Citizen Lawyer Carol Bruce
Article Date: Friday, June 26, 2009
Written By: by Afi S. Johnson-Parris and Frankie Jones, Jr.
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| Carole Bruce accepts award from President Charles Becton. |
Greensboro attorney Carole Bruce is passionate about creating opportunities in
her community. “I look at things in packages and want to ensure that whatever
service activity I engage in is helping to provide people with equal opportunity
in the areas of health, education, and economics.”
Bruce advises others, “Make sure you volunteer or work where your passion is.
If you try to volunteer in something you’re not passionate about, you won’t be
doing anyone any good.”
Her passion and commitment to service outside the practice of law, recently
garnered Bruce recognition as one of the North Carolina Bar Association’s 12
Citizen Lawyer Award honorees.
Bruce received her undergraduate business and MBA degrees from Auburn
University in the late 1960s at a time when she was the only woman in her MBA
program. She worked throughout the 1970s as a CPA until a casual dinner
conversation steered her toward law. Working then as a CPA for her current law
firm, Smith Moore Leatherwood, LLP, a client commented at the oddity that Bruce
could prepare the business tax returns but as a non-attorney, could not sign
them.
“That was a Saturday evening,” Bruce said. “I thought about it on Sunday, and
on Monday I began the process of applying to law school.”
By the time Bruce graduated from Wake Forest University Law School in 1980,
her class contained 20 percent women. Bruce says that in the early 1980s “there
was a perception that women should be included.”
“I do think that being a lawyer, even a female lawyer, has probably opened
some doors or opportunities for service that might not have otherwise
happened.”
Bruce credits this and her legal and accounting backgrounds for opening doors
to service opportunities throughout her career, beginning with the Greensboro
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Bruce currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Guilford College, the
International Civil Rights Center and Museum, and The Greensboro Partnership-
Greensboro’s principal economic and community development organization. Her
service for Guilford College led to being honored with its Distinguished Service
Award and she counts this activity as her current favorite. “Through my role as
Chair of the Finance Committee [for Guilford College Board of Trustees], I am
able to work with others to provide access to college to people who otherwise
may not have the ability to afford college.”
Bruce is modest about her accolades. “Even though it sounds trite, I’ve
always felt rewarded by the service itself.”
Of particular impact has been Bruce’s membership on several local non-profit
boards with a focus on health issues. Bruce’s proudest service accomplishment
was being on the team that managed the merger of the Wesley Long Hospital into
the Moses Cone System when serving on the Moses Cone Health System Board. “This
merger has helped to control healthcare costs and to improve the quality of
healthcare offered in Greensboro.”
Bruce continues to look for opportunities to serve and encourages others to
do the same. “Every day ask yourself, ‘Where can I make a difference
today.’”
Provided by the Young Lawyers Division of the North Carolina Bar
Association in conjunction with the Citizen Lawyer Task Force in recognition of
recipients of the 2009 Citizen Lawyer Awards. The awards were presented on
Friday, June 26, at the NCBA Annual Meeting in Asheville.