2 From the President

3 Lawyers in the News

3 The McMillan Fund Dinner

3 MCB Proposed BylawAmendments

3 MCB Budgeting Process

4 Young Lawyers Division

4 Nominations for the YoungLawyer of the Year Award

4 VLP Spotlight

5 Swearing-In Ceremony

5 Administrative Order

6 ACLU Lawyer and MayorAddress Local Students

7 Women’s History Month

7 John S. Leary Association of Black Attorneys

8 Trial Team Wins Regional AAJCompetition

8 MBF Hires DevelopmentDirector

9 Post-Judgment ServicesCenter Tips For The MCB

10 Annual Law Day Luncheon

11 Sign Up for Softball

11 MCB Annual Meeting

April 2010

A publication of the Mecklenburg County Bar /26th Judicial District Vol. 36 No. 10 © 2010 Mecklenburg County Bar

Introducing Your New BFF! For the past 10 years, the

members of theMecklenburg County Bar(MCB) have showngenerous support for theMecklenburg BarFoundation (MBF) throughdonations to the Patrons Fund– theannual fundraising campaign for the MBF.That support has been recognized for yearsin the annual donor list printed in variousMCB and MBF publications. But what aboutthose Bar members and firms that supportthe other initiatives of the MBF? Where isthe recognition for their generosity? WellFoundation Friends, all of that is about tochange.

The Mecklenburg Bar Foundation isproud to introduce the Bar Foundation Fund(BFF). The BFF is the bigger and better

version of the Patrons Fund. Inaddition to the annual

unrestricted giving,donors will now berecognized for the support

of such MBF initiatives asthe McMillan Fund, Law &

Society, the Bar Leadership Institute,the Bar History projects and other charitableprojects that may arise. Donors will berecognized at the giving level equal to theircumulative annual donations to theFoundation.

And, of course, a bigger and bettercampaign means a bigger and bettercampaign goal. The Foundation will needyour support to reach the 2010 goal of$200,000!

These are just a few of the changes the

Notice of Annual Meeting

and Board NominationsThe MCB Annual Meeting is scheduled for

Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 12 p.m. at the FirstPresbyterian Church in uptown Charlotte.Register online at www.meckbar.org or use theregistration form on page 11.

Pursuant to Article IX, Section 2 of the by-laws of the Mecklenburg County Bar, 26thJudicial District, the 2010-11 NominatingCommittee met on March 9, 2010 to considera slate of nominees for the four officers, sixmembers of the board of directors for three-year terms, one seat vacated in the class of2011 (one year left in term) and one ABADelegate for a two-year term.

The following people have been nominatedand will be presented for election at theAnnual Meeting. Additional nominations may

be made from the floor at that time.President Elect: Robert C. Dortch, Jr.Vice President: Hon. Karen Eady-WilliamsSecretary: Tricia Morvan DerrTreasurer: Robert E. HarringtonBoard of Directors: Three-year term:

Carla N. ArchieKodwo P. Ghartey-TagoeAmy Purwin HuntMark R. KutnyDaniel V. MumfordWilliam R. Soukup

Vacant seat (one year):Jonathan A. Vogel

ABA Delegate:Edward T. Hinson, Jr.

continued on page 2

2 April 2010 www.meckbar.org

What’s a good Bar to do?Several months ago, MCB Past President and Rotarian Tony

Lathrop called to see if I would speak to his Charlotte Rotary Club.When I asked him what he wanted me to speak about, he replied,“The Mecklenburg County Bar, of course–talk about what the Bar isand what the Bar does.” Well, that sounds easy, I thought, so I readilyaccepted the invitation, confident that I would have no difficultypreparing a 15 minute presentation on some aspect of our Bar.

Later, as I sat down to prepare my presentation, I realized that I didnot know anything about my audience. I had no earthly idea what theRotary really was. And if I, of above average education, knew virtuallynothing about Rotary, it was likely that my Rotary audience was justas ignorant about our Bar. As I proceeded with my preparations, it

was of some comfort to learn that a significant number of our Bar brethren are also Rotarians.Nevertheless, it was also clear that the challenge of explaining to my audience what the Bar is andwhat it does in 15 minutes or less would be more difficult than I had originally thought.

I decided to keep the presentation simple– sort of like when I tried to explain what lawyers do tomy six year old--not so much because my audience wouldn’t understand, but because I believe if youcan’t explain something so that a six year old can grasp it, it’s a safe bet that you really don’t under-stand the subject as well as you thought you did. As it turns out, this “fundamentals” approach isa lot more work than just teaching the test. It required that I review extensively the history of ourBar, its mission and purpose, its structure, its governing documents and its many activities.

The point of this, however is not to focus on my presentation but more on what I learned inpreparing my presentation. I thought I already knew a lot about the Bar. And I did. But inendeavoring to “teach” my audience (who, by the way, could not have been more welcoming,attentive and engaged), I came to a much greater appreciation of the significance of theMecklenburg County Bar not just in my life as Bar President, but in the lives of so many others,lawyers and non-lawyers alike, over the past century or more. In last month’s letter, I alluded tojust a few of the notable contributions our Bar (and its predecessor the “Bar of Charlotte”) hasmade to the history of our region, our state and our country dating back before the Civil War.Below is a summary of some of the other things I learned about our Bar.

The MCB as we know it was organized in 1912. In 1928, a new federal courthouse opened inCharlotte when there were only 75 Bar members. Eighty years later when the current countycourthouse opened, our Bar had grown to more than 3,800 members. Today, the MecklenburgCounty Bar, a subdivision of the NC State Bar and a mandatory Bar, has more than 4,300members. Our membership has about 2 men for every woman, is approximately 10% minoritiesand welcomes more than100 new attorneys each year. With the Charlotte School of Law andother new law schools in North Carolina, we should expect the population of our Bar to continueto grow. Believe it or not, North Carolina still has one of the lowest per capita ratio of attorneys tocitizens in the United States. We should therefore expect that lawyers from other areas of thecountry will continue to migrate here as well.

While the size of our Bar has grown, our mission has remained constant– to serve the publicand the Bar in improving and preserving the administration of justice and assisting the NC StateBar as required by NC Statutes. This includes promoting professionalism, competence and ethicalbehavior; assuring access to legal services; educating the public on legal issues and the importanceof the rule of law; and providing members with educational and support services.

To accomplish this broad mission, the Bar has more than 70 committees, subcommittees,sections and divisions comprised of hundreds of dedicated lawyer-volunteers. The Bar alsoemploys 17 full-time staff members, including a full-time Executive Director. Here is just asampling of the things our Bar is doing in furtherance of its mission:

MCB promotes professionalism through our Bar leadership Institute. The Honorable SelinaBrooks, Mayor Anthony Foxx and The Honorable Tyyawdi Hands are three of more than 100 BLIgraduates who have become leaders in our Bar and our community.

MCB promotes legal competence and ethical behavior by providing

From The President

Patrick E. Kelly, MCB President

continued on page 10

Foundation is making to show itsappreciation for your generosity. Firmrecognition is another of those changes. Foryears, law firms, legal departments andcorporations in Mecklenburg County havegiven their time and their money to supportthe Foundation with little recognition. TheMBF is proud to announce that firms willnow have their own giving levels with whichthey will be recognized. Those levels are asfollows:• Diamond Sponsor: $10,000+/year

• Platinum Sponsor: $7,500–$9,999

• Gold Sponsor: $5,000–$7,499

• Silver Sponsor: $2,500–$4,999

• Bronze Sponsor: $0-$2,499

The Foundation will continue to call onthe individual members of the MecklenburgCounty Bar for support through unrestrictedgiving. Unrestricted giving allows theFoundation to provide grants that supportand enhance projects and organizations thathave a legal nexus in the greater community.Many of the grants awarded by theFoundation serve organizations that arecoping with rising demands for theirservices coupled with declining revenuesources. Our community’s at-riskpopulations – children, residents of low-income, immigrants, the unemployed anddisplaced – will benefit greatly from thegenerosity of our legal profession. But theFoundation recognizes the importance ofdonor support for each of its initiatives andis looking forward to recognizing andthanking each donor that helps theFoundation achieve its mission.

If you have any questions regarding theBFF, please contact Director of FoundationDevelopment Leah Reed atlreed@meckbar.org or MBF DevelopmentCommittee Chair Doug Jarrell atdjarrell@rbh.com. To make a pledge, pleasevisit www.meckbar.org or use the BFFpledge envelope in your newsletter.

As the Beatles put it, we get by with alittle help from our friends. And we arecounting on each of you for that help. Please“Be a Foundation Friend” and support yourBFF.

BFFcontinued from page 1

www.meckbar.org April 2010 3

Lawyers in the News

Gov. Perdue Appoints Karen Eady-Williams to 26th District Court BenchOn Monday, February 15, 2010, Gov. Bev Perdue appointed Karen

Eady-Williams to the District Court bench for the 26th Judicial District.“The lawyers in the 26th District sent me a tremendous list of candidatesto select from,” said Perdue. “I am confident that Karen Eady-Williams willserve the people of the 26th District with distinction and professionalism.”

Eady-Williams started her legal career as an assistant public defender inthe 26th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office where she handledfelonies and misdemeanors in District and Superior Courts. In addition, sherepresented clients in involuntary commitment hearings. She later served

seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. At the U.S.Attorney’s Office, she prosecuted general criminal and white collar crime cases and was the FinancialCrimes Litigation unit supervisor in the civil division of that office. Prior to her appointment, Eady-Williams was vice president and assistant general counsel for six years with Wachovia (Wells Fargoand Co.) in its legal division where she handled defensive litigation and internal investigations.

Eady-Williams received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary inWilliamsburg, Va., and her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

J. Michael Booe Among American College of Bankruptcy InducteesJ. Michael Booe, a partner in the Charlotte office of K&L Gates LLP,

will be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, anhonorary professional and educational association of bankruptcy andinsolvency professionals. He will be inducted during a ceremony at theU.S. Supreme Court’s Great Hall on March 12.

Booe is one of 35 professionals included in the 2010 Class of CollegeFellows, which recognizes excellence and exceptional contributions to thefields of bankruptcy and insolvency. Nominees are extended an invitationto join based on a record of achievement and professionalism.

MCB Budgeting

Process

The Mecklenburg County Bar Finance &Operations Committee is in the process ofdrafting a budget for the 2010–11 fiscal year.The Committee welcomes any input or com-ments from MCB members. Copies of the draftbudget will be available at the Annual Meetingon May 20, 2010. Any member who wishes tosee a copy of the draft budget prior to theannual meeting may do so by contacting SallyRobinson at 704/375-8624 ext. 109. TheFinance & Operations Committee will meetin open session at the Bar Center, 438 QueensRoad, on June 2, 2010, at 12:00 p.m. toreceive public input. We encourage membersto tender budget suggestions to SallyRobinson and/or to attend this meeting.

Proposed Bylaw

Amendments &

Dues Adustment

The MCB Board of Directors is proposing anamendments to the bylaws of the MecklenburgCounty Bar, 26th Judicial District and amembership dues adjustment. The bylawsamendment and dues adjustment will both bevoted on at the Annual Meeting scheduled forThursday, May 20, 2010.

The proposed amendments and duesproposal can be found at www.meckbar.org.Dues questions may be directed to MCBPresident Pat Kelly at pkelly@jahlaw.com orExecutive Director Nancy Roberson atnroberson@meckbar.org. Please call 704/375-8624 to request a paper copy of thebylaws amendments.

Karen Eady-Williams

J. Michael Booe

Support Nonprofit andGovernment Agencies

the Annual

McMillan

Fund DinnerEach year, the

Mecklenburg BarFoundation’s McMillanFund promotes justiceand innovation withinour local legal system byawarding paid fellowshipsto law students to workin local not-for-profit andgovernmental agencies.The main source of financial support for thesefellowships is the McMillan Fund Dinner.

Highlights of this year’s Dinner include key-note remarks by The Charlotte Observer’s formereditorial editor and friend of Judge McMillan,Ed Williams, followed by the presentation ofthe third annual Julius L. Chambers DiversityChampion Award. The Award recognizesoutstanding contributions to diversity andequal opportunity in our community. It isnamed for the Award’s first recipient, thedistinguished civil rights attorney Julius L.Chambers, who represented the successfulplaintiffs in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schoolsdesegregation case. (The presiding judge in thecase was the late James B. McMillan, whosememory the McMillan Fund honors.)

We hope that you will support this year’sMcMillan Fellows–by attending the 2010McMillan Fund Dinner!When: 6:00 p.m., April 22.

Where: Byron’s South End, 101 W. Worthington Ave.

Costs: $125 per person ($60 of which is tax-deductible), $300 for a two-person sponsorship($170 of which is tax-deductible), or $1,200 fora corporate/firm sponsorship for a table of eight.

Attire: Business formal.

Registration: Please visit www.meckbar.orgfor an invitation/registration form (pleaseremember to indicate your meal choice[s]).The registration deadline is April 16.

Questions: Please contact Leah Reed at704/375-8624, ext. 114.

James B. McMillan

4 April 2010 www.meckbar.org

Nominations

Sought for

the 2009-10

MCB Young

Lawyer of the

Year Award

The Young Lawyers Division of theMecklenburg County Bar (MCB) isaccepting nominations for its sixth annualMCB Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Thepurpose of this Award is to recognize theoutstanding contributions young lawyersare making to the practice of law and theMecklenburg County community as awhole. The Award will be given to a younglawyer who has shown outstanding generaloverall contributions to (1) the Bar, (2)the practice of law, (3) the community, (4)the recipient’s clients, and/or (5) therecipient’s firm or organization.

The Award Committee places a specialemphasis on professional contributionsthat further the purposes and objectives ofthe MCB and the YLD. The mission of theMCB is to serve the public and the Barmembers by improving and preservingthe administration of justice. Similarly, theYLD’s goals include promoting professionaland social activities that will be ofassistance to young lawyers in thepractice of law, conducting law-relatedprograms that benefit the general publicand encouraging the participation ofyoung lawyers in the MCB.

To be eligible, the nominee mustpractice law in Mecklenburg County, be amember of the YLD and meet the definitionof a “Young Lawyer” as defined by theYLD - 36 years of age or under or withintheir first three years of practice. Nomina-tion forms, available at www.meckbar.orgor by request, are due no later than 5 p.m.on Friday, May 21, 2010. The Award willbe announced at the YLD Social in July.Nominations may be submitted to DannyMerlin by e-mail at dmerlin@jahlaw.comor fax at 704/376-1628. For more informa-tion, contact Amy Foxhall at 704/372-6373or Danny Merlin at 704/998-2249.

Young Layers Division

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The Young Lawyers Division of the MecklenburgCounty Bar (YLD) is sponsoring a Spring DonationDrive in support of Crisis Assistance Ministry. CrisisAssistance Ministry is a Mecklenburg County non-profit agency which seeks to provide assistance andadvocacy for individuals and families in financial crisisand help them move forward toward self-sufficiency.Crisis Assistance Ministry provides free clothes,household goods, furniture and appliances as well asfinancial assistance to those in need. They areparticularly in need of kitchen items (pots, pans,dishes, silverware), linens and men’s clothing, thoughthey will happily accept all donations. What a goodexcuse to clean out those cluttered closets! The YLDwill be collecting donated items April 5th - 16th inseveral locations throughout Mecklenburg County.Please be on the lookout for future details about thoselocations.

On March 4, 2010, the YLD held its winter social atVivace, a new Italian restaurant in the MetropolitanCenter. Fun was had by the more than 60 YLDmembers who gathered to socialize, network andunwind outside of the office. Special thanks to oursponsors Nova Office Strategies and Shumaker, Loopand Kendrick, LLP.

As always, please check www.meckbar.org or find uson Facebook to learn about YLD’s upcoming eventsand activities.

Young Lawyers get together at Vivace for theirWinter Social.

This month’s spotlight features three Charlotte School of Law students who are spending part oftheir final semester in Professor Camille Davidson’s Wills Clinic. Professor Davidson iscollaborating with Legal Services of Southern Piedmont and the Mecklenburg County Bar VolunteerLawyer Program to allow students to take two cases a semester to and provide speakers at Habitatfor Humanity Homeowner’s classes. We thank Professor Davidson for her initiative as well as thestudents who are so willing to serve the Charlotte community!

Natalie BoydMCB VLP:What drew you to the Wills Clinic?

NB: I loved the Wills, Trusts and Estates class. After participating in the family law clinics toassist pro se litigants with their divorce, I discovered that I loved helping people - especiallythe underserved.

MCB VLP: What is a typical case like?

NB: There is no “typical” case. Some people do not care what happens to their property, whileothers plan for every trinket in their possession. I think it depends on if the person has cometo grips with death and the fact that they “can’t take it with them.”

MCB VLP: How do you prepare for handling such cases?

NB: The best way to prepare is to understand every person is different, respect their wishesand give guidance that will follow their intentions.

Lindsey Houk FryeMCB VLP: What drew you to the Wills Clinic?

LHF: I wanted to do something I would enjoy during my last semester.

MCB VLP: What is the best advice you’ve received during your law school career?

LHF: You never stop learning- never think that you know everything!

MCB VLP: What advice will you remember as a practicing attorney?

LHF: You are always being watched and representing the profession- there is not a “lawyerswitch.” You are a lawyer 24/7.

Matthew SchrumMCB VLP:What drew you to the Wills Clinic?

MS: I was drawn to the opportunity to help real clients. The intellectual challenges of lawschool are stimulating, but I find that helping others is the most satisfying aspect of the law.The ability to work with an actual client gives a tangible value to the endless hours of studying.

MCB VLP:What is a typical class session like in the Clinic?

MS: The Clinic provides a very practical and hands-on experience. In addition to the learning thelegal aspects of estate planning, local attorneys present us with relevant practice tips and advice.

MCB VLP:What would you say is your favorite part of law school?

MS: I enjoy the rapport with the Charlotte School of Law students. Although law school iscompetitive, we are all invested in helping each other succeed. CSL has developed a culturethat is overwhelmingly supportive.

MCB VLP:Any other pertinent things you would like to share with the Mecklenburg CountyBar and legal community?

MS: I would like to thank the Mecklenburg County Bar and the legal community for itscontinued support. I appreciate all of the good people who have donated their time and talentto the Charlotte School of Law.

Visit www.meckbar.org to read the full interviews.

www.meckbar.org April 2010 5

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Spring

Swearing-In

CeremonyWhen: April 29, 2010

New attorney registration - 2:45 p.m.

Ceremony - 4:00 p.m.

Reception following the ceremony

Where: Charlotte Hilton Center City, 222 E. 3rd Street

Attire: Business formal.

Visit www.meckbar.org for moreinformation and to register.

Questions? Contact Events CoordinatorAmy Young at ayoung@meckbar.org or704/375-8624, ext. 124.

All MCB attorneys are welcome to attendthis event, please RSVP to Amy Young.

Volunteer Lawyer Program SPOTLIGHT

Administrative

Order from

Senior

Resident

Superior

Court Judge

Boner

The North Carolina Judicial StandardsCommission issued an official opinion onthe ex parte entry of orders grantingadmission to practice pro hac vice. Theopinion requires that notice of theapplication be given in a pending actionto all parties who have appeared in theaction and that parties are allowed anopportunity to object to the application.In order to ensure compliance with theCommission’s ruling, Senior ResidentSuperior Court Judge Boner of the 26thJudicial District entered anAdministrative Order. Visitwww.meckbar.org to read the Order.

6 April 2010 www.meckbar.org

ACLU Lawyer and Mayor Address Local

Minority StudentsThis February, nearly 40 high school and

college undergraduate students attended theSpecial Committee on Diversity’s annualconference Increasing Diversity in the LegalProfession. Now in its fifth year, the conferencehelps to introduce minority students to thelegal profession and connect them withinfluential Charlotte attorneys.

The February 20 event, held at Johnson C.Smith University, provided students theopportunity to hear about roles individualswith legal training play in everyday societythrough three panel discussions: Getting to LawSchool; Getting through Law School; and ToBe or Not To Be a Lawyer. Attendees were alsoable to meet with lawyers, judges and law

students one-on-oneto discuss theirpersonal experiencesand ask questions.Representatives fromsix North Carolinalaw schools providedadmissions materialsand information tothe studentsthroughout theprogram’s resourceexpo.

Reginald T.Shuford, keynote

speaker for the event and senior staff attorneyfor the Racial Justice Program of the AmericanCivil Liberties Union Foundation, spoke tothe value of obtaining a quality education andmaintaining a good reputation. Growing up ineastern North Carolina, Shuford noted theabsence of minority attorneys in his communityand the limited opportunities to engage withprofessionals who looked like him. Afterstruggling scholastically in high school, Shufordwas encouraged by his counselor to betterfocus his attention in advanced academiccourses. He quickly excelled and as a resultbecame the first person in his family to graduatewith a college degree and went on to earn hisJuris Doctorate from the University of NorthCarolina in Chapel Hill. He explained to thestudents there is not a designated path thatleads directly to a career in the law, but“whatever you choose to do, do it well,” hesaid. “Remember that there is always someonewatching whatever you do, so make an effortto put your best foot forward all of the time.”Shuford encouraged the youthful audience tosolicit a mentor to better assist them in takingadvantage of the opportunities the legalprofession has to offer.

Mayor Anthony Foxx provided concludingremarks for the program. He applaudedattending students for taking the initiative tolearn about the legal profession and invest in

their future. He tooencouraged studentsand parents to takeadvantage of theresources presentedat the conference,noting theimportance ofexpanding networksand makingconnections early.

The IncreasingDiversity in the LegalProfession conferencewas established in 2006 under the leadershipof Marion Cowell, current chair of theDiversity Outreach Subcommittee, in an effortto expand the Committee’s diversity pipeline.The diversity pipeline provides programmingopportunities to community constituencies ofvarying demographics. From eighth gradestudents to practicing attorneys the pipelineseeks to recruit and retain minority attorneysto the Charlotte-Mecklenburg legalcommunity. The Committee hopes thatthrough education at a young age it can betterintroduce students to the legal profession andprovide support to individuals in every stageof their legal career.

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Reginald T. Shuford, seniorstaff attorney for the RacialJustice Program of theAmerican Civil LibertiesUnion Foundation, servedas this year’s keynotespeaker.

Mayor Anthony Foxxprovides the closingremarks for the 2010Increasing Diversity in theLegal Profession conference.

www.meckbar.org April 2010 7

Celebrating Women’s History MonthIn honor of Women’s History Month, the

Mecklenburg County Bar, in collaborationwith the Levine Museum of the New South,hosted a book signing with author KatieMcCabe. Her recent book, Justice Older thanthe Law, celebrates the life and legacy ofCharlotte native Dovey Johnson Roundtree.Ms. Roundtree is an alumnus of SpellmanCollege and the Howard University Schoolof Law, a former army officer and a ministerof the A.M.E Zion Church. Justice stories Ms.Roundtree as she conquered color barriers,shattered desegregation and fearlessly forgeda unique fusion of her ministerial dutieswith her legal practice. Although she retiredfrom active legal practice in 1996, Ms.Roundtree’s legacy of public advocacy formany voiceless citizens of Charlotte andWashington, D.C. continues to be heard. Tolearn more about the life of Dovey JohnsonRoundtree visitwww.justiceolderthanthelaw.com.

In addition to readings from the book,the evening featured a panel of distinguishedfemale legal professionals who sharedpersonal perspectives on what it means to be

a female attorney in today’s legal world.Panelists included: Tricia M. Derr, partner atLincoln Derr; Valecia M. McDowell, partnerat Moore & Van Allen P.L.L.C.; Nancy B.Norelli, former North Carolina DistrictJudge and attorney at Norelli Law; CoriePauling, senior counsel for TIAA-CREF; andGeraldine Sumter, partner at Ferguson, Stein,Chamber, Gresham and Sumter.

Panelists recounted stories about theirsuccesses and struggles on their path to acareer in the law. They expressed frustrationat being discredited or prejudged because oftheir gender and noted others’ preconceivedassumptions drive them to work harder.They also shared stories of influentialmentors, parents and guardians thatchampioned their independence andreiterated that their intelligence would grantthem the ability to do whatever they pleased.

Ms. Sumter told the crowd that each dayshe wears articles of jewelry that oncebelonged to her mother and grandmother—strong forces within her life. “They are partof my legacy and when I leave the house Imake sure to take that legacy with me.” The

remaining panelists agreed that theirstrength as pioneers within the professionstemmed from the unbridled perseverance oftheir mothers and grandmothers.

Ms. McDowell recounted her story ofreturning to her hometown of Charlotte,after graduating from Duke School of Law in1998 to practice with Moore & Van AllenP.L.L.C.— as the only attorney of color inthe firm. She quickly ascended the ranks andbecame the firm’s first female African-American partner. Ms. McDowell attributesher success at the firm to those willing toextend a hand and support her. “I activelysought mentors in the firm and in the legalcommunity. And these weren’t just mentorswho looked like me, but those who didn’tlook like me and were willing to take meunder their care,” said McDowell. Today Ms.McDowell is the co-chair of the MCB SpecialCommittee on Diversity and co-chair ofMoore & Van Allen’s Diversity Committee.She went on to note the importance of andgreater need for women attorneyssupporting one another in mentor-menteerelationships.

John S. Leary Association of

Black Attorneys By Tanisha P. Johnson

The John S. Leary Association of BlackAttorneys, formerly the John S. Leary BarAssociation, would like to thank its members,the Mecklenburg County Bar, CharlotteSchool of Law, the Harvey B. Gantt Center forAfrican-American Arts & Culture (formerlythe Afro-American Culture Center), and theHistoric Excelsior Club for its dedication andsupport in 2009. With the help of its membersand the legal community, the organization wasable to flourish beyond measure and meetmany of its goals, including, establishing ascholarship for African-American high schoolstudents, increasing membership, andstrengthening ties with the Bar.

In addition to keeping with the annual

traditions such as participating in Law Day,Diversity Day and holding the new admitteefish fry and holiday party, the John S. LearyAssociation of Black Attorneys held a numberof speaker forums with political andcommunity leaders and hosted and co-hosteda number of programs and events, including:• Views From the Bench: Perspectives on

Professionalism and Effective CourtroomAdvocacy, a CLE seminar held in April2009;

• The Charlotte Minority Summer AssociatesReception held in June 2009; and

• The Mayoral Candidates Forum held inSeptember 2009.

The John S. Leary Association of BlackAttorneys looks forward to another excitingand productive year. In keeping with the

mission of the organization, as envisioned byJohn Sinclair Leary, the organization will focusits attention on expanding and strengtheningits presence in the Charlotte-Mecklenburgcommunity in 2010. The organization iscommitted to working closely with theNAACP of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the BlackPolitical Caucus and various organizations inthe community to offer free legal clinics to thepublic and political awareness throughcandidate forums. The organization also looksforward to launching a newly createdmentorship program with Charlotte School ofLaw.

For more information about the John S.Leary Association of Black Attorneys, pleasecontact Tanisha Johnson attjohnson@fergusonstein.com.

8 April 2010 www.meckbar.org

By Ron Shook, Trial Team Member

We had a lot to prove going in to the American Association of Justice Student Trial AdvocacyCompetition. Representing the Charlotte School of Law Trial Team was a much larger challengethan any of us initially expected. So much was unknown to our eight-member team as weprepared for the competition, held February 26th through the 28th at the Mecklenburg CountyCourthouse. Just one member of our team had participated in this competition before, and ourtrial team program was only in its second year. We prepared to argue Johnson v. Mann, a complexmedical malpractice case.

Our practice schedule was rigorous, as we dedicated fifteen hours each week in preparing forthe competition. We spent countless additional hours outside of the courtroom writing, re-writingand adjusting opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments. Thistime commitment was no small sacrifice for a group of law students who still carried a full courseload in addition to our obligations to the team. We carried the burden of knowing that hours ofpreparation and practice would pay off for only one of the sixteen competing teams.

On the weekend of the competition, our strengths were apparent, and we knew we were readyto win. We had three coaches, Rob “Coach” Corbett from the Mecklenburg County D.A.’s Office,Charlotte Law alumnae Karen Youmans and Christine Volponi, and ten weeks of practice underour belts. Our first team consisted of Stephen Corby, Kyle Payne, Mason Nowaski, and MichelleHazelton. On our second team were Kiel Garella, Candace Davis, Justin Palu, and Ron Shook.

The competition consisted of sixteen teams from eleven law schools across the region. Theparticipating law schools were Campbell School of Law, Charleston School of Law, DukeUniversity School of Law, Florida Coastal School of Law, North Carolina Central UniversitySchool of Law, Nova Southeastern University School of Law, University of Colorado School ofLaw, University of South Carolina School of Law, University of Tennessee School of Law, WakeForest School of Law, and Charlotte School of Law.

The first three rounds of competition were fierce. When the smoke had settled, only one of ourteams had advanced to the semi-final round. Team two put up a good fight, besting the team fromDuke University. Unfortunately, falling only a few points shy of the semi-final round, team two didnot advance. Our remaining team now faced its biggest challenge yet. Leading into the semi-finals,we were the 4th place seed, while Wake Forest was 1st, with perfect scores in every round. Arivalry began between our schools the previous year when Charlotte School of Law defeated WakeForest in the semi-final round of the 2009 AAJ competition. It was time for a re-match. Despite anexcellent effort by Wake Forest, Charlotte School of Law again came out on top and advanced tothe final round of the competition. We faced the out-of-towners from the University of Colorado. Wefought hard for a trophy, and after weeks of preparation and a three-hour final round, we had won.

The Charlotte School of Trial Team will represent the Charlotte region at the National AAJCompetition in New Orleans, March 18-21.

Trial Team Wins Regional

AAJ Competition

CharlotteLaw’s Trial Team and Coach (L to R) Christine Volponi, Mason Nowaski, Stephen Corby, Rob Corbett,Michelle Hazelton, Kyle Payne and Karen Youmans

Mecklenburg

Bar Foundation

Hires

Development

Director

Leah Reed, whojoined theMecklenburgCounty Bar staff in2006, recentlytransitioned fromthe role of MCBEvents Coordinatorto the Director ofFoundationDevelopment for theMecklenburg BarFoundation. She is looking forward to thisnew role as an opportunity to increase thepresence of the Foundation with the Bar andthe community at large. Her initial goal is togrow the Foundation’s annual fundraisingcampaign, both in terms of dollars raisedand in recognizing the many ways Barmembers generously support theFoundation each year.

When she’s not working, Leah enjoystraveling, reading and spending time withfriends and family. She is a graduate of theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hilland tries to get back to Chapel Hill as often aspossible to support the Heels. An avid triviabuff, Leah also enjoys using her wealth ofuseless knowledge to take on friends, family,and random strangers in various pursuits(trivial pursuits, if you will). While she has alot to look forward to in the coming year, thething she’s most excited about is herupcoming wedding in June.

Leah would like to take this opportunity tothank the wonderful committee chairs andcommittee members she has had the privilegeof working with in her role as EventsCoordinator. She said, “I cannot tell you howmuch I have enjoyed my role as EventsCoordinator these past few years. I have hadthe opportunity to work with some amazingpeople and look forward to meeting andworking with even more of our Bar membersin the future.”

Leah Reed

www.meckbar.org April 2010 9

Post-Judgment Services Center Tips

For The Mecklenburg County BarMecklenburg County Courts, District 26 - Post-Judgment Services CenterClients who are given their judgmentshould report to the Post-Judgment ServicesCenter immediately after court, not within20 days (a common misconception), if theyare to see:1. Anuvia Prevention & Recovery Center:

704-686-0234

2. Community Service Work Program: 704-686-0235

3. Division of Community Corrections:704-342-5996 (Main Office), 704-686-0244 (PJSC), or 704-686-0239 (PJSC)

4. Fine Collection: 704-686-0241 or 704-686-0242

5. Impact: 980-721-7268

6. New Options for Violent Actions(NOVA): 704-686-0252, 704-686-0255,or 704-686-0256

7. Pretrial Release: 704-686-0233

8. Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime(TASC): 704-686-0254

Please discuss the outcome of your client’scase with him/her before entering the Post-Judgment Services Center (PJSC). Yourclient should be ready to complete thenecessary paperwork when he/she entersthe Center. If your client has a DWI charge,please have a copy of his/her alcoholassessment for Anuvia Prevention &Recovery Center. Please ensure that allclients with a DWI charge check-in at thePost-Judgment Services Center receptiondesk with his/her Post-Judgment DataForm. The Courtroom Clerk completes thePJSC Data Form by entering the defendant’sname, case number, charge(s), length ofUnsupervised Probation and date. Referralto each appropriate agency is checked onthe PJSC Data Form together with clearlydefined terms, conditions, and restrictionsrelating to each specific element of thejudgment or sentence. A Court Cost Bill iscompleted in applicable instances.

If your client is ordered to completecommunity service hours and lives outsideof North Carolina, you may want toconsider asking the Judge if your clientmay find a place in his/her state ofresidence to perform this service, as theCommunity Service agency cannot transferthis to another state. If the request isgranted, please advise your client to submithis/her paperwork, documenting the hourscompleted, to you for filing with theMecklenburg County Clerk of SuperiorCourt’s Office.

If your client is participating inCommunity Service or TASC programs inorder to receive a PJC, please obtain a Post-Judgment Data Form from the CourtroomClerk for your client. The Courtroom Clerkcompletes the PJSC Data Form by enteringthe defendant’s name, case number,charge(s), length of UnsupervisedProbation and date. Referral to eachappropriate agency is checked on the PJSCData Form together with clearly definedterms, conditions, and restrictions relatingto each specific element of the judgment orsentence. A Court Cost Bill is completed inapplicable instances. Before leaving thecourtroom, please ensure the Post-Judgment Data Form indicates whichagency or agencies the client needs to see,the return court date, and that it is for aPJC (written in the Unsupervised Probationlength space on the form).

Please give your client his/her new courtdate, courtroom number and the returntime. Pretrial Release clients must check-inat the Post-Judgment Services Center toprovide them with the new courtinformation.

Courtroom decorum should be observed inthe Post-Judgment Services Center.Everyone must step outside of the Center

to use their cell phone.

Make sure the client’s total on the Cost Billis correct. If the client’s fees do not add upto the total due, he/she will have to returnto the courtroom to have the informationcorrected. If the Attorney has left the Post-Judgment Services Center, the client will bereferred to the Courtroom Deputy to askthe Clerk to make the corrections.

If a client is asked to see NOVA, Impact, orTASC and they are Unsupervised, they willneed a Post-Judgment Data Form with areturn date entered on the form.

Please advise your clients to plan on beingin court ALL DAY. If clients are referred toFine Collection, TASC, NOVA or Impact,Probation, Anuvia Prevention & RecoveryCenter, Community Service, and/orPretrial, it will take a couple of hours tocomplete their interviews. They will needto wait in the Post-Judgment ServicesCenter until they have met with everyagency that is indicated on their Post-Judgment Data Form. Also, if they havechildren, please inform them of the on-sitechildcare, Larry Kings Clubhouse.

Advise clients that they will complete anInformation Sheet in the Post-JudgmentServices Center if they are referred to thedifferent agencies in the Center. Therefore,clients should have their correct address,phone number, Social Security number, jobinformation and emergency contacts.

If clients are put on Probation and there isnot a Probation Officer in the courtroom,the Attorney should be prepared to writethe judgment on the Information Sheet inthe Post-Judgment Services Center.

For questions, you may contact Mary F. Baker,Programs & Services Manager atmary.f.baker@nccourts.org.

10 April 2010 www.meckbar.org

We hope you will join us for our annualluncheon to celebrate National Law Day. Thisyear’s luncheon will feature keynote speakerChief United States District Court Judge forthe Western District of North Carolina RobertJ. Conrad, Jr. and the presentation of theLiberty Bell Award.

When: May 5, 2010, 12 p.m.–1:30 p.m

Where: Charlotte Hilton Center City, 222 E. Third St.

Cost: $30 per person by check $31 per person by credit card

Registration: To register with a check, pleaseuse the form below. To register by credit card,

please visitwww.meckbar.org Theregistration deadline isApril 23.

Firm sponsorshipsare available for $550.Firm table sponsorshipincludes reservedseating for 10. TheLaw Day Committeeasks law firm sponsorsto reserve a seat at their table so that a judgecan join them in this wonderful celebration.Please contact Amy Young at 704/375-8624ext. 124 to support this special luncheonand/or purchase additional tickets.

Please note, for security purposes, allattendees will need to be registered in advanceand will need to show photo identification atregistration. For more details, please visitwww.meckbar.org.

Questions? Contact Amy Young at704/375-8624 ext. 124 orayoung@meckbar.org.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Annual Law Day Luncheon

2010 MCB Law Day Registration Form

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________

Firm name ________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail ___________________________________________________________________________________

Phone____________________________________________________________________________________

Fax ______________________________________________________________________________________

I am enclosing a check payable to Mecklenburg County Bar for $30 per ticket________________________________

Please mail your registration form and check by 4/23/10to MCB Law Day , 438 Queens Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28207

Chief Judge Robert J.Conrad, Jr.

more than 500+ hours of CLE programs eachyear. Our CLE programs provide value andconvenience to our members that otherproviders can’t touch.

MCB self-regulates the legal professionthrough our grievance and fee dispute process.

MCB provides access to legal servicesthrough our Volunteer Lawyer Program,Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) and BarFoundation. In 2009, the LRS referred morethan 2000 clients to attorneys for legal services.

MCB promotes diversity and equalopportunity within our Bar by supportingDiversity Day for college and high schoolstudents; Lunch with a Lawyer for middleschool students and the Call to Action forlegal departments and law firms.

MCB provides opportunities for networkingand building collegiality and professionalismthrough its Committees, Sections and socialgatherings such as Coffee Connections.

The list could go on and on. It is importantto appreciate that our Bar is an extension of

each of its members. As individual membersof the legal profession, we have certain ethicaland service obligations. Our Bar allows us, asbusy practitioners, to achieve collectively whatnone of us could ever hope to accomplish onour own. Through these collective efforts, weare each free to pursue our own individualpractices while also meeting our professionalobligations to our fellow members, ourprofession and the greater society.

As my term as President draws to a close, Iam reminded each day of the importance ofthe Bar to each of us. I hope that each of youwill take a moment to reflect on this in thecoming months as we look to the future andask ourselves what we want and expect fromthe Bar. As you all know by now, the membersof the Bar will vote on a dues increase at theMay 20 Annual Meeting. For me, a fiscalconservative, my appreciation of what this Barhas accomplished, and what it continues toaccomplish, makes it easy for me to supportthe dues increase. I fully appreciate that noone (including me) wants to pay more. I get itthat some think the timing of this increase isbad. In a perfect world, we would have no dues

increases. But we aren’t in a perfect world. Theneeds of our Bar and our community haven’tdiminished during these tough times; if anythingthe needs are greater than ever. When all issaid and done, can any organization which hasgrown like ours afford not to increase dues fora decade or more? How many of us have notincreased what we charge clients since 2001?Would we still be in business if we hadn’t?

Our Bar remains vital to our profession andour community. Please consider this whenyou cast your vote at the Annual Meeting.Your vote is, after all, a vote of confidence inour Bar—in what it has done and what it willcontinue to do for the next generation. If youlook at the Bar’s record, you can take comfortin the fact that it has been and will continue tobe a responsible steward of its resources andthe fees that each of us pay.

As one prong of the Rotary’s Four-Way Testwould ask, “Will it be beneficial to allconcerned?” As we look to the future needsof our Bar and whether to support the duesincrease, the answer to this question is anunqualified “yes”.

From the Presidentcontinued from page 2

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Kick Off Summer with the

MCB Annual Meeting!

www.meckbar.org April 2010 11

Editorial PolicyThe Mecklenburg Bar News accepts editorial andadvertising material of general legal interest to thepracticing Bar of the 26th Judicial District. Theimplicit purposes of the newsletter, website, andrelated methods of communication are to educatemembers of the Mecklenburg County Bar and tocreate and maintain shared communication with itsmembers. The Communications Committee reservesthe 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,typographical errors, or misinformation in TheMecklenburg Bar News. The views and opinions arenot necessarily those of the 26th Judicial District Bar.

Communications Committee: Tricia Derr, Chair,Justin Carpenter, J.P. Davis, Alan Edmonds, BobJohnston, Charles Keller, Rhea Kelley, JohnLassiter, Carrie Mansfield, Chara Moore, PhillipLewis, Nancy Roberson, Michael Shor, Rob Wick

Sign Up for

Softball!Spring is here, so pull out your Louisville

Slugger and grab your glove! Your Bar isorganizing both a Co-Ed League and aLawyer’s League. Both leagues will start in lateMay/early June, so start organizing your teamrosters now! Start dates and other informationwill be in the May edition of the MecklenburgBar News and in the weekly Bar Blast. To signup for the Lawyer’s League, please contact Co-Commissioner Bryan Stone atbstone@stonelawnc.com. To sign up for theCo-Ed League, please contact Co-Commissioner Sean Poll atSean.Poll@mecklenburgcountync.gov

2010 MCB Annual Meeting Registration Form

Name* ___________________________________________________________________________________

Firm/Company name _______________________________________________________________________

Address* _________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail ___________________________________________________________________________________

Phone*___________________________________________________________________________________

Fax ______________________________________________________________________________________

* required information

Make checks payable to the Mecklenburg County BarPlease mail your registration form and check by 5/14/10

to MCB Annual Meeting, 438 Queens Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28207

Great Office

Space Available

Large executive office available at 122 N. McDowell, intersection of 5th

and N. McDowell. Professionally decorated lobby,

four conference rooms. Rent includes: receptionist,

free parking, full kitchen, internet, telephone system,

alarm and Westlaw. Two blocks from courthouse.

Contact Lee Myers at 704-376-3000.

We will once again be returning to theshaded lawn of the First Presbyterian Churchfor the MCB 98th Annual Meeting. Kick offsummer with food, fun, and your fellow mem-bers at the biggest MCB gathering of the year.Elect the new Board officers for the next fiscalyear, elect your 2014 class of board members,vote on MCB bylaw amendments and a duesadjustment, recognize those who didoutstanding pro bono work, and get updatesabout the Bar. Rain backup is at FirstPresbyterian Fellowship Hall.

When: May 20, 2010, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m..

Where: First Presbyterian Church Lawn, 200 W. Trade St.

Cost: $15 per person by check $16 per person by credit card

Registration: To register with a check, pleaseuse the form below. To register by credit card,please visit www.meckbar.org. The registrationdeadline is May 14. Lunch (barbecue) ticketswill not be sold on the day of meeting.

Questions? Please contact Amy atayoung@meckbar.org or 704/375-8624, ext. 124

For Sale or

Exchange

Mecklenburg County Bar Center &vacant lot on Luther Street

$1,950,000Please call 704/375-8624

to schedule a tour.Parcel 1:· 438 Queens Road· 2-story residential building · Built in 1926· Approximately 6000 sq. ft.

(5,133 heated)· Zoning: O-2(CD)Parcel 2:· 1926 Luther Street· Vacant lot· Approximately .67 acre· 219 feet on Luther St.· Zoning: R-12-MF

Visit www.meckbar.org for more information.

April 2010 www.meckbar.org

MECKLENBURG COUNTY BAR

438 Queens RoadCharlotte, NC 28207

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

CHARLOTTE, NC

PERMIT NO. 3337

DATED MATERIAL

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