Leading Off
Welcome to the August 2025 edition of North Carolina Lawyer magazine, the flagship publication of the North Carolina Bar Association.
This issue is filled with coverage from the 2025 NCBA Annual Meeting in Asheville, beginning with the President’s Perspective featuring President Rob Harrington’s installation address.
Our Featured Coverage begins with the election of President-elect Beth Langley followed by national awards being bestowed upon Caryn McNeill and Mark Holt for their leadership of the Open Door Fund capital campaign and Anna Stearns for her pro bono efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. A featured event of the Annual Meeting, the 10th Legal Legends of Color Awards Ceremony, is also featured in this section.
August Columns begin with an introductory message from incoming YLD Chair Sheila Spence, followed by timely advice from Catherine Sanders Reach of the Center for Practice Management and timeless insight from Professor Laura Graham of Wake Forest University School of Law (Writing That Works).
In the latest installment of Member Features, our communications manager, Jessica Junqueira, highlights the talents and interests of three NCBA members: Todd Bowyer of Poyner Spruill; Michelle Benedict Nowlin of Duke Law School and the Environmental Law and Policy Center; and Natasha Walwyn Robinson of Meta.
Awards and Recognitions articles begin with an impressive array of award winners who were honored at the Annual Meeting with Pro Bono Awards, Citizen Lawyer Awards, YLD Awards, the Distinguished Paralegal Award, and the H. Brent McKnight Renaissance Lawyer Award. The 2025 Legal Practice Hall of Fame Class was also announced, and new members of the NCBA Board of Governors and NCBF Board of Directors began their service. Numerous NCBA Sections recently held their own awards ceremonies in recognition of Herman Spence (Tax), Michael S. Archer (Military and Veterans Law), E.B. Borden Parker (Government and Public Sector), and C. Gray Johnsey (Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law).
Pick and choose from the August issue page, or scroll conveniently from article to article through the entire edition utilizing the Previous Article – Next Article option at the end of each piece.
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.