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Committee & Task Force Descriptions

A-H |  I-P |  Q-Z

A-H

4ALL is an NC Bar Association and NC Bar Association Foundation initiative to address the provision of civil legal services to the poor in North Carolina. The Task Force will evaluate current awareness of the needs for legal services, including funding sources and volunteerism, and work to educate lawyers, policy makers and the public about those needs. The Task Force will, among other things, work to create (1) a grass roots lobbying mechanism of NCBA members to address state and national funding for legal services, (2) a plan to address educational debt of current and prospective legal services attorneys, (3) methods to fund the NCBA Foundation Endowment for Legal Aid of North Carolina, and (4) a systematic approach to increase the number of NC lawyers providing pro bono services to the poor. (Co-Chairs: Martin Brinkley & Caryn McNeill)  (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier) [Committee Roster]

Administration of Justice Committee (F) monitors the civil and criminal justice systems in North Carolina and addresses such important issues as overcrowded court dockets, creation of new courts, public defender's offices and judicial salaries. (Chair: Neal Ellis) (Staff Liaison: Kim Crouch) [Committee Roster]

Appellate Rules Committee (F) examines the rules of appellate procedure and recommends needed changes to the North Carolina Bar Association Board of Governors for ultimate referral to the Chief Justice and the North Carolina Supreme Court. (Chair: Julie Youngman) (Staff Liaison: Kim Crouch) [Committee Roster]

Audit & Finance Committee (A/F) is made up of members of the Board of Governors. It reviews the financial affairs of the North Carolina Bar Association and North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc., prepares the annual budget and serves as the audit committee. (Chair: Charles L. Becton) (Staff Liaisons: Ginny Craig) [Committee Roster]

Bench/Bar Liaison Committee promotes cooperation between the bench and the bar to advance the profession and its service to the public. Membership consists of judges and attorneys. (Chair: Richard Bennett) (Staff Liaison: Kim Crouch) [Committee Roster]

Charter & Bylaws Committee (A/F), made up of members of the Board of Governors, has the authority to originate and recommend amendments to the Charter & Bylaws of both the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc. The Committee receives suggestions from sections, committees and members. It also assists the Board of Governors in submitting proposed charter and bylaws amendments to the membership. (Chair: Debra Foster) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier)

Citizen Lawyer Task Force investigates and reports ways in which lawyers of North Carolina can become more engaged as productive citizens in their respective communities. The Task Force will consider new ways for law firms to enable its lawyers to commit time and energy outside of law practice toward their communities; ways to encourage more participation of lawyers in local civic organizations, local government, school boards, and state legislature; ways to improve participation in pro bono activities; and ways to improve the attorney’s sense of self worth. (Chair: Eugene C. Pridgen) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier) [Committee Roster]

Communications Committee recommends to the North Carolina Bar Association Board of Governors and/or Executive Director requirements to accommodate the communications needs of the Bar Association. It also educates and informs the public of the programs and projects of the Association, helps the public understand law and the role of lawyers in society and instills confidence and respect of the legal system by using whatever media are most effective and appropriate. It educates and informs members about the Association’s activities, accomplishments and opportunities and helps members improve themselves as attorneys. (Chair: Melissa Hayden Weaver) (Staff Liaison: Russell Rawlings) [Committee Roster]

Continuing Legal Education Committee (F) has oversight responsibility for the Continuing Legal Education program of the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc. (Chair: Dan McLawhorn) (Staff Liaison: Ray Ruppert) [Committee Roster]

Convention Planning Advisory Committee is charged with advising the President and North Carolina Bar Association staff in planning the Bar Association's Annual Meeting. (P.C. Barwick, Jr.) (Staff Liaison: Tom Hull) [Committee Roster]

Development Committee (F) provides volunteer leadership for fund-raising activities conducted by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc. including the coordination of the annual Patrons Campaign; the expansion of the Foundation's Endowment through the establishment of Justice Funds; the education of members about planned giving opportunities and the Platt D. Walker Society; and special projects assigned by the Foundation Board of Directors. (Sharon Daniel) (Staff Liaison: Tom Hull) [Committee Roster]

Disability Law Committee offers a forum for legal and compliance issues, as well as an opportunity for attorneys and legal assistants with physical disabilities to network and share common concerns, interests and pursuits. (Chair: Kim Korando) (Staff Liaison: Ashley Mills) [Committee Roster]

Endowment Committee (F) reviews funding requests and recommends grants from the Endowment of the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc. Upon approval of the Foundation Board of Directors, awards and then monitors grants to ensure effective use of funds and successful completion of grant projects. (Chair: Robin Jayne Stinson) (Staff Liaison: Tom Hull) [Committee Roster]

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I-P

Immigration Law Committee offers a forum for immigration and naturalization issues, as well as an opportunity for attorneys, legal assistants and law students with an interest in immigration law, to network and share common concerns, interests and pursuits. (Chair: Sean Won Lew) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Cofield) [Committee Roster]

Investment Committee (A/F) oversees the investments of the North Carolina Bar Association and North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Inc. (including the Endowment) and assures that their respective funds are invested in the proper manner. (Chair: Mike Hearn) (Staff Liaisons: Ginny Craig) [Committee Roster]

Joint Diversity Task Force was created in response to various diversity initiatives highlighted in the Association's Momentum 2010 Strategic Plan. Established committees of the Association that represent the interest of minority and women lawyer groups were called upon by the Strategic Plan to develop ways to recruit and retain minority and women lawyers to the bar, and develop strategies for leadership development of minority and women lawyers. Four committees provide representation to serve on the Task Force: Membership, Minorities in the Profession, Hispanic/Latino Lawyers and Women in the Profession. The two main objectives of the Task Force are to 1) find ways to better foster a culture of professionalism, civility and collegiality among all segments of the legal community in North Carolina; and 2) to develop and implement one or more strategies for recruiting more minority Bar Association members and promoting and increasing leadership in the Bar Association by minority and women lawyers. (Chair: Paul A. Meggett)   (Staff Liaison: Whitney von Haam) [Committee Roster]

Judicial Independence Committee is charged with implementing the provisions of the Judicial Independence Resolution (adopted by the NC Bar Association’s Board of Governors on January 17, 2002) which include promoting judicial independence by increasing public and legislative awareness of the importance of an impartial and independent judiciary and seeking improvements in the methods of selection of judges and justices. (Co-Chairs: Justice Beverly Lake & Judge Wade Barber) (Staff Liaison: Kim Crouch) [Committee Roster]

Latino Affairs Committee works to: establish a network of Hispanic/Latino lawyers in North Carolina, identify Spanish-speaking attorneys around the state to assist non-English speaking clients, and exchange information on the particular needs of Hispanic/Latino clients. (Chair: Meredith Nicholson) (Staff Liaison: Whitney von Haam) [Committee Roster]

Law School Liaison Committee facilitates communication between legal educators and the practicing bar and serves as a clearinghouse for information regarding the law schools. The Committee also is responsible for examining and monitoring all aspects of pre-licensure education. (Chair: Bill Whichard) (Staff Liaison: Ray Ruppert) [Committee Roster]

Law-Related Education Advisory Committee (F) is responsible for organizing and promoting the North Carolina Bar Association’s efforts to establish a relationship between a lawyer member of the North Carolina Bar Association and every school in the state. The lawyers will act as a resource to present programs and give other assistance in the schools to help students from kindergarten through high school to understand the legal system and the lawyer’s role in it. (Chair: Heather W. Culp) (Staff Liaison: Diane Wright) [Committee Roster]

Lawyer Effectiveness & Quality of Life Committee (F) endeavors to help attorneys achieve a high quality of life that leads to personal and professional satisfaction. This charge remains grounded in carrying out the recommendations of the Quality of Life Task Force as set out in its final report dated June 20, 1991. (Chair: Phyllis Lile-King) (Staff Liaison: Russell Rawlings) [Committee Roster]

Lawyer Referral Service Committee (F) monitors and advises the North Carolina Bar Foundation and Lawyer Referral Service staff on the operation of the North Carolina Lawyer Referral Service. (Chair: George W. Lennon) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Cofield)[Committee Roster]

Local Bar Services Committee acts as the advisory committee for the North Carolina Bar Association's Local Bar Services project. Membership consists of active members of local bar associations who provide ideas and suggestions as to how the North Carolina Bar Association can assist local bars as well as help implement, evaluate and comment on proposed plans. (Chair: Judge Sidney S. Eagles, Jr.) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier) [Committee Roster]

Medico-Legal Liaison Committee is responsible for periodic review of and revisions to the Medico-Legal Guidelines and for promoting the understanding and cooperation between the bar and the medical profession. (Chair: Karen Rabenau) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier) [Committee Roster]

Membership Committee is charged with identifying, recommending and implementing strategies to encourage new and continued membership of North Carolina attorneys in the North Carolina Bar Association. The Committee also identifies ways to attract and retain the membership and to foster the participation of certain attorney groups such as women, ethnic minorities, nonprofit counsel, plaintiffs' attorneys and public-sector attorneys. The Committee reviews all services offered to North Carolina Bar Association members, as well as membership recruitment and retention. (Chair: Jonathan P. Heyl) (Staff Liaison: Whitney von Haam) [Committee Roster]

Memorials Committee is responsible for reporting the names of deceased North Carolina Bar Association members and honoring them by a memorial tribute at the Annual Meeting. (Gill Beck) (Staff Liaison: Tom Hull)

Minorities in the Profession Committee seeks to encourage participation of minorities in the legal profession and to offer opportunities to support minorities pursuing a law degree. It is also charged with developing a specific plan for the implementation of the Final Report and Recommendations of the Commission on Race Relations in the Legal Profession adopted by the Bar Association’s Board of Governors in April 1996. (Co-Chairs: Arnita Dula & Paul Meggett) (Staff Liaison: Deidre Lewis) [Committee Roster]

Modest Means Access Committee (F) is responsible for implementing the recommendations in the Pro Se Task Force Final Report of January 2004. It will continue to study and monitor the needs of modest means clients in NC and work to advocate innovative ideas and techniques that can be implemented within the legal community to help increase access to the courts for people of modest means. (Chair: Eura Cherry) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Cofield) [Committee Roster]

Nominations Committee selects and nominates qualified Bar Association members for the offices of vice-presidents and board members, which are voted on by the membership at the Bar Association's Annual Meeting. (Chair: Susan Giamportone ) (Staff Liaison: Allan Head)

Past Presidents Council serves as a leadership resource to the various working groups of the Bar Association and Bar Foundation. Its membership consists of seven past presidents of the North Carolina Bar Association who are charged with the responsibility of following up on major reports and recommendations, reviewing existing programs and advising current leadership on new challenges and opportunities. The Council also screens nominees for the office of President-Elect and important Association awards. (Chair: D. Clark Smith, Jr.) (Staff Liaison: Allan Head)

Personnel Committee (A/F) consults with the Executive Director and Finance Committee to advise Bar Association Officers and Board of Governors regarding personnel matters. (Chair: D. Clark Smith, Jr.) (Staff Liaison: Allan Head)

Professionalism Committee (F) has been assigned the task of consolidating the current professionalism initiatives of the North Carolina Bar Association, developing new professionalism initiatives, and overseeing the entire professionalism agenda for the Bar Association. (Chair: Robin Shea) (Staff Liaison: Russell Rawlings) [Committee Roster]

Public Service Advisory Committee (F) advises the Bar Foundation on activities relating to the delivery of legal services to indigents and those of modest means, including the volunteer lawyers program. (Chair: Sylvia K. Novinsky) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Cofield) [Committee Roster]

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Q-Z

Resolutions Committee (A/F) is made up of members of the Board of Governors, prepares and screens all resolutions to be voted on by the membership at the Annual Meeting. It also serves as a working committee at Board meetings to draft necessary resolutions for considerations by the Board. (Chair: Tiffanie Sneed) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier)

Strategic Planning/Emerging Trends Committee (A/F) is responsible for a continual process of planning to refine the goals of the Association and Foundation and to identify emerging issues of importance to the profession that should be addressed by the Association and Foundation. (Chair: Reid Phillips) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier) [Committee Roster]

Technology Advisory Committee is charged with a threefold purpose: (1) Based on a continuing assessment of need, and in cooperation with other public and private entities, to encourage development and implementation of reliable remote access available to all North Carolina legal professionals via computer to public records, including those created and maintained by the judicial branch and other state and local government agencies; (2) To support and oversee the evaluation and implementation of new technologies that support the mission, committees, sections, divisions, members, and staff of the NC Bar Association; and (3) To help Association members realize the benefits of technology through the identification and recommendation of technology products, services, and providers of particular interest to legal professionals, as well as the negotiation of special offers from these providers for Association members. (Chair: Neil Alvin Riemann) (Staff Liaison: Tom Purdy) [Committee Roster]

Tort Issues Task Force is charged with implementing the provisions of the Resolution on Tort Reform, adopted by the Association’s Board of Governors on June 20, 2003. The Task Force also will be asked to review any new information that is available on tort reform issues and make recommendations to the members of the joint NCBA and NC Medical Society Committee and the NCBA Board of Governors. (Co-Chairs: Burton Craige & Michael W. Mitchell) (Staff Liaison: Kim Crouch) [Committee Roster]

Women in the Profession Committee is charged with studying issues and making recommendations to the bar and the North Carolina Bar Association relating to women in the legal profession in North Carolina. (Chair: Chris Walczyk) (Staff Liaison: Michelle Frazier) [Committee Roster]