WAKE BAR FLYER
2012 WCBA GOLF TOURNAMENT Fun day on the links culminates in gift to WCBA Foundation Scholarships • PAGE 3 XXXIX No. 2 • MARCH/APRIL 2013
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: THOMAS H. DAVIS, JR. ONE OF THE BENEFITS of being President of the Wake County Bar Association is the opportunity to attend the ABA’s National Conference of Bar Presidents. This year the Conference was held in Dallas, Texas. It was stimulating and informative to participate in workshops with fellow bar presidents designed to improve the delivery of services to bar members as well as the public. While in Dallas, I saw a number of familiar faces. N.C. Bar Association President Mike Wells and I were involved in a roundtable discussion on the limited job Davis market for new law graduates, a situation compounded by record student debt. N.C. Bar Association Executive Director Allan Head, in cowboy boots and hat, served as a co-presenter. N.C. State Bar President Keith Kapp and I attended a program on techniques to improve the management of bar associations. I also had the opportunity to engage in the discussion of issues of common concern with bar presidents from Michigan, Texas, Virginia and South Carolina. It was an invaluable experience. I departed the Conference renewed and energized for my tenure as your President and with some useful suggestions to present to our Board of Directors to improve our association. It was gratifying to note that many problems suffered by bars across the country, including declining membership, increasing costs and decreasing volunteer participation, are problems which our bar association has so far successfully avoided. My discussions with fellow presidents revealed a number of common problems which extend to every region in our nation. Virtually every president with whom I spoke was concerned by the number of newly minted attorneys opening solo practices with insufficient experience. In unprecedented number, these new attorneys are running into professional difficulties, either based on a lack of professional conduct or legal knowledge. It is the perception of experienced counsel and judges that young attorneys are often unprepared or unprofessional in the ways in which they interact with opposing counsel and the court. Many presidents attributed this problem to the lack of available jobs in established law firms or large governmental offices. After looking into this issue and discussing it with others at the conference, I came away with a different view. Statistically, there has been no increase in solo practitioners as a result of the current economic downturn. For years, the majority of attorneys have been solo practitioners. Currently, 70% of attorneys practice in firms of three attorneys or less. That is the history of our profession, and the numbers have not changed. Statistics refute the idea there are more solo practitioners now than previously. So, what is the issue? I think the problem may be the unintended conse CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
WAKE BAR FLYER • MARCH/APRIL 2013
Upcoming Events WCBA LUNCHEON • April 2 Chief District Court Judge Robert Rader will provide “News from the Courthouse” including updates on the new Judicial Center and plans for the old Wake County Courthouse. WCBA PICNIC • May 7 For the last couple years, the first Tuesday in May has been a beautiful sunny day. So, we’re going to declare it another beautiful WCBA picnic this year. Join us at Mordecai Park for our traditional Wilber’s Barbecue fest.
Inside this Issue... 2 • WCBA BASKETBALL LEAGUE 3 • FUN DAY OF GOLF CULMINATES IN GIFT TO FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND 5 • INAUGURAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE CONVOCATION HELD IN CON- JUNCTION WITH CAMPBELL LAW 6 • MEMBER NEWS 7 • OPENING OF NEW JUSTICE CENTER 7 • PUBLIC LOVES WCBA’S PEOPLE’S LAW SCHOOL 8 • TOP FIVE TIPS FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 10 • WELCOME NEW WCBA MEMBERS
Visit our new website: www.wakecountybar.org 919.677.9903 phone 919.657.1564 fax
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