NCAJ will begin accepting applications for the 2027 NEXT Leadership cohort in July 2026. Check back here for more information or keep an eye on the Community View newsletter.
The program’s goals are to educate participants in the benefits and the expectations of NCAJ membership, to offer an environment for members to build strong relationships with fellow young trial lawyers from a variety of locales and practice areas and ultimately, to better prepare tomorrow’s trial lawyer leaders today.
Regardless of how you decide to lead in the legal profession, the NCAJ NEXT Program better prepares participants for the day when they assume an important leadership role, not only within NCAJ but within the practice of law at large in our state.
There are many ways for attorneys to build their leadership skill set by engaging with NCAJ. During the various sessions of the NCAJ NEXT program, participants will learn more about and be empowered to:
One of the things we are most proud of at NCAJ is the community of leaders who have come through the NEXT program. Their continued growth, connection, and engagement matter deeply – to the future of NCAJ and to the profession as a whole.
With that in mind, we are excited to introduce the NCAJ NEXT STEPS Leadership Series – a new, first-of-its-kind offering created exclusively for NEXT Fellows. This series is designed to meet Fellows where they are now and to support their continued development as leaders, advocates, and stewards of the profession.
NEXT Fellows are invited to register for any of the sessions that align with their interests and growth goals. Fellows may attend one session or several, at no cost to them.
We are excited to continue investing in you and look forward to learning, leading and connecting in the months ahead. Click on the session name below for more details and to register.
Wednesday, January 28 | 12-3:30 p.m.
Cultivating Leadership Through Mentorship
Thursday, February 19 | 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Leaders Who THRIVE – Trust, Health, Relationships, Impact, Value, Engagement
Important: All participants in this session will complete the THRIVE Assessment(link will be sent in confirmation email) and receive a confidential, personalized feedback summary of their results. The assessment must be completed by February 9 to participate fully in the session.
Wednesday, March 18 | 12-3:30 p.m.
Under the Hood: Governance in Action
Wednesday, April 29 | 12-3:30 p.m.
The Art of Collective Leadership: Navigating Crucial Conversations
Wednesday, May 20 | 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
From Strategy to Impact: Inside NCAJ’s Advocacy Work
June 2026 Convention | Date & Time TBD
Beyond the Practice: Understanding Law Firm Leadership
This session will take place in conjunction with NCAJ’s Convention at the Wilmington Convention Center. It will be offered on one of the Convention days; the specific date and time will be announced closer to the event.
Jes Averhart is the founder of Jes & Co. specializing in stakeholder engagement and leadership development. Jes advises executive leadership on growth strategies and talent development.
Her cross-industry corporate engagement includes companies within Research Triangle Park and the American Underground, a Google for Startups Tech Hub (aka, the “Startup Capital of the South” by CNBC).
Learn More About JesWith over 30 years of litigation and settlement planning experience, Raleigh attorney Tacker LeCarpentier started Settlement Planning Services to provide comprehensive settlement planning services to injury victims, their families and attorneys throughout the State of North Carolina.
A North Carolina native, Tacker has been a strong NCAJ supporter, member and sponsor for over 17 years. At no charge to your clients, Tacker and his associates offer life care planning cost analysis, governmental benefits assessments, mediation attendance, as well as appearances at all settlement hearings. Settlement planning solutions include Structured Settlements, Special Needs Trusts, Family Security and Settlement Preservation Trusts, Medicare Set-Aside Accounts, and lien resolution assistance.
Securing Your Clients’ Future Financial Needs.
For over 20 years, The Forge Companies have been dedicated to guiding plaintiff attorneys and their clients through the entire settlement planning process. We began in 2003 as Forge Consulting, a national insurance agency providing structured settlement and annuity services to plaintiffs and their attorneys. We later established Advocacy Wealth Management to complement our existing annuity planning services and Advocacy Trust, which offers a wide range of trust administration with a focus on special needs trust and settlement trust. More recently, we expanded services through Forge for Business, providing a broad range of financial and business services tailored to the needs of contingent fee attorneys, law firms, and general businesses. We have over 150 teammates with experience in financial, legal, compliance, operations, and marketing services. Together, we have worked to build our core values of trust, respect, excellence, empathy, and selflessness, allowing us to build genuine, lasting relationships with our clients and with each other.
We look forward to welcoming you to The Forge Companies family.
Rapid Access to World-Class Healthcare for Personal Injury Patients
Millions of Americans do not have health insurance or access to affordable medical treatment. Navigating the complex healthcare system can be daunting and time-consuming. Marrick Medical has over a decade of experience in providing clients with priority access to an expansive network of health care providers. Marrick’s dedicated team of case coordinators and comprehensive services enable personal injury patients to wholeheartedly focus on the healing process.
With over 45,000 patients cared for and $180 million in medical services covered, Marrick is the industry leader and your personal guide on the road to recovery. Marrick works with over 3,000 major medical providers to both eliminate the risk of nonpayment and guarantee patients have no out of pocket costs. Over 10,000 attorneys have put their trust in Marrick Medical to responsibly, expeditiously, and compassionately tend to the individual needs of their clients.
Marrick prides itself on facilitating an optimized experience across the board – for patients, attorneys and medical providers.
Applicants must:
Applicants should submit the following:
We encourage any new-to-the-practice (in the last 10 years) NCAJ members from diverse locales and practice areas who have a history of involvement and leadership in their communities, offices and/or profession to apply. You will likely be a great fit if you are an attorney who wants to become more involved in NCAJ and you have a genuine interest in empowering a strong community of trial lawyers in our state through volunteer leadership.
Participating in the NCAJ NEXT Program requires a commitment of time and resources. We guarantee that your experience in the program and the rewards of participation will greatly outweigh any sacrifice you will make to attend.
Participants are selected through a competitive application process and are chosen from diverse geographic locations and areas of trial practice. Letter(s) of recommendation from at least one current NCAJ member, your employer, community leader, legislators, judges, etc. are strongly encouraged (although not required).
The tuition for participation in the NCAJ NEXT Program is $750. This fee, combined with NCAJ’s support through partner firms, sponsors and the Allen A. Bailey Endowment, covers program costs and events associated with the NCAJ NEXT sessions. Any travel or lodging needs are the responsibility of the NCAJ member.
Associate litigation attorney, Brent Adams & Associates
Attorney, Ward Black Law
Associate attorney, The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Attorney, Henson Fuerst Attorneys
North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings
Attorney, Maginnis Howard
The Law Offices of Sharika M. Robinson, PLLC
Attorney, Edwards Beightol, LLC
Associate attorney, Wilder Pantazis Law Group
Litigation Attorney, The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Attorney at The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Litigation Attorney, The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Attorney, CR Legal Team LLP
Founding Partner, Ibegbu Law, PLLC
Attorney, Deuterman Law Group
Litigation Attorney, Whitley Law Firm
