YLD’s Recent Accomplishments and Upcoming Events
As the bar year progresses, I am continually impressed by all the amazing things that the Young Lawyers Division is doing and has accomplished thus far.
Since my last installment of the YLD Column in November, the YLD’s Pro Bono Committee, led by X. Lightfoot and Brad Piland, have created the “Clear the Queue” initiative. This initiative’s chief objective was to assist in decreasing the number of unanswered questions in the NC Free Legal Answers portal.
NC Free Legal Answers provides a no-cost avenue for those seeking legal answers but who face limitations in their options to seek advice from traditional legal sources. The program allows qualifying users to submit their questions to an online forum where pro bono attorneys answer their inquiries. While many pro bono opportunities require both the client and attorney to meet at a specific location at a specific time, NC Free Legal Answers conveniently allows those seeking assistance and the attorneys answering questions to do so from anywhere at any time. The “Clear the Queue” initiative encouraged attorneys to respond and answer as many questions as possible to continue serving our fellow North Carolinians.
Continuing with our service to our fellow North Carolinians, our YLD Foundation & Development Committee, led by Justin Hill, again implemented its annual #GivingDay on November 28. #GivingDay 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. Through all of the amazing donations, I am proud to announce that over $18,000.00 was raised! This will go a long way to continue giving back to the communities that make us. Please be on the lookout for additional donation opportunities in the spring.
In January, the Law Student Division hosted its annual Law Student Networking Reception at the Bar Center. This is always an amazing event for everyone involved and was very well attended with over one hundred law students and NCBA leaders in attendance. This year’s reception included a fun Bingo game for law students to play and encourage more conversations amongst attendees. The winner was Tavaria Smith, a 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law and North Carolina Bar Foundation Open Door Fellowship recipient. NCBA President Patti Ramseur and NCBA YLD Division Director Kayla Britt also provided words of wisdom to attendees.
NCCU 2L Tavaria Smith accepts prize from YLD Chair Jonathan Bogues and Law Student Networking Reception.
To continue connecting with law students, our Communications Committee, co-chaired by Ari Sibrey and Megan Reilly-Dreas, has done an amazing job with the YLD’s “Letter to my Younger Self” initiative. Thus far, we have had participation from Law Student Division Director Kayla Britt, former U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre of Ward & Smith, YLD Chair-Elect Collins Saint, Chazle’ Woodley of Whitley Law Firm, and me. It is my hope that each author reflects on their path thus far in the legal profession in hopes that other young lawyers and law students will learn from this as well as allowing law students and other young lawyers to see themselves in NCBA members and other successful attorneys.
Moving forward and continuing with annual traditions, Legal Feeding Frenzy, chaired by Meredith Brewer and Spencer Fritts, is right around the corner. As a reminder, Legal Feeding Frenzy is a statewide joint program between the YLD and Feeding the Carolinas food banks aiming to fight hunger across North Carolina by uniting the legal community in support of local food banks. During Legal Feeding Frenzy, legal professionals from firms, in-house counsels, government organizations, and North Carolina law schools will form teams to raise funds and collect food to support the Feeding the Carolinas food banks.
Last year’s Legal Feeding Frenzy raised $161,086.16, which equates to approximately 664,321 pounds of food. Last year’s winners were: Attorney General’s Cup – The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin; Large Firm Division – Moore & Van Allen; Medium Firm Division – Morningstar Law Group; Small Firm Division – Baker Donelson; Solo Practitioner Division – Fisher Law; Corporate/In-House Division – Atrium Health; Public Interest/Government Division – Legal Aid of North Carolina; and Law School Division – Wake Forest University School of Law. I encourage everyone to get your teams together and support this worthy cause!
Following Legal Feeding Frenzy, Law Week, co-chaired by Sidney Thomas and Nick Sorensen, will be soon thereafter. Law Week is a weeklong compilation of events, culminating with the NCBA’s observance of Law Day on Friday, May 3. Law Day was inspired by Charles S. Rhyne, president of the American Bar Association in 1957-58 who practiced law in Washington, D.C.
In deference to the Cold War and the Soviet Union’s commemoration of May Day, Rhyne drafted the founding Law Day resolution and personally delivered it to President Dwight D. Eisenhower who proclaimed May 1, 1958, as the first Law Day. Every year since, the President has officially proclaimed May 1 as Law Day throughout the United States. The North Carolina Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division, through a formal proclamation by the Governor of North Carolina, celebrate Law Day on the first Friday in May.
This year’s Law Week theme is “Voices of Democracy” to encourage Americans to participate in the 2024 elections by deepening their understanding of the electoral process; discussing issues in honest and civil ways; turning out to vote; and, finally, helping to move the country forward after free and fair elections.
During Law Week, the YLD will present the Liberty Bell Award. The Liberty Bell Award recognizes individuals who exemplify lifelong service to the law in North Carolina. Last year’s winner was former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, Samuel James Ervin IV. Additionally, there will be a regional moot court competition for 9th-12th grade students; poster contest from kindergarten through 5th-grade students; essay contest for 6th-8th and 9th-12th grade students; and the McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge for middle school and high school students.
The McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge is a program implemented with the primary purpose of encouraging students to embrace and practice the principles of good citizenship. It provides high school and middle school students with a unique opportunity to identify a problem in their community, research potential solutions, and make recommendations. Student participants will prepare a three-to-five-minute persuasive speech to inspire and challenge others to participate in the solution to the identified problem.
Deadlines and nomination forms for the Liberty Bell Award and all of the YLD Law Week competitions are available on the YLD Law Week webpage.
As I have ended my other columns, I want to thank each and every NCBA YLD officer, division director, committee chair, committee member, and NCBA staff for everything that they do. None of this would be possible without them, and I am truly grateful.
Jonathan M. Bogues is the 2023-24 chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.