The NCAJ NEXT Program was founded in 2020 for the purpose of engaging NCAJ’s next generation of trial lawyer leaders in North Carolina.
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:
Volunteer to be a CLE chair;
Speak at a seminar or CLE;
Share your ideas and trial experiences with your fellow trial lawyers on a section listserv;
Assist in NCAJ’s legislative lobbying efforts;
Serve as a Committee member;
Get more involved with AAJ and/or NACDL;
Engage with the NCAJ PAC;
Run for state office as a lawyer‐legislator;
Serve as an NCAJ leader on the Executive Committee and/or Board of Governors.
Applications are Now Open for the 2024 NEXT Cohort
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Typical NCAJ NEXT Session Topics & Time Commitment
NCAJ NEXT meets monthly, beginning each January, for a full day of engagement with speakers, leaders and one another at various venues across the state. Sessions are usually held on Thursdays. See below for an example of the timeline and topics you might expect when you participate in NEXT.
Fall | Meet & Greet with NCAJ NEXT Fellows
January | Official Program Kickoff & Leadership Session
February | Storytelling & Leadership
March | Learning from Legends & Generations of Lawyers
April | Board Training & the NCAJ Board of Governors Meeting
May | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & Implicit Bias
May | Legislative Day
June | NCAJ Convention
Please note that this is a draft schedule only and is subject to change based on speaker and location availability.
How are candidates selected?
Criteria for Admission
Applicants must:
Be a current NCAJ member;
Be in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar; and
Letter(s) of recommendation (preferably at least one from a current NCAJ member) Please note that letter(s) of recommendation are not required, but are strongly encouraged.
Who should apply?
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.
What should I know before I apply?
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).
Are there any costs related to the program?
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.
Don’t just take our word for it. Learn more about the impact of the NCAJ NEXT program from our Fellows…
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