YLD Awards Presented at NCBA Annual Meeting
The 123rd Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Bar Association was held on Thursday and Friday, June 17-18. Numerous awards were presented during the virtual awards ceremony on June 17 by President Mark Holt and President-elect Jon Heyl, including three awards presented annually to members of the Young Lawyers Division.
Leila Hicks of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in Durham received the Charles F. Blanchard Young Lawyer of the Year Award and Brandon McPherson of Schwartz & Shaw in Raleigh received the Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award.
The text from their presentations appears below along with additional comments provided by the honorees. In addition, John Noor of Roberts & Stevens in Asheville received the Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award, which is reported here in coverage devoted to the 2021 Pro Bono Award winners.
Charles F. Blanchard Young Lawyer of the Year Award:
Leila Hicks of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin (Durham)
The Charles F. Blanchard Young Lawyer of the Year Award is named for Charles F. Blanchard, who served as the founding chair of the Young Lawyers Division from 1953-1955. This award was established to recognize young lawyers for their distinguished and meritorious service.
Leila Hicks’ practice focuses on personal injury, auto accident and Social Security disability. She received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina, and she currently serves as the Division Director for the Law Student Division of the NCBA YLD. Hicks has been a dedicated leader and steadfast supporter of the Young Lawyers Division.
Under her leadership, the Law Student Division had an extremely successful year and was able to provide numerous educational, networking and career development programs for law student members. She has previously served as a co-chair of the Bar Exam Committee and a member of the Law Week & Liberty Bell Committee. Hicks has been an invaluable member of the YLD leadership team, and she is always one of the first people to step in where help is needed.
When asked to comment on what it meant to her to receive the Charles F. Blanchard Young Lawyer of the Year Award from her peers in the Young Lawyers Division, Hicks replied:
I am extremely honored and thrilled to be the 2021 recipient of the Blanchard Award. Having been an active member of the NCBA and YLD over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with many talented and generous young lawyers; many of whom I admire and see as mentors in my professional and personal development. To have been recognized by this group for my service to the bar and the community brings me great pride.
I am thankful for this award, but I am also grateful for the opportunity to have spent the past year working tirelessly to maintain the networks, resources and projects that the NCBA provides to its members and North Carolinians as a whole. The pandemic challenged us in many ways, but the YLD carried on.
When asked how her involvement in the Young Lawyers Division has enhanced her career thus far, Hicks stated:
Being involved with YLD has made a significant impact on my career. Not only have I been able to engage in several pro bono and service projects, I have also been able to make numerous connections with attorneys throughout North Carolina, which has been particularly helpful as I have changed practice areas over the years.
Being an NCBA member allowed me to access practice resources but it has also made it easy for me to connect with other members within those practices. Through those connections, I have been able to gain exposure to new areas of the law, expand my network and strengthen relationships within my networks. YLD involvement has truly helped me develop my practice and my career.
Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award:
Brandon McPherson
The Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award was established in 2010 in honor of Judge Robinson Everett, a Duke law professor and former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The award recognizes young lawyers who embody the spirit of legal professionalism and service.
Brandon McPherson is a partner with Schwartz & Shaw, where his practice focuses on education law. He is a member of the North Carolina Council of School Attorneys and the National Council of School Attorneys. His professionalism and integrity, combined with his service to the bar and to his community, made him a clear choice for this award.
He is an accomplished and well-respected attorney and has been a dedicated leader for the NCBA and his community for a number of years. Currently, McPherson serves as the chair of the NCBA Education Law Section, co-chair of the YLD’s Disaster Legal Services Committee and as the ABA District 9 Representative.
He also previously served as the Division Director for the YLD’s Law Student Division. In addition to his service to the bar, he has volunteered with GCF of Eastern North Carolina’s Community Farm, Neighbor2Neighbor, and Healing Transitions, and serves on the staff-parish relations committee at his church.
When asked to comment on what it meant to him to receive the Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award from his peers in the Young Lawyers Division, McPherson replied:
I am incredibly humbled and honored to be recognized by my peers in the YLD with the Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award. I have had the privilege of working with exceptional colleagues throughout my time in the YLD, thus any recognition should be is shared with the YLD leaders past and present who have given of their time and efforts to better the profession and the community.
When asked how his involvement in the Young Lawyers Division has enhanced his career thus far, McPherson stated:
My involvement in the YLD has provided me an incredible network of excellent attorneys and amazing opportunities to help others. Whether working with law students throughout North Carolina to improve their experience or volunteering at the 4ALL events, I have found that the community of attorneys in the YLD is second to none and by association I have made friends across the state and nation who can offer assistance and perspective when requested.
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.