“Amazing Things” Fill YLD’s Busy Autumn Agenda
Since my last update, a lot of amazing things have happened with the YLD. First, NCBA and YLD leaders traveled to North Carolina law schools during 1L orientations to talk about the NCBA, its benefits, and how law students can take advantage of NCBA membership. As a result, over 380 law students have signed up to be an NCBA member.
In continuing with assisting law students and the next generation of attorneys, our ABA award-winning Grab-A-Coffee program is back and stronger than before. I am proud to announce that this fall, the Grab-A-Coffee program has made over 300 pairings between law students and attorneys. This is due largely to the diligent efforts of Matt Meinel and Law Student Outreach Committee Co-Chairs Alex Gwynn and Will Robertson. As a reminder, the Grab-A-Coffee program pairs law students with attorneys to allow law students to converse with attorneys over a proverbial “cup of coffee” or in an informal manner to allow for open and honest discussions about our legal profession.
Further, our Law Student Outreach Committee and law student reps have been off to a hot start. In October, the Law Student Outreach Committee hosted a panel sponsored by Brooks Pierce focused on business and client development. This panel featured an absolute all-star lineup of speakers with former YLD Chair and Brooks Pierce partner Will Quick, Brooks Pierce partner Gary Parsons, and Shannon Lanier, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Brooks Pierce. Attendees were also given an entry ticket to the N.C. State Fair.
Additionally, the YLD hosted its first panel in the Transportation & Law Series. This very informative panel included speakers from diverse backgrounds discussing their experience in aviation law. Our panelists included Erin Locklear, General Counsel, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority and NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee Co-Chair; Stephanie Robinson, Deputy General Counsel – NC Department of Transportation; Max Taylor, Senior Counsel, Turner Construction Company; and Alex Gwynn, Staff Counsel, Turner Construction Company and NCBA YLD Law Student Outreach Committee.
Our Elon Law student representatives had a panel featuring NCBA YLD leaders entitled “Demystifying the Transition from Law Student to Lawyer.” Panelists included Megan Reilly-Dreas, Collins Saint, Tae Storr and two of our Elon law student representatives, Courtney Latourrette and Brooke McCormick, who served as moderators. Our Campbell Law student representatives are having a panel entitled “Leveraging Your Legal Degree and Skill Set.” This panel will focus on law school graduates who took their career in a different direction and non-traditional legal careers. The panel will consist of Erin Gerner, CEO and Founder of Powerhouse Lawyers; Morgan Fey, Director of Blackbyrd Partners; Jeff Cox, Director of UniCourt; and Evin Grant, Policy Director, N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOA).
In continuing with the theme of demystifying the legal profession for law students and young lawyers, the YLD has a new initiative entitled “Letter to My Younger Self.” By now, I hope you have seen my letter penned to my 26-year-old self just getting started in my legal career and Kayla Britt’s letter to her younger self. Both letters were moving and powerful and provided priceless advice. It is our hope that law students and young lawyers learn and are positively impacted by our advice to our younger selves. Please be on the lookout for additional letters from other NCBA leaders.
Moving forward, the YLD will again implement its annual #GivingDay on Tuesday, November 28. This initiative raises funds to support NCBF programs such as Wills for Heroes, NC Free Legal Answers, and other valuable programs that help and support North Carolinians. I truly believe it is incumbent upon each of us to assist in any way possible. As such, I encourage you to make a donation in any amount on #GivingDay; every little bit counts.
The Bar Exam Committee is conducting a virtual panel entitled “An Overview of the North Carolina Bar Application Process.” This panel will feature Kim Herrick from the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners, Tiqeece Brown and Shelby Gilmer, both recent bar exam passers, and will be moderated by Bar Exam Committee Co-Chair Sarah Spangenburg of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP.
Also, our next quarterly meeting will be on Friday, December 1, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Charlotte office of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP and will be followed by a nearby social for networking and fellowship opportunities. Young lawyers and law students are always invited to attend. Please be on the lookout for additional information.
Last, I would be remiss without mentioning how grateful I am for each and every YLD member, leader, and volunteer and NCBA staff member. I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished thus far and more than confident that we can continue to do great things. As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance in any way regarding the NCBA YLD.
Jonathan M. Bogues is the 2023-24 chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.