TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022
8:55 Welcome and Introductions
9:00 Why Professionalism Is Important to You*
Kayla D. Britt, North Carolina Department of Justice, Raleigh
Michele Livingstone, Kennon Craver PLLC, Durham
In this dynamic session, hear from experts some ways you can ensure a positive, professional reputation. Review basic professionalism concepts, the professionalism checklist, personal conflicts and much more.
9:45 Break
9:55 Overview of the North Carolina State Bar*
Savannah B. Perry, North Carolina State Bar, Raleigh
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the North Carolina State Bar and what is required of you. Discuss the regulatory framework, obligations of membership and reporting misconduct (Rule 8.3). Learn about NC State Bar programs and committees, including LAP, IOLTA, CLE, Authorized Practice and Administrative Committees, legal specialization, client security fraud, and fee dispute resolution.
10:25 Break
10:35 Getting Lost in Our Own Lives†
Robynn E. Moraites, NC Lawyer Assistance Program, Raleigh
Your hard work has paid off and sometimes finding the harmony between work and personal time is difficult. Hear practical tips for successfully finding a balance, the hazards to watch out for and the resources available to help.
11:35 Break
11:45 Pro Bono Service in NC*
Kim Bart Mullikin, North Carolina Bar Foundation, Cary
Alex Rogers, North Carolina Bar Foundation, Cary
Understand Rule 6.1 and your obligation for pro bono service, then learn how to get involved through your local and state bar associations to give back to the community.
12:45 Lunch Break
1:30 Welcome Message
Grace Roede, North Carolina Bar Association – Director of Membership, Cary
1:35 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion*
Evin L. Grant, North Carolina Department of Administration, Raleigh
This session addresses how to recognize implicit bias, discusses current diversity and inclusion initiatives in the legal profession (including equal access to justice), and explores other ways to better serve a diverse population.
2:35 Break
2:45 Technology and Your Responsibility to Your Clients*‡
Catherine Sanders Reach, North Carolina Bar Association, Cary
Receive an overview of the technology necessary to build a law office support system and hear stories about the best and worst practices. Explore technology's impact on ethical responsibilities, the ethical considerations of social media, conflict controls and risk of spoliation of evidence.
3:45 Break
3:55 What I Didn't Learn in Law School*
Jonathan M. Bogues, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Raleigh
S. Collins Saint, Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP, Greensboro
Sheila R. Spence, NantHealth, Morrisville
Although it is an essential prerequisite that lays the foundation for practicing law, there are many skills that law school doesn't teach you. Learn from members of our Young Lawyers Division as they share helpful tips acquired from real-world experience and provide other useful information that you can implement in your daily practice.
4:40 Adjourn for the day
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022
8:55 Welcome and Introductions
9:00 The Attorney-Client Relationship*
Brian F. Castro, Womble Bond Dickinson (U.S.) LLP, Raleigh
Samantha E. Gordon, Shane Smith Law, Charlotte
Begin the day with information from a team of experts on how to best manage the attorney-client relationship, including tips that lead to success and the pitfalls to avoid. Learn about client creation and termination, fees and billing, duties of diligence of communication, and the attorney-client privilege and confidentially.
9:45 Break
9:55 Ethics and Grievance Committees*
Dauna L. Bartley, The Brocker Law Firm PA, Raleigh
Douglas J. "Doug" Brocker, The Brocker Law Firm PA, Raleigh
Understand the committees' processes and results and gain insight into statistics on the most frequent grievances.
10:55 Break
11:05 How to Win in Trust Account Management*^
Leanor B. Hodge, North Carolina State Bar, Raleigh
Whether you manage your own trust account or are in a firm where someone else handles it, you need to know how to manage it correctly. In this informative session, all aspects of the trust account are discussed. Topics include Rule 1.15, record-keeping, a trust account versus an operating account, personal injury settlements, real estate transactions and the random audit program.
12:05 Lunch Break
12:50 Welcome Message
Lisa M. Williford, Fox Rothschild LLP, Greensboro, 2022-2023 Young Lawyers Division Chair
12:55 Breakout Sessions:
Inner Workings of the Law Office: Private Sector*
Hope Derby Carmichael, Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones and Carlton PLLC, Raleigh
Alicia W. Lewis, Anderson Jones PLLC, Raleigh
Catherine Sanders Reach, North Carolina Bar Association, Cary (Moderator)
Kim K. Steffan, Steffan & Associates PC, Hillsborough
Learn the basics of law office operations, including budgeting, case and file management, training and supervising employees, and marketing for private-sector firms. Obtain resources available through the NC State Bar and other organizations and discuss the importance of mentoring.
or
Inner Workings of the Law Office: Public Sector*
James Bradford "Brad" Piland, Raleigh
Elysia M. Prendergast-Jones, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh
Learn the basics of law office operations, including budgeting, case and file management, training and supervising employees, and marketing for public-sector or public-interest firms. Obtain resources available through the NC State Bar and other organizations and discuss the importance of mentoring.
1:40 Break
1:50 Dealing With the Courts*
Tanisha Palvia, Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP, Greensboro
In this highly engaging session, receive pointers that positively influence your presence in the courts. Examine Rule 3.3 and Rule 11, courtroom decorum, and setting realistic goals for your practice.
2:35 Break
2:45 Financial Planning Strategies*
Patrick Yanke, Yanke Financial, Raleigh
Learn key strategies that focus on managing undergraduate and law-school debt when starting out, along with ways to plan for the future.
3:30 Break
3:40 A View From the Bench: Cases and Examples of Professionalism and the Challenges of Being a New Lawyer*
Chief Judge Donna S. Stroud, North Carolina Court of Appeals, Raleigh
Judge Paul C. Ridgeway, North Carolina Superior Court, Raleigh
Hear cases and examples of professionalism from a diverse, experienced panel of North Carolina judges considered to be role models of professionalism and moral decision-making.
4:35 Professionalism Insight and Voluntary Oath
Judge Paul C. Ridgeway, North Carolina Superior Court, Raleigh
4:40 Adjourn
* Indicates portion providing Ethics/Professional Responsibility credit
† Indicates portion providing Substance Abuse/Mental Health credit
‡ Indicates portion providing Technology Training credit
≠ Indicates portion providing Trust Account Management credit
Thank you for joining us for the Professionalism for New Attorneys (PNA).
The North Carolina Bar Association is your home for the best continuing legal education, professional development and networking, and we are pleased to welcome newly licensed North Carolina attorneys into the profession.
Kim Bart Mullikin is Senior Director of the North Carolina Bar Foundation, where she oversees pro bono and public service programs, the Endowment, and development efforts.
Prior to working with the NCBF, Kim served as the assistant dean of public interest and pro bono and director of the externship program at Duke University School of Law, where she is an alumna. Kim worked as an assistant professor and director of the Domestic Violence Law Clinic at the University of Alabama School of Law, and as a teaching fellow in the Federal Legislation Clinic at the Georgetown University Law Center. Kim began her career as an associate with Crowell & Moring LLP in Washington D.C.
Kim received her LL.M. in advocacy from Georgetown University, her law degree with a graduate certification in women's studies from Duke University, her M.P.A. from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship, and her B.A. in women's studies from Syracuse University.
Click here for more information about Kim.
Dauna L. Bartley is a practicing attorney at The Brocker Law Firm PA in Raleigh, NC. She represents clients before various licensing boards and administrative agencies, counsels clients on ethics and disciplinary matters, and provides general compliance counseling.
Prior to joining The Brocker Law Firm, Dauna practiced in civil litigation with the law firms of Moore & Van Allen PLLC in Morrisville and Ellis & Winters LLP in Raleigh. She then served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Sessoms & Rogers PA in Durham.
Dauna is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct superior court mediations. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Ethics Committee for the North Carolina Bar Association's Administrative Law Section, and on the CLE Committee of the Wake County Bar Association.
Dauna graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communication and Theatre Arts, and a M.A. in Rhetoric and Communication. She worked for nearly a decade as a human resources/recruitment professional, during which time she and her family relocated to the Triangle area. She then pursued a career in law and graduated, with high honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law. During law school, Dauna completed an externship with the Honorable Magistrate Judge Wallace W. Dixon in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and served as Publication Editor for the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology.
Click here for more information about Dauna.
Jonathan M. Bogues is an associate with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP in Raleigh. He is a commercial real estate attorney who represents clients in all aspects of the acquisition, sale, development, and financing of a variety of real estate projects.
In addition to his real estate practice, Jonathan also has a passion for helping nonprofit and religious organizations navigate the legal issues they face. Jonathan routinely advises charitable organizations on day-to-day matters such as land purchases and leases, contracts, corporate governance, and risk management.
Within the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), he was selected to 2017 NCBA Leadership Academy, a program limited to sixteen young lawyers statewide designed to help young lawyers become effective leaders in their communities and the legal profession. From there, he has served as Communications Committee Co-Chair, Communities Outreach Division Director, Administrative Division Director, Secretary and currently serves as Chair-Elect to NCBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD). He was awarded the Robison O. Everett Professionalism Award at the 2019 NCBA Annual Meeting, an award given annually to an attorney whose involvement in civic, bar service, law school education, and community service activities inspires others. Jonathan has also served as YLD Liaison to the NCBA's Real Property Section and is currently serving a three-year term on the NCBA's Real Property Section Council as Chair to the Membership and Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Within the Wake County Bar Association (WCBA), Jonathan is currently serving as Chair to the Young Lawyers Division and has previously served as Secretary, Chair to the Membership Committee and Co-Chair to the Summer Clerks Orientation, the annual summer program where summer clerks and interns learn about the different law-related resources, jobs, officers, and opportunities within the Wake County bar and judicial system. He was also awarded the President's Award at the 2020 WCBA Annual Meeting, an award given annually to an attorney who has shown exemplary and dedicated service to the legal profession and the citizens of Wake County.
Within the American Bar Association (ABA), Jonathan was selected as an ABA YLD Scholar, a program limited to sixteen young lawyers nationwide to increase the diversity in leadership positions in the ABA YLD. He has also served as Chair to the Men of Color Project, an initiative created by the ABA YLD designed to empower men of color to become leaders in the legal profession, facilitate an intergenerational support system, and encourage opportunities for community service and civic engagement. He previously served as Vice Director to the ABA YLD’s Public Service Team and helped coordinate the YLD's Operation Second Chance initiative, a two-part public service project aimed at providing resources for expunging non-violent criminal convictions followed by an in-person expungement fair at the 2022 ABA YLD Spring Conference in Atlanta, GA in conjunction with the Georgia Justice Project and the Fulton County District Attorney Record Restrictions Team, where over 100 people where helped. Currently, Jonathan is serving as Director to the ABA YLD's Civic Engagement Team. In 2020, Jonathan was selected to serve as Fellow to the ABA's Real Property Trust and Estates (RPTE) Section. The chief objective of the Fellows Program is to provide young lawyers an opportunity to become involved in the substantive work of the RPTE Section and develop into future leaders of the RPTE Section.
Additionally, Jonathan serves on the board for the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Fund and has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in the Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in the Real Estate category as well as North Carolina Central University Office of Alumni Relations 40 Under 40.
Jonathan earned his B.S. in Sport Management from North Carolina State University and his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Click here for more information about Jonathan.
Kayla D. Britt is an Assistant Attorney General with the North Carolina Department of Justice Appellate & Post-Conviction Section in Raleigh where she prepares the state's criminal briefs, responds to habeas corpus petitions, and appears before both North Carolina Appellate Courts and Federal District Courts.
Kayla works with the Housing Stability Pro Bono Project ("HSP"), which is a joint effort of the North Carolina Bar Foundation and North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center in partnership with the North Carolina Office of Recovery & Resilience. This Project works with the Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program ("HOPE") — a program that provides income-based assistance for vulnerable tenants at risk of eviction. Volunteers with this project help to stabilize housing by facilitating agreements between tenants and landlords to accept HOPE terms. Kayla also volunteers with Wills For Heroes, assisting first responders with estate planning.
Kayla is a member of the NCBA Litigation Section and serves as the NCBA YLD Law Student Division Director
Kayla earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice from Campbell University and her M.P.A and J.D. from North Carolina Central University.
Click here for more information about Kayla.
Douglas J. "Doug" Brocker is a principal of The Brocker Law Firm PA, a Raleigh firm that concentrates in professional and occupational licensing, ethics, and disciplinary matters. Doug represents various professionals before their respective licensing boards and administrative agencies, including representing attorneys before the State Bar. He serves as outside counsel to the N.C. Board of Dental Examiners on a wide variety of legal issues, investigations, and disciplinary prosecutions. Doug also has served as special outside counsel to other professional licensing boards in disciplinary investigations and prosecutions.
Doug previously served as Trial and UPL Counsel for The North Carolina State Bar. Doug periodically provides consultation and testimony as an expert witness in matters involving professional services. Following a judicial clerkship with U.S. District Court Judge Franklin T. Dupree, Jr., Doug worked at Jenner & Block in Chicago, Everett Gaskins Hancock & Stevens, and was a partner in Milberg Gordon Stewart PLLC in Raleigh.
Doug earned a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Click here for more information about Doug.
Hope Derby Carmichael is shareholder and principal at Jordan Price Wall Gray Jones & Carlton PLLC in Raleigh. She is honored to be the first female partner in the firm's 70-year history. She has focused her practice for the last thirty years largely on matters affecting land development and the interpretation of restrictive covenants, condominium and planned community associations.
Hope was inducted into the National College of Community Association Lawyers. Professionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the NC Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and on the NC Bar Association's Community Associations Committee.
Hope is a former member of the NCBA Real Property Section Council and chair of the Community Associations Subcommittee, past president of the North Carolina Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, a current Trustee of Saint Mary's School in Raleigh and serves on several local business and philanthropic boards.
Hope received her B.A. in History and French/Business Management from Salem College and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Click here for more information about Hope.
Brian F. Castro is an associate with Womble Bond Dickinson (U.S.) LLP in Raleigh. He is a litigation attorney who focuses on defending counties, public officials, and businesses. As part of the firm's business litigation service group, Brian plays an active role in defending clients from individual and class action product liability cases and consumer fraud claims. In particular, he focuses his practice on defending businesses and government officials in complex disputes at the trial court and appellate level. He also serves clients in the Insurance sector, advising on liability and coverage disputes.
Prior to joining Womble Bond Dickinson, Brian gained valuable in-house experience as an intern for the general counsel's office of a global pharmaceutical company. He has also served as judicial extern for three North Carolina judges, in the N.C. Supreme Court, N.C. Court of Appeals, and United States Bankruptcy Court.
Brian earned his B.A. in Political Science and Romance Languages from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D., cum laude, with a Business Law and Litigation focus from Campbell Law School.
When not practicing law, Brian likes to stay involved in a number of civic activities and often uses his musical talents as a means to help others in his church and in the community. He is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
Click here for more information about Brian.
Samantha E. Gordon is a personal injury attorney with Shane Smith Law in Charlotte. She represents plaintiffs involved in car accidents and other matters throughout North Carolina.
Samantha is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association and Foundation. Since 2017, she has been a lead volunteer attorney for the NCBF Wills for Heroes program that provides free estate planning documents to first responders in North Carolina. In addition, Samantha has been a co-chair of the Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Committee since 2018 and received the distinguished award of Young Lawyer of the Quarter from the Bar Association in 2021. Samantha has also been inducted into the North Carolina Bar's Pro Bono Honor Society in 2019, 2020, and 2021 with over 70 hours of pro bono work each year. In 2022, Samantha was awarded among the young lawyers of the North Carolina Bar Association the Young Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award for her pro bono service throughout the years.
Samantha earned her B.A. in Political Science/Legal Studies/Economics from Bloomsburg University and her J.D., with highest pro bono honors, from Charlotte School of Law, where she participated in numerous clinics and organizations.
Click here for more information about Samantha.
Evin L. Grant serves as the NC Department of Administration (NCDOA) Policy Director, in Raleigh, to develop and assist in implementing policies and procedures for departments, initiatives, and task forces, across the State of North Carolina, under the direction of the Secretary of Administration. He also collaborates on statewide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program development, initiatives, and training and advises on employment, non-public education, technology, and more.
Before joining the NCDOA, Evin served as the Assistant Dean of Student Life and Pro Bono Opportunities at Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. For more than a decade, he's had the opportunity to develop various skills and talents working in the private and public (nonprofit, federal, and state) sectors. From being a Magistrate Judge to working in engineering and patent law. From serving as the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization to being an Assistant Dean of Students at a law school. His collection of experiences highlights his passion for advocacy, mediation, and problem-solving.
Active in professional and civic communities, he is a member of the NC Bar Association Minorities in the Profession Committee, the NC Chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, and is also the 2020-2021 Capital City Lawyers Association President. Grant sits on the Board of Directors for the Wake County Bar Association (WCBA) and currently serves on several WCBA committees, including the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Professionalism Committee, Strategic Development Committee, and the Communications/Technology Committee. He recently served as the Coordinating Editor for the NC Advocates for Justice Trial Briefs Summer 2021 Edition.
Evin holds a B.S. in Applied Criminology from NC State University and a J.D. from the Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. He maintains an active law license in North Carolina. In October 2020, Grant received a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Certificate from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Click here for more information about Evin.
Leanor Bailey Hodge is a Deputy Counsel with the North Carolina State Bar in Raleigh. She counsels the NCSB's Grievance Committee and prosecuting lawyers for ethics violations before the Disciplinary Hearing Commission.
Prior to joining the NCSB in 2008, Leanor was a litigation partner at the law firm of Manning Fulton & Skinner PA in Raleigh, and a prosecutor in Philadelphia and Chicago. Leanor frequently lectures for the Mecklenburg County Bar on ethical and professional topics.
Leanor received her B.B.A. from Howard University and her J.D. from Temple University.
Click here for more information about Leanor.
Alicia W. Lewis is the firm administrator and controller for Anderson Jones PLLC in Raleigh, managing all business and financial aspects of the firm. She has extensive experience in various aspects of law, legal pleadings and research.
Prior to forming Anderson Jones PLLC, Alicia worked as a paralegal in two mid-sized law firms.
Alicia serves as secretary for the American Subcontractors Association of the Carolinas' Triangle chapter, and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA). With the NCBA, Alicia is a member of the Paralegal Division, Law Practice Management & Technology Section and the Construction Law Section, where she serves as the Paralegal Division liaison. Also, Alicia currently serves on the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Professional Women's Task Force. Her role on this task force helps to further the goal of the Chamber Executive Women's Luncheon series to bring nationally recognized speakers to the Triangle to address the unique challenges women in management face in today's business environment. She is also a member of various trade associations that support the construction industry.
Alicia is a graduate of Appalachian State University.
Click here for more information about Alicia.
Michele Livingstone is an attorney at Kennon Craver PLLC in Durham. She practices litigation and represents a variety of clients in both state and federal court.
Prior to joining the firm, Michele served as a defense attorney on a variety of cases including labor and employment, professional malpractice, construction defects, and workers' compensation.
Michele earned her B.S. in Political Science and Economics from Santa Clara University and her J.D. from Wake Forest University of Law.
In her spare time, Michele enjoys cooking, checking out the local restaurant scene, and staying active. She is an avid rower and is always looking for her next challenge.
Click here for more information about Michele.
Robynn E. Moraites is the Executive Director of the NC LAP. She obtained her undergraduate degree in education from Florida State and her law degree from UNC at Chapel Hill. Prior to attending law school, she ran a public health program at the University of Miami where she developed continuing medical education programs for healthcare professionals working in the field of geriatric medicine.
Prior to joining the LAP, Robynn practiced law in North Carolina in large firm, small firm, and in-house settings. She has an extensive background and knowledge in helping lawyers in recovery.
Click here for more information about Robynn.
Tanisha Palvia is a partner at Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP in Greensboro. Splitting her time between Charlotte and Greensboro, Tanisha represents individuals and organizations facing governmental investigations, white-collar criminal charges and civil litigation. She is particularly successful in conducting internal investigations given her experience as a former Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan. She is also well-versed in civil and criminal proceedings and has extensive bench and jury trial experience.
Tanisha works with clients conducting internal investigations in response to civil litigation or governmental inquiry. She draws upon nearly a decade of experience conducting investigations, which includes reviewing thousands of documents per case and interviewing thousands of witnesses of all ages and backgrounds, including law enforcement officers of all ranks. Tanisha has investigated a wide range of issues, including sexual harassment claims, discrimination claims, and claims of financial malfeasance.
Tanisha has particular experience with investigating claims of sexual abuse and violent crimes and uses that experience to help employers in a wide range of industries navigate the complex and sensitive issues related to these claims.
Tanisha earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Robertson Scholar, and her J.D., with honors, from Emory University School of Law.
Click here for more information about Tanisha.
Savannah B. Perry works as deputy counsel at the North Carolina State Bar Office of Counsel in Raleigh, where she prosecutes attorney misconduct.
Savannah earned her B.A. in English from Appalachian State University, her Master of Trust and Wealth Management, magna cum laude, from Campbell University and her J.D. from Campbell Law School.
Click here for more information about Savannah.
J. Bradford "Brad" Piland is a staff attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina in Raleigh. He works with volunteer-based community groups engaged in disaster recovery from Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, Dorian and Fred on matters including non-profit formation, board governance and compliance. He assists individuals in their recovery on range of matters including FEMA appeals, SBA applications, evictions, construction breach of contract, CDBG program navigation and various real estate title-related issues.
Brad is has been the Co-Chair of the North Carolina Bar Foundation's Disaster Legal Services since 2019.
Brad earned his bachelor's degree in News Editorial Sequence/Journalism from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D. from Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law.
Click here for more information about Brad.
Elysia M. Prendergast-Jones is a supervising attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina in Raleigh. She works primarily in the fields of family law and domestic violence. She enjoys empowering clients and working with the population that LANC serves.
Elysia's legal experience extends from family law to A/N/D court to criminal and civil court as well as the NC Court of Appeals, where some of the cases have recently been published. She has always had a passion for helping people as she has taken a position as a staff attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina working with clients in domestic violence situations.
Elysia was a previous supervising attorney for NCCU's School of Law's Lawyer on the Line program, in connection with Legal Aid and provided guidance to students as they navigate the law to help their clients. Former Chairperson of the North Carolina Bar Association's Solo, Small Firm, and General Practice Division, she has served as Chair for the council of the Young Lawyers' Division, the Law-related Education Committee, the Juvenile Justice Section, and others. Additionally, Elysia participated in Camp Confidence, a joint task-force between the Cary Police Department and the NCBA to work with at-risk youth during summers.
Elysia is the current WCBA/ 10TH Judicial treasurer, she is the pro bono chair of the NCBA's family law section and on the council for women in the profession. She is on the board of Triangle Area Parenting Support and a member of her daughter's PTSA. She has spoken at many CLE's in the areas of family law and domestic violence.
Elysia earned her M.A. in Counseling Psychology and M.B.A. from Webster University and her J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She has been a teacher for Wake County and a counselor working with children.
Click here for more information about Elysia.
Catherine Sanders Reach is Director for the Center for Practice Management at the North Carolina Bar Association, providing practice technology and management assistance to lawyers and legal professionals. Formerly she was Director, Law Practice Management and Technology for the Chicago Bar Association and the Director at the American Bar Association's Legal Technology Resource Center.
Prior to her work at the NCBA, CBA and ABA she worked in library and information science environments for a number of years, working at Ross and Hardies as a librarian. She received a master's degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa in 1997.
Catherine's professional activities include articles published in Law Practice magazine, Law Technology News and GPSolo Magazine, as well as numerous other publications. She has given presentations on the use of technology in law firms for national bar conferences, state and local bar associations and organizations such as the National Association of Bar Council and the Association of American Law Schools. In 2011 she was selected to be one of the inaugural Fastcase 50, celebrating fifty innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the field of law and in 2013 became Professionalism for New Attorneys (PNA) a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management. She served on the ABA TECHSHOW Board from 2007-2009, 2014-2016 and is co-vice chair in 2019.
Click here for more information about Catherine. Connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Judge Paul C. Ridgeway is Senior Resident Superior Court Judge of the 10th Judicial District (Wake County), North Carolina.
Judge Ridgeway received his B.S. and M.P.A. from North Carolina State University, and his J.D. from Campbell School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the law review. Following law school, Judge Ridgeway received a post-graduate degree from the University of Amsterdam in the law of the European Community.
Prior to becoming a judge in 2007, Judge Ridgeway was engaged in the private practice of law for 20 years, primarily in the fields of commercial litigation and transactions. Judge Ridgeway has served as President of the Wake County Bar Association and as a Vice President of the NCBA.
For 25 years, Judge Ridgeway has also been an adjunct professor of law at Campbell School of Law, where he teaches seminars in International Litigation and Law & Public Policy.
Click here for more information about Judge Ridgeway.
Alex Rogers is Director of Programs at the North Carolina Bar Foundation in Cary. In her role, she oversees the Pro Bono and Civic Education programs of the NCBF.
Alex's passion for pro bono began in law school, where she was heavily involved with the Pro Bono Board.
Alex earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. from Elon University School of Law.
Click here for more information about Alex.
S. Collins Saint is an attorney in the Greensboro office of Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP, where they counsel and litigate on behalf of school boards, private schools, and institutions of higher education so that they can focus on what they do best: educating students. Collins's background in school counseling informs their practice as they help school districts navigate complex laws that impact students and educators. They have a particular focus on broadening awareness of diversity issues within organizations and counseling educational institutions on compliance with state and federal civil rights laws and regulations. Collins's pro bono practice focuses on representing trans individuals in discrimination litigation and aiding trans individuals obtain legal name- and gender marker-changes.
Collins is the YLD Liaison and a Council member of the NCBA Education Law Section, as well as a delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, the Bar Outreach Division Director for the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and a member of the NCBF Pro Bono Committee. Collins has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as "One to Watch" for Labor and Employment Law – Management.
Collins went to Wake Forest University School of Law, where they were recognized by the North Carolina State Bar for their pro bono service and National Jurist as a "Law Student of the Year." Collins also holds a Master's degree in School Counseling and uses their experience to counsel educational institutions on state and federal regulatory compliance and civil rights issues.
When not practicing law, Collins enjoys playing board games, kayaking, cooking, and hiking with their wife and three dogs.
Click here for more information about Collins.
Sheila R. Spence is Coporate Counsel at NantHealth in Morrisville. She is a privacy and technology law enthusiast who focusing her time on commercial contracts and complex commercial agreements with Fortune 500 companies, including but not limited to software licensing (SaaS), cloud hosting agreements, purchasing agreements, supply agreements, IT outsourcing agreements, master aervice agreements, reseller agreements, statements of work, technology service agreements, professional services agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
Prior to joining NantHealth, she worked as a strategic policy consultant for Blue Cross NC.
Sheila was awarded as a 2019 ABA Young Lawyers Division Scholar due to her increased bar involvement, public service, and professional excellence. She is an active member of the NCBA Young Lawyers Division, serving as the Division Director for Community Service Programs, and she also serves in various NCBA sections including the Corporate Counsel Section, CLE committee, and the Sports and Entertainment Section, membership chair. She was awarded the NCBA Young Lawyer of the Year award in 2020.
Sheila earned B.A. in English the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
In her free time, Sheila enjoys traveling, watching movies, and cheering on the North Carolina Tar Heels!
Click here for more information about Sheila.
Kim K. Steffan is with Steffan & Associates PC in Hillsborough. She has been in general practice since 1986, most of that time in Hillsborough.
Kim serves on the Regional Advisory Board for UNC's Small Business and Technology Development Center. She is a current Board member and past president of the Orange County Bar Association. She serves on the District 18 Bar Mentoring Committee to assist young lawyers with professional development. She has spoken to various groups on estate planning, business law, family law, workers' comp, and other topics.
From time to time, Kim serves as a volunteer guest faculty member at seminars and workshops at the UNC Law School. She writes the monthly "Ask the Lawyer" legal column for the News of Orange County. She received the 2009 Work Life Balance Award presented by the N.C. Association of Women Attorneys.
Kim received her B.A. magna cum laude from Duke University, and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill.
Click here for more information about Kim.
Chief Judge Donna S. Stroud has served on the North Carolina Court of Appeals for over thirteen years, having been first elected in 2006. She is a dual graduate of Campbell University, with a BA, summa cum laude, in Government in 1985, and a law degree, magna cum laude, in 1988. Judge Stroud was ranked first in her class each year of law school and upon graduation; she served as the Notes & Comments Editor of the Campbell Law Review.
Judge Stroud spent 16 years in private practice, first as an associate and later as a partner, until her election in 2004 as a District Court Judge in Wake County. While in private practice, Judge Stroud was also both a certified Superior Court mediator and a District Court arbitrator.
Judge Stroud served as a Family Court Judge while on the District Court. After joining the Court of Appeals in 2007, Judge Stroud began teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Campbell University School of Law in 2008, teaching Judicial Process and Juvenile Law. In May 2014, she graduated from the Duke University School of Law LL.M. program in Judicial Studies, as a member of its charter class.
Judge Stroud frequently presents CLE programs for the North Carolina Bar Association and other organizations. She currently serves as chair of the Chief Justice's Rules Advisory Commission and is a member of the North Carolina Courts Commission and Family Court Advisory Committee.
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Patrick H. Yanke is a CFP and Branch Manager at Yanke Financial in Raleigh. He sees himself as a problem solver and his business is entirely based on relationships with the people he serves and his best relationships come from solving problems for people.
Patrick started his professional life in Army Basic Training at Ft Knox, KY. This was the first step on a journey through Marion Military Institute and the US Air Force Academy to being commissioned an officer in the USAF. He served in five major commands at five installations (including deployments to Saudi Arabia and Southern Italy) before leaving service to start a family and build a business.
Patrick is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (where he majored in Aeronautical Engineering with a minor in Arabic) and an Air Force veteran.
Patrick started his career in financial planning a cadet at the Academy. Throughout his military tenure, he counseled his personnel on financial matters and money management. After his miltary career, he joined A.G. Edwards in 2000 in Panama City, FL. After building a strong business in Florida, in 2005 Patrick elected to move his family to Raleigh to enjoy the climate, history and culture of North Carolina.
Patrick is a past state president of the Air Force Association, current president of the Air Force Academy Society of NC, and sits on the Industry Advisory Panel for the American Public University System.
The secret of Patrick's success is as simple as the Golden Rule…treat everyone as he wants to be treated. He has been married to his wife, Grete, for over 25 years and they have four children together. They have chosen an active role in the formation of their children through homeschooling.
Patrick is active in his community through the Kiwanis Club of Raleigh, the Knights of Columbus, the Executives Club of Raleigh, and veterans organizations. He is a past state president of the Air Force Association, past president of the Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation, current president of the Air Force Academy Society of NC, serves on the Industry Advisory Panel for the American Public University System, and a regular contributor to "Attorney-at-Law" Magazine.
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A special thanks to North Carolina Bar Foundation Endowment for a grant which helps support this PNA program.
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