women’s Bar and Mecklenburg County Bar Host

Women Lawyers 2009 –Advancement, Retention, Equity and Satisfaction

Sarah Byrne and Lauren Stiller Rikleen



Jack A. Heilcpa/pfsClarify & Strengthen your financial outlook

Individuals

- Business Income Loss- Discovery Assistance- Damages Analysis- Employee Dishonesty- Deposition / Trial Testimony

Forensic Accountant & Economic Valuation Analyst

Litigation Support Services

You represent the client. I represent the numbers.

ffice: www.jackaheilcpa.com | [email protected]

5419 Stallworth Dr, Charlotte, NC 28226 O 540-9029 Mo(704) le: bi (704) 451-4921 Fax: (704) 543-7317

Attorneys and staff at Horack Talley, Poyner Spruill and Cozen O’Conner sport their t-shirts insupport of the Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte. The firms raised more than $5,800 for theHouse scheduled to open next year.

Ryan is an associate with Hunton & Williams’commercial litigation practice. Ryan has trulyembraced the pro bono opportunities Hunton has tooffer by diving into a death penalty post-convictioncase. Ryan had to do a great deal of research beforegetting involved with this matter, and we applaud hiswillingness to take on such a challenging case.

Name: Ryan Rich

Current Employer / number of years withcurrent employer: Hunton & Williams LLP,1.5 years

Area of Practice / Expertise: Complexcommercial litigation

Law School / Law School Graduation Year:University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, J.D., 2007MCB VLP: How did you discover this pro bonoissue / matter?

RR: The American Bar Association asked TomCottingham, one of the firm’s senior litigationpartners, to take on a death penalty post-convictioncase in Alabama. Tom asked me to help him byresearching some issues for the case. The more Ilearned the more interested I became. Soon Tomgave me more significant responsibility in the case.

MCB VLP:What is a atypical case / issue like?

RR: Our client was sentenced to death despite thefact that his jury recommended by an 11 to 1 votethat he should be sentenced to life in prison withoutparole. A statute in Alabama allows the trial judge to

override the jury’s recommended sentence.

MCB VLP: How do you prepare for handling suchcases / issues?

RR:Working on criminal appeals; particularly a deathpenalty case, involves doing a lot of research. I havealso been in contact with experienced death penaltylitigators to discuss issues and potential arguments.

MCB VLP: Did you participate in any particulartraining so that you could handle these cases / issues?

RR: I did not have any specific training, but we havestrong resources in this office and throughout ourfirm. Our Charlotte White Collar & SpecialInvestigations team consists of three former state andfederal prosecutors and several of our more seasonedlitigators have experience in these types of cases.

MCB VLP: If case law is applicable, are there areany benchmark cases?

RR:While the Supreme Court of the United States,in Harris v. Alabama, 513 U.S. 504(1995), upheld anAlabama statute that permits trial judges to overridea jury vote and sentence a defendant to death, thatcase still requires that such statutes adequately channelthe trial judge’s discretion so as to prevent arbitraryresults. We are arguing, in part, that our client’ssentence was arbitrary and in violation of Harris.

MCB VLP:What is your hope for the future withregard to these cases / issue?

RR:My hope is that more lawyers would be willingto accept cases where a defendant’s rights have been

violated, especially in thecontext of capital caseswhere arbitrarysentencing has the mostsevere consequence.Through this case, I havelearned a lot about thepractical importance ofupholding the rule of law,no matter how one might feel about the underlyingfacts.

MCB VLP: How can the Mecklenburg County legalcommunity help with similar cases / this issue?

RR: The Equal Justice Initiative, an organizationhandling many death penalty cases and addressingother serious civil rights issues, can be reached at334/269-1803, or you can contribute at www.eji.org.

If you are interested in additional areas of probono work, please contact Mary Jordan Mullinax atthe Volunteer Lawyer Program for initiatives like thisone and many others. She can be reached at704/375-8624 or [email protected].

MCB Volunteer Spotlight: Ryan Rich

NoticeA newly implemented C.J.A. Plan forthe U.S. District Court for the Western

District of North Carolina requiresattorneys, whether presently on the

C.J.A. Panel or interested in becominga member of the panel, to submit anapplication to the selection committeefor consideration. The application canbe obtained from either the courtwebsite (www.ncwd.uscourts.gov)under Forms, Criminal or from thewebsite home page of Federal

Defenders of Western North Carolina:http://ncw.fd.org.

The completed applications are due onor before June 30, 2009.

If you have any questions, contact anymember of the committee or

Kathy Phillips,Branch Manager,

Federal Defenders ofWestern North Carolina,

One Page Avenue, Suite 210, Asheville,NC 28801

828/232-9992 [email protected].

Ryan Rich


June 2009 www.meckbar.org

June 2009

Volume 35 No. 12

From the PresidentNot Just Keeping Score

Every Bar president comesto this point, finishing theirterm and reflecting on the pastyear in a final column to themembership. As I collect mythoughts, I am struck less bywhat we accomplished andmore by where our Bar is oneyear later.

Our focus on relevancebegan with a number of long-range efforts early in the Baryear: ABA Operational Audit,reorganization of the Bar staff

and their functional responsibilities and the development ofa strategic plan. Each of these initiatives is aimed at thefuture and will not be fully measured until at least a coupleof other folks are filling these column inches each month. Ihope that our efforts to look at our service delivery andbusiness operations and aligning our staff accordingly willreap benefits. Our strategic plan, which is well underway,can help future Bar leadership meet the demands of ourmembership, especially as we continue to cope with aneconomic downturn, unpredicted and certainly unplanned ayear ago.

Collegiality was the second area of focus. The creationof a monthly bar luncheon attracted top-notch speakers likeCMS Superintendent Peter Gorman and Police ChiefRodney Monroe. We had broad and diverse participation inour Bar and for many, a chance to meet new members orcatch up with law school classmates. We began quarterly

round table discussions between public service attorneys andBar leadership starting a dialogue focused on bridging thegaps of access to services and participation in the decisionmaking process. The timely merger of three committees intothe newly formed Professionalism Lawyer Life and CultureCommittee has created a vehicle for our Bar to respond tothe sagging employment market that has touched nearlyevery member in some way.

On separate but very important tracks, we began someof the steps leading up to the 100th anniversary of theMecklenburg County Bar in 2012. We commissioned a bookchronicling the men and women who built the practice oflaw in our community and how their achievements shapedour world today through their leadership and courage.Though immediate decisions were hampered by theeconomy, we continued to look at our long-term facilityneeds and the inadequacy of our Bar Center to meet theneeds of a membership that should exceed 6000 by the timewe celebrate our centennial.

All these efforts took a great deal of commitment andeffort by a cadre of volunteers that serve on the Board ofDirectors, committees and sections, mentor fellow attorneysor organize the events and programs that make this Bar amodel for the rest of the country. My special thanks to eachof you for your service as well as to Nancy Roberson and theentire Bar staff who work very hard to make everything lookso easy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson urged each of us “to find the bestin others; to give of one’s self; and to leave the world abetter place.” Upon reflection, I believe that we can lookback at this past year knowing we did just that.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY BAR438 Queens RoadCharlotte, NC 28207ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

CHARLOTTE, NCPERMIT NO. 3337

Knowledgeof the Legal Market.Access toTalent.

With practice and recruitment experience in every major market in North and South Carolina, CAROLINA LEGALSTAFFING, the trusted leader in legal employment services, provides full service permanent and temporary

placement for attorneys, paralegals and legal support personnel.

Charlotte • Raleigh • Columbia • Greenville201 South College Street • Suite 1690 • Charlotte, NC 28244 • 704/343-4822

wwwwww..ccaarroolliinnaalleeggaall..ccoomm •• eemmaaiill:: iinnffoo@@ccaarroolliinnaalleeggaall..ccoomm

DATED MATERIAL

In This IssueFrom the President............................coverMecklenburg Bar Foundation’sPatrons Fund Campaign ..........................1Bar Leadership Institute...........................2Civil Litigation Section ...........................2Communications Committee..................2Bar History Committee............................2Continuing Legal EducationCommittee................................................3Community Schools Project....................3Criminal Justice Section..........................3Estate Planning and Probate Section......3

Family Law Section..................................4Fee Dispute Resolution Committee........4Future MCB-MBF Center Committee ...4Grievance Committee .............................4Law Day Committee ................................5Law & Society Committee......................5Lawyer Referral Service Committee .......5Memorials Committee .............................6Lawyers’ Luncheon Series Committee....6McMillan Fund Committee ....................6Professionalism, Lawyer Life andCulture Committee..................................7

Special Committee on Diversity .............7Real Property Section ..............................7Social Sports Committee.........................8Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section.....8Volunteer Lawyers Program Committee.9Strategic Planning Committee................9Finance and Operations Committee.......9Young Lawyers Section ..........................10Women Lawyers 2009............................10MCB Volunteer Spotlight:Ryan Rich ...............................................11

John Lassiter,MCB President


the mecklenburg bar news - 6/09

Documents

themecklenburg county

williamsyour donation

custody cases

legal softwarefees

highconflict custody

growing legal nexus

community leaders

need of legalrepresentation