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Community View for Jan. 9, 2025

January 14, 2025

Tell a Friend: Membership Is Half-Off

New NCAJ and Section Members Can Try Us Out For a Lower Rate 

Do you know a colleague who should consider joining NCAJ? If so, now is a great time to encourage them to become a member. During January and February, membership dues are half-off.* This includes discounts for Sections as well.
You can tell them that joining NCAJ at half the cost offers them a chance to try out the membership benefits you enjoy year-round, including free access to Decisis, a LexisNexis-powered legal research tool valued at $1,500 per year, discounts on NCAJ’s legendary CLE created for trial lawyers by trial lawyers, and loads of other professional and consumer discounts. That’s in addition to the all the networking and shared wisdom that comes with being part of our storied community.
Help strengthen our community of trial lawyers by sending your peers this link or by joining a new Section yourself. 
*The current NCAJ membership year runs July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.  

Join NCAJ for Half-Off

Register Now and Get Your CLE Hours Before Feb. 28

Step Up: Nominate a Colleague – or Yourself – For Leadership 

The Nominating Committee is looking for members to serve on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee. Know someone who is leadership material or are you interested in leadership yourself? Speak up. Do not be shy about putting yourself forward. Some of our strongest leaders have started down the path by simply taking a step forward. This group also recommends recipients for our annual awards, which recognize members for outstanding leadership in the profession, in their communities, for teaching and for exemplary service on the bench and in the legislature. 
Use the online awards nomination form or email your nominations directly to Courtney Jones by Jan. 31. Please also email your nominations for Executive Committee and Board of Governors directly to Courtney Jones. 

Asheville, North Wilkesboro Free CLE + Sidebar Socials This Month

We’re excited to see our members and legal professionals who might be interested in joining NCAJ at two events we’re hosting in Western North Carolina later this month:  In Asheville, join us at The River Arts District Brewing Co. on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. for a Sidebar Social with the Buncombe County Bar. Lawyers Mutual will present a CLE from 4 to 5 p.m. and sponsor complimentary appetizers and drinks. RSVP by Jan. 24.In North Wilkesboro: Join us at 6th and Main on Friday, Jan. 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. for breakfast with the Wilkes County Bar Association. Lawyers Mutual will present a CLE after breakfast from 10 to 11 a.m. RSVP by Jan. 24. 
All legal professionals in the districts and surrounding counties are invited to both events. The events and CLEs are complimentary for NCAJ members, and we are waiving the fee for local bar members also. Many thanks to our Ruby Preferred Partner Lawyers Mutual for their support of these events. 

Get Ready to Start Your Engines! 

NCAJ Convention 2025 is racing into Charlotte June 18-21, and you won’t want to be left in the dust. Room blocks are now open. Go to the Convention 2025 page to book your room at the Charlotte Omni Hotel now. Plus, if you RSVP here, you’ll be the first to know when registration is open.

New on the NCAJ Podcast: Judge Sean Cole

NCAJ lost a longtime member, but North Carolinians gained a judge on Jan. 1 when Sean Cole was sworn in as Superior Court Judge for Wake County’s District 10C. Before he signed off the listservs for the last time, we chatted on the podcast about the turns his life has taken, why lack of money is the biggest problem plaguing the judicial system and how he aims to set a standard for upholding the rule of law in these interesting times. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or watch the NCAJ You Tube channel. Find all our episodes on the Voices of NCAJ page.

Everitt Wins Senate Seat

The State Board of Elections certified results in several races this week including declaring NCAJ member Terence Everitt the winner in Senate District 18, which includes Wake and Granville counties. Everitt, a Democrat, served three terms in the House of Representatives before winning election to the Senate.

Meet the NCAJ NEXT Class of 2025

We’ll be introducing the members of the NCAJ NEXT Leadership Class of 2025 over the coming weeks. The program, now in its fourth year, has graduated 43 fellows so far. The 2025 class includes 12 lawyers. NCAJ NEXT engages new lawyers to become leaders in the profession through team building, skills training and self-exploration. Left to right: Rachel Mosser of Maginnis Howard, Alison Smith of Edwards Beightol, LLC, and Vince Varano of Wilder Pantazis Law Group.

Have news you’d like us to share about career moves, accomplishments, verdicts and settlements, appointments and more?

Tell Us Your News

NACDL 2025 Midwinter Meeting and CLE in Charlotte

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers will hold its Midwinter Meeting & Seminar at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown, Feb. 26-March 1. The theme of the CLE Seminar is “Take it to the Bank! Advanced Skills for Improving Your Advocacy and Expanding Your Criminal Defense Practice.” NCAJ members Sonya Pfeiffer and Missy Owen are co-chairs of the conference, and several NCAJ members will present.

Recent Appellate Opinions

North Carolina Court of Appeals | Dec. 31, 2024
North Carolina Supreme Court | Oct. 18, 2024

Are You Ready to Save Thousands on Your 2024-2025 CLE/CPE?

If you plan to attend more than three NCAJ seminars over the course of a year, our annual Season Ticket is a must buy to elevate your educational experience while also potentially saving you thousands of dollars.
For just $1,200, NCAJ attorney members can enjoy near-unlimited access to 18+ live and virtual seminars through June 2025. That’s a $5,500+ value at the standard NCAJ member registration rate of ~$300.* Even greater savings are available to paralegals and public service attorneys. Buy yours today and save.
*Exclusions apply. For more information, visit NCAJ’s website.

Take Advantage of Big Savings That Come With Your Membership

NCAJ members get free access to Decisis, a LexisNexis-fueled legal research service valued at $1,500 annually that offers an expansive library of state and federal cases, statutes, court rules and more. Decisis provides NCAJ members with an easy-to-use interface, a reliable citator, and seven-day-a-week, live customer support. Decisis is brought to you by LawPay legal payment management software.

Find the complete list of your NCAJ benefits and discounts on your myNCAJ page.