Photographer Danny Gale of D. Gale Photo took the beautiful shots of our Welcome Reception & Dinner at the Grove Park Inn’s Seely Pavillion. Find those and shots of Friday and Saturday’s speakers and events in the photo gallery.
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
October 16-18, 2025 | Asheville, NC
6 Hours CLE credit (including 3 technology hours and 1 hour of professional well-being)
After the heartbreaking cancellation of Mountain Magic 2024 due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, we are thrilled to finally be heading back to Asheville in 2025! The North Carolina Advocates for Justice is excited to welcome you back to the iconic Omni Grove Park Inn for a weekend of connection, learning and relaxation in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains.
Reconnect, Recharge & Reignite
Mountain Magic is more than just a conference—it’s a time-honored tradition where NCAJ members gather to recharge, gain valuable insights and strengthen the bonds that make our community so special. This year’s event will feature top-tier CLE programming, plenty of opportunities to network and time to unwind in one of North Carolina’s most beautiful destinations. Earn six hours of CLE credit, including one hour of professional well-being credit.
Fall in Asheville is Simply Unmatched
Soak in the crisp mountain air, take in the stunning fall foliage, and enjoy all the world-class amenities that the Grove Park Inn has to offer—from its renowned spa to its historic charm. Whether you’re here for the education, the camaraderie or the scenery, Mountain Magic 2025 promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Stop by the Registration Desk to pick up your name badge before the Welcome Reception & Dinner!
Kick off Mountain Magic in style at the Seely Pavilion at the Omni Grove Park Inn. With sweeping mountain views and rustic charm, this welcome reception and dinner sets the stage for a memorable weekend. Reconnect with colleagues, make new connections, and soak in the spirit of Asheville while enjoying regional cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, and live music from North Carolina singer-songwriter and guitarist Josh Daniel. It’s the perfect beginning to a weekend of learning, laughter, and community. Attire for the evening is dressy casual.
Please note that there is an additional charge of $75 for guests for this social event.
Stop by the Registration Desk to pick up your name badge!
Join us for a continental breakfast to start the day with fresh coffee, pastries and light morning bites.
At this presentation you’ll learn powerful, quick-hitting ways to implement simple technologies that will immediately elevate your deposition and trial practice, enhance your effectiveness (and credibility) with jurors and opposing counsel, and ultimately put you on the path to bigger settlements and verdicts. It will cover things like how to: create compelling, case-capturing (DIY) visuals and graphics; integrate and adopt AI uses that’ll supercharge your capabilities; and think outside the box in presenting your case at trial and in depositions.
In this interactive workshop, explore how neuroscience and mindfulness can reduce stress, improve focus, and boost professional success. You’ll practice tools to move from nervous system dysregulation (stress) into regulation (calm), and learn why lawyers’ brains are wired for a strong “negativity bias.” We’ll examine how the unique demands of legal practice can contribute to burnout and nervous system dysregulation, and how evidence-based techniques can counter these effects. You’ll leave with a better understanding of your nervous system along with simple, effective strategies to reduce stress and build resilience in the practice of law.
Seasoned political consultants Morgan Jackson and Paul Shumaker will provide an overview of emerging political trends impacting North Carolina’s political landscape and provide their thoughts on the coming midterm elections on both the federal and state levels. You will not want to miss these two in action!
From arriving in England as a child refugee to launching a leading consumer rights law firm with only $200 and a flip phone, Abbas Kazerounian’s story is one of resilience, justice and impact. Today, he is recognized nationally for securing life-changing victories for individuals against corporate giants. In this inspiring talk, Abbas shares how personal adversity shaped his belief in giving back—and why fighting for those without power is the most meaningful work of all.
Take the afternoon to relax and recharge—Mountain Magic style.
Whether you unwind at the world-renowned Omni Grove Park Inn Spa, explore Asheville’s vibrant art and food scene or simply take in the mountain views with a cocktail in hand, this is your time to soak up everything Asheville has to offer.
Treat yourself—you’ve earned it.
Wind down the day with a lively evening at The Terrace at Hemingway’s Cuba atop the Cambria Hotel in downtown Asheville. Enjoy sweeping skyline and mountain views while savoring heavy hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, and great conversation. Attire for the evening is dressy casual.
Transportation is not provided for this event. We encourage you to use Uber, Lyft or another rideshare/taxi service. The Cambria Downtown Asheville offers valet parking for $7 per vehicle.
This event is included with your Mountain Magic registration, and guests are welcome at no additional cost.
Kick off the morning with a full breakfast buffet – from hot entrées to fresh fruit and pastries, plus fresh-brewed coffee to keep you energized.
Cheers to the weekend! Stop by our Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar to mix up your perfect morning sip. Whether you like it bold and spicy or bubbly and bright, we’ve got just the thing to kick off your day.
Is technology serving you, or are you a servant to technology? Today,
lawyers are constantly distracted by legal technology, connectivity, electronic case
information, discovery, and information overload … email, instant messaging, social
media, phone calls, interruptions, etc. Lawyers switch tasks on their computer nearly
600 times a day. We are drowning in technology-based interruptions! These
technologies are essential and, in fact, required by many jurisdictions, but they are also
killing productivity if we don’t have the processes in place to deal with them! In this
program, we will get our hands dirty and focus on how to manage distractions, emails,
tasks, and deadlines. You will learn how to take back control of your day and your
practice with practical methodologies utilizing tools like Microsoft Outlook that you
already own.
Laura Yaeger from AAJ’s Board of Governors will speak on state and federal legislation affecting the State TLAs and then take questions.
To efficiently process daily tasks & emails, you must be organized! In modern times, that means you must have a digital matter/case file that is complete and organized.
In other words, to find answers to questions and to solve problems for clients, we must be able to efficiently find answers and information. Emails can’t be stuck in users’ inboxes. Some documents can’t be in one place, and other documents in another place. We also need effective and secure remote access when working from the road or home. In this seminar, learn how to centralize & securely maintain paperless files!
That’s a wrap on Mountain Magic! Thank you for being part of this special gathering. While our programming has concluded, we hope you’ll stick around and enjoy a beautiful fall weekend in Asheville—there’s no better time to explore the mountains, flavors, and charm of this unforgettable city.
†Please note that only 10 total exhibitor tables are available as of April 1, 2025.
Contact Mary Kay Kennedy for more details or to secure your spot.
†Please note that only 10 total exhibitor tables are available as of April 1, 2025.
Contact Mary Kay Kennedy for more details or to secure your spot.
Contact Mary Kay Kennedy for more details or to secure your spot.
