2024 Pro Bono Recipients Announced

The 2024 Pro Bono Award winners have been selected and will be recognized during the NCBA Annual Meeting on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Charlotte. The honorees are:

  • Greenblatt Outstanding Lawyer Award: Rona Karacaova – Legal Aid of North Carolina
  • Thorp Pro Bono Service Award: Kerry A. Friedman – Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, PA
  • YLD Pro Bono Award: Palmer E. “Tripp” Huffstetler III – Sosna & Huffstetler
  • Outstanding Paralegal Pro Bono Service Award: Andrea M. Blosser – Robinson Bradshaw
  • Law Firm Pro Bono Award: Robinson Bradshaw
  • Outstanding Collaborative Pro Bono Award: NCBA SOGI LGBTQ+ Legal Clinics
  • Law School Pro Bono Service Award: “Better Together” – Duke University School of Law, NC Central University School of Law, UNC School of Law
  • The Filling the Justice Gap Award: Rachel Royal: Royal Touch Project Solutions, LLC

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Checking In: April 30, 2024

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Adds New Partner

Kimberly, a white woman with blond hair, wears a blue shirt and black suit.

Kimberly E. Zirkle has joined the Charlotte office, where she will practice with the Banking & Financial Services Practice Group. She focuses on corporate finance and acquisitions transactions, and works with lenders and private equity portfolio companies and other private companies. She brings more than 15 years of experience in finance. Zirkle has engaged in pro bono and public service throughout her career. In her pro bono work, she has represented individuals who have experienced domestic violence and was on the board of Safe Alliance. She is the board chair of Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses, Inc. She received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Capua Law Welcomes Attorney

Glenn, a white man with grey hair, wears a white shirt, light purple and dark purple striped tie, and black suit.

Glenn Conway focuses on construction and business litigation. A native of New Haven, Conn., Conway formerly practiced criminal defense, civil rights and police misconduct matters. Conway is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and Connecticut. As an attorney, he has obtained approximately 100 jury verdicts. He earned a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Connecticut.

Appellate Attorney Joins The Dowling Firm

Troy, a white man with dark hair, wears a pale blue shirt and black suit.

Troy Shelton has joined The Dowling Firm. Shelton is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice, and he works with trial counsel on critical motions. From 2014 to 2015, Shelton served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder of the Middle District of North Carolina. Shelton also served as a member of the NCBA Appellate Rules Committee. In 2023, he received the North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award. He holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University.

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Volunteer Judges Needed for Elon Law Appellate Oral Arguments

By Megan Reilly-Dreas 

Elon University School of Law appreciates all the support from the legal community and welcomes volunteers for this year’s 17th Annual Intramural Moot Court Competition and Legal Method & Communication (LMC) oral arguments at Elon Law. The LMC arguments will be held from Monday through Thursday, May 13-16, at various times during the day between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Intramural Moot Court Competition will be held on Monday and Tuesday, May 20-21, with rounds at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. We would ask that judges arrive at the law school at least 15 minutes before their argument time. You will be sent the appellate brief problem and bench brief for review before the oral arguments.

To volunteer for the LMC arguments (Week of May 13) and/or the Intramural Moot Court Competition (Week of May 20), please complete the Registration Form as soon as possible and by Wednesday, May 8. The registration form will allow you to sign up for oral arguments during either or both weeks. If you have questions, please contact Kelly Moye at Elon Law via email or by phone at (336) 279-9304).

Thank you again for your consideration of this request. We appreciate your support of Elon University School of Law, and we hope to see you soon.

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Practicing Mindfulness During Exam Season

Aleycia, a Black woman with black hair, wears a navy blue blouse and pearl necklace. Rachel, a Black woman with black hair with blond highlights, wears a pale grey suit and clear glasses. By Aleycia Ballantyne and Rachel Cleveland

Navigating through finals season can often feel like traversing a marathon of stress and anxiety, and as NCBA law student representatives at UNC, we understand the weight of this challenge all too well. As we gear up for impending exams, it’s crucial to acknowledge the toll it can take on our mental well-being. To support you during this demanding time, we’ve compiled a few strategies that have helped us to manage stress and approach exams with confidence and tranquility.

First and foremost, let’s talk about the unsung hero of productivity: sleep. We’ve all been inundated with the age-old advice to prioritize sleep, yet it’s astonishing how often we ignore it. Personally, I used to pride myself on burning the midnight oil, believing that sacrificing sleep was synonymous with dedication. However, I soon learned that this mentality is not sustainable in the long run. I discovered that by establishing a bedtime routine and consciously disconnecting from screens and study materials by midnight, I reclaimed a semblance of balance. While I may not always achieve eight hours of sleep, prioritizing rest has significantly enhanced my cognitive clarity and resilience, ultimately empowering me to tackle the day’s challenges with renewed vigor.

Next up: planning and preparation. While pursuing perfection may seem enticing, our goal instead should be to cultivate a sense of order amidst the chaos. Start by outlining your priorities for the weeks ahead, then break down these objectives into manageable tasks on a weekly and daily basis. By adopting a systematic approach, you can alleviate unnecessary stress and maintain control over your workload. Read more

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My Summer Internship With the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office

By James Thompson

This past summer I interned with the Air, Water, and Natural Resources Section within the Environmental Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Going into the internship, I was interested in environmental law and had previously worked on environmental issues in the nonprofit space.

Spending my summer with the Air, Water, and Natural Resources Section built on my prior experiences, deepened my interest in environmental law and utilized my newly acquired legal skills for a truly impactful internship experience. I worked directly with several attorneys on several projects including drafting briefs, conducting legal research and attending client meetings. My supervisors did an incredible job of assigning different projects to expose me to as many types of work as possible.

Additionally, they openly communicated with the interns to determine what kinds of work we liked, did not like and how that could help them cater future assignments to align with our preferences. No two days were the exact same, and I very quickly realized that the attorneys in the Air, Water, and Natural Resources Section have an impressive breadth of expertise that allows them to provide legal representation for three of North Carolina’s most important environmental regulatory agencies within the Department of Environmental Quality: the Division of Air Quality, the Division of Water Resources, and the Division of Marine Fisheries. The attorneys in this section helped me to refine and develop the skills that have contributed to their success, which made me feel confident and excited going into my second year of law school.

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Calling Criminal Defense Attorneys: New Date for Informational Lunch with Chief District Judge Catherine C. Eagles

Stacey, an African American woman with short brown hair, wears brown glasses, gold earrings and a necklace, and a black suit.By Stacey D. Rubain

The CJA Panel Committee for the Middle District of North Carolina and Chief District Judge Catherine C. Eagles cordially invite attorneys interested in learning about criminal defense work in the federal court for the Middle District of North Carolina to an informational lunch on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., in the Jury Assembly Room, Second Floor, at the John Hervey Wheeler Courthouse, which is located at 323 E. Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27702. Under the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 and the Middle District CJA Plan, the CJA Panel Committee works with the U.S. District Court and the Office of the Federal Public Defender to recruit, select, support, and oversee CJA Panel attorneys. CJA Panel attorneys are appointed and compensated on a case-by-case basis and perform a vital service not only to their clients but also to our Court and our community. Membership on the CJA Panel requires dedication to excellence in indigent criminal defense and is a wonderful opportunity for service as well as personal and professional growth.

If you maintain a primary, satellite or shared office in the Middle District, and are interested in learning more about becoming a CJA Panel attorney, please register for the luncheon by providing your contact information via email no later than Friday, May 3, 2024.

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Government & Public Sector Section’s Annual Scholarship

Kayla, a woman with dark brown hair, wears a pale pink blouse, bright pink jacket, and gold fairy pin on the lapel.By Kayla Britt

The North Carolina Bar Association’s Government & Public Sector, Criminal Justice, and Zoning, Planning & Land Use Sections are pleased to solicit applications for the 2024 Government & Public Sector Section Annual Summer Internship Scholarship! We anticipate awarding six $1,000 scholarships to law students completing their summer internships in a government entity.

Eligible candidates are currently enrolled in an accredited ABA law school, are working without compensation in a government law office (i.e., city, county, state, or federal) in North Carolina at least one half of the summer of 2024, and demonstrate a commitment to serving in government or public sector law offices. The scholarship money must go directly to the recipient. Each recipient must write an article describing their experience and the benefits of their summer internship. Each article will be considered for publication in the online NCBarBlog platform hosted by the Government & Public Sector Section.

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Introducing: Annual Family Law CLE Dine-Arounds!

Chelsea, a white woman with brown hair, wears a black dress with a small white print.By Chelsea E. Gajewski 

Are you attending the Annual Family Law CLE this year in Asheville? Are you looking for something fun to do that Friday night? Are you interested in meeting other family law attorneys? Do you enjoy good conversation, laughs, and delicious food? Are you curious about who Jonathan McGirt really is?

Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I have the perfect suggestion for you. Join one of eleven Family Law Section members for the Family Law Annual Meeting Dine-Arounds!  I know you are intrigued, so let me tell you more.

To expand networks, meet family law attorneys who practice across North Carolina and create new friendships, eleven family law attorneys are graciously hosting different dinners at several of the best restaurants in Asheville on May 3, 2024. There are eleven different hosts at eight different restaurants with dinner starting anywhere between 7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Read more

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Claim of Right Doctrine of Section 1341

John, a white man with dark brown hair, wears a pale blue shirt, lime green and blue tie, and black suit. By John G. Hodnette

Under the claim of right doctrine, a taxpayer who receives income under a claim of right that is free of restrictions must include the amount in income in the year of receipt. That is the case even if the taxpayer may, in a future year, be required to return to the payor the amount included in income. If the amount is returned within the same tax year, the rescission doctrine can apply to prevent taxation. Where the amount included in income is repaid after the year of inclusion, a deduction may be available to reduce current year income for the amount repaid. In some cases a deduction in the year of repayment does not produce as much reduction in tax liability as the amount of tax paid in the year of inclusion (due to changes in tax rates or limits on the use of the deduction). Section 1341 addresses that potential whipsaw by allowing taxpayers to elect to reduce the tax liability in the current year by the amount of tax generated in the previous year by the inclusion of such amount in income.

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My Internship with the NCDOJ: A Transformative Experience

By Abigail Jenkins Abigail, a white woman with curly red hair, wears a black blouse.

In Summer 2023, I had the opportunity to intern with the Education Division at the North Carolina Department of Justice. I was initially drawn to the internship because of my background in education. Before law school, I was a high school history teacher in North Carolina public schools for six years. For those who know me, it goes without saying that public service and public education are deeply important to me.

The Education Division at the NCDOJ defends North Carolina’s public institutions of higher education in civil actions. Higher education law was interesting to me, as I came to law school from a career in secondary education. The range of cases that the Education Division handles is vast. Although education law may sound niche, there are so many types of law that an education lawyer confronts. Educational institutions at all levels serve the people of North Carolina in ways far beyond merely educating the next generation (as if that is not a high enough task on its own).

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