Fourth Quarter 2024 | Wake Bar Flyer

MEET THE CANDIDATES Get to know this year’s nominees for Tenth & WCBA leadership .........................................5 ___________________________________ _

VOL. LXIII • ISSUE 4 | FOURTH QUARTER 2024

BAR FLYER SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AS LAWYERS

BY JAMES HASH TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR PRESIDENT DO YOU EVER stop to think about what made you want to become a lawyer? Do you ever reflect upon what being a lawyer means to you and how being a lawyer gives you a unique opportunity to “increase your impact” in your community? (Thank you, Judge Ashleigh Parker!) Each of us had our own unique combination of reasons for making that fateful decision to go to law school. It could have been because we were inspired by a lawyer in our life, we loved watching Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock as a kid, or perhaps we realized that professional baseball just wasn’t going to be a career option and that we needed to figure out something else. I’d venture a guess that however we got here, for many of us our consideration of career choices included, at least on some level, that we wanted to help people and that we had a sense that lawyers had an enhanced ability to impact their communities.

The theme of this quarter’s Wake Bar Flyer is Encouraging Community Service. That is Goal Four of the Bar’s Strategic Plan for those of you keeping score at home. Far more accomplished and insightful writers than I, including several featured in this issue of the WBF, have already written much on the need for lawyers to serve our communities. Public service is now at the forefront of many folks’ minds in the wake of the devastation Hurricane Helene left in western North Carolina. Our Bar is among the organizations helping to support our friends and family in the mountains as they try to rebuild. We should not, however, wait for a disaster to serve our communities.

We are all aware of the need for pro bono legal services, a need that remains as pressing now as it has ever been. Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Wake County Legal Support Center are some of the amazing organizations that do yeoman’s work and are in constant need of volunteers and resources. We must remember that our service opportunities as lawyers are not limited to the realm of providing legal information.

As lawyers, we are well positioned to serve and, quite often, to lead in our communities. We have special training in how to analyze complex problems. We have all experienced how people react differently to what we have to say when they learn we are lawyers, even when we are talking about non-legal topics. Our schools, faith institutions and other civic organizations often benefit from having lawyers as key contributors (note well, however, the distinction between being a lawyer on a board and being a board’s lawyer, otherwise this article may end up being referenced in a future Lawyers Mutual blog).

UPCOMING EVENTS TENTH J.D. BAR & WCBA ANNUAL MEETING Tuesday, December 3 | Sheraton Hotel Raleigh LEARN OVER LUNCH CLE Preserving Issues for Appeal | Thursday, December 5 2024 WCBA HOLIDAY PARTY Friday, December 6 2025 LAWYERS BASKETBALL LEAGUE Begins Saturday, January 18 US SUPREME COURT SWEARING-IN Friday, February 21

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3 NANCY GRACE RECOGNIZED WITH BRANCH PROFESSIONALISM AWARD 4 NOTICE OF ELECTION 11 BRIDGING THE JUSTICE GAP: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF PRO BONO WORK IN THE WAKE COUNTY LEGAL SUPPORT CENTER 14 JENNINGS AND JIMENEZ REPEAT AS 2024 WCBA TENNIS CHAMPIONS 15 DIRECT EXAMINATION 16 THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERISM: BENEFITS TO MENTAL HEALTH 18 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

A constant theme in most lawyers’ lives is that there is not enough time in any given day, week, or month. We are scrambling to meet the demands of our practices while taking care of our families and of ourselves. A truism of law practice, at least for those of us who bill by the hour, is that our time is our most precious commodity. In previous WBFs, we have focused on the needs to increase lawyer engagement in our Bar, to advance professional excellence and to promote lawyer wellbeing. Now, we are urging our members to further allocate their precious time to increase their service to our community.

How can we accomplish all of these goals when there are still only 24 hours in a day and most of us still need to sleep at least six of those hours? An answer, perhaps, lies in choosing avenues to serve that bring us a sense of fulfillment and that truly fit our individual interests and skillsets. There is no “right” approach to service and there are many ways for lawyers to contribute. If you don’t know where to start, please contact the Bar and we will help.

I am both proud of and humbled by the service that members of our Bar are already doing in our community. Our Bar is truly remarkable. Just imagine what we can accomplish together if all our members can find a way to do even just a little bit more. WBF

Visit our website: www.wakecountybar.org 919.677.9903 phone

WAKE BAR FLYER

VOL. LXIII | No. 4 | FOURTH QUARTER 2024 Presidents SARAH PRIVETTE, WCBA JAMES HASH, TENTH J.D. BAR Presidents-elect KIMBERLY TURNER MILLER, WCBA JAKE EPSTEIN, TENTH J.D. BAR Secretary TIFFANY COX Treasurer ELYSIA PRENDERGAST-JONES Immediate Past President JUDGE ASHLEIGH PARKER, WCBA & TENTH J.D. BAR Board of Directors KRISTEN L. BEIGHTOL DAVID R. BOAZ TARA CHO APRIL GIANCOLA JORDAN GROSS JESSICA HEFNER LEANOR B. HODGE JOHN HOOMANI GABE JIMENEZ JOSUE JIMENEZ ERIKA N. JONES JENNIFER M. JONES DEAN J. RICH LEONARD (EX OFFICIO) WILL OWENS STEPHANIE N. ROBINSON KENDRA STARK JUDGE CHRISTINE WALCZYK

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BY WHITNEY D.G. VON HAAM | WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

AS A MOM, fostering a spirit of community service in my children has been a cornerstone of our family values. From the moment they were born, I’ve woven acts of kindness into our daily lives and they’ve watched from strollers while I served the Junior League of Raleigh, SAFEchild, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County and many others. I believe that serving others not only connects us to our community but also cultivates a deep sense of joy and fulfillment that few other experiences can replicate.

Now that all my kids are in high school, they face service-hour requirements of at least 25 hours annually. I often hear their friends grumbling about how to meet these expectations, but my kids roll their eyes, confident that meeting their goals won’t be a challenge. Their history of volunteerism—from helping set-up the WCBA’s family picnic to participating in swearing-in ceremonies and working with the WCBA group at Rise Against Hunger—has instilled in them a proactive approach to service.

These experiences have not just fulfilled requirements; they’ve enriched their lives, teaching them the value of compassion, teamwork and commitment. I often remind them that true fulfillment comes from giving back, and they seem to understand this instinctively. As they continue to grow, I’m hopeful that their hearts, built for service, will inspire them to create positive change in the world, fostering a lifelong commitment to helping others. WBF

Young Lawyers Division President CARLY G. BAKER Executive Director WHITNEY D.G. VON HAAM Communications Manager AMY DAVIS Wake Bar Flyer Designer ANNE R. STRICKLAND Tenth Judicial District Bar Councilors JULIE L. BELL WALTER E. BROCK, JR ASHLEY H. CAMPBELL NANCY L. GRACE EVIN GRANT KIMBERLY A. MOORE JUDGE ROBERT B. RADER WARREN T. SAVAGE

© 2024 Wake County Bar Association & Tenth Judicial District Bar.

WCBA

Party HOLIDAY December 6 | 7 -10 p.m.

CRABTREE MARRIOTT

NANCY GRACE RECOGNIZED WITH 2024 BRANCH PROFESSIONALISM AWARD

BY KATIE KING | WAKE FAMILY LAW GROUP

LAST YEAR MARKED 25 years that Nancy Grace and I have worked together. In anniversary terms, the 25th anniversary is the silver anniversary. Silver is supposed to represent strength and stability, and that anniversary is a significant milestone after a quarter of a century of success, growth, and resilience.

Strength, stability, success, growth, and resilience— that’s the heart of Nancy Grace, whether you’ve known her 25 years or 25 minutes.

When I met Nancy, she was a brand-new family law attorney at the Law Offices of Mark E. Sullivan (now Sullivan & Hilscher), who had just finished a clerkship at the Court of Appeals. She was a second career lawyer and a single mom of two young children.

Nancy had put herself through law school after enduring her own difficult family law case—which is part of the beautiful perspective she brings to the work she does. In her past life, she had been a Spanish professor at NC State. If you know how much Nancy loves her Tar Heels you probably can’t believe that, but it’s true. If you know that part, you probably also know Ned Mangum was one of her Spanish students!

As someone who had sacrificed a lot to become an attorney, Nancy was fully invested in not just being a competent family law attorney but an excellent one. She immersed herself in volunteer opportunities and leadership roles within family law organizations.

Within these past 20 years, she served as the leader of EVERY SINGLE ONE of the premier family law organizations within our state: • President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) • Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) • Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (now North Carolina Advocates for Justice) On a local level, she led our Tenth Judicial District Bar as president in 2019 and has served on various committees and boards within the Wake County Bar Association. Nancy is a frequent speaker across the state on family law issues, and she is also a creative and gifted family financial mediator.

Nancy’s professional accomplishments and accolades are remarkable and endless, but what is more impressive about Nancy is her reputation for professionalism, her relationships within our legal community and her contributions to the profession in the form of mentorship.

I have had the privilege to watch Nancy thrive personally and professionally. I have seen her help other lawyers grow by connecting them to volunteer and leadership opportunities. She always makes herself available for a phone call or email to brainstorm complicated legal issues, and acts as a listening ear after a frustrating day (of which there are many in family law).

At our firm, Wake Family Law Group, Nancy’s background in teaching and her patience, along with her exceptional legal skills, make her the obvious choice to mentor and train our younger associates, but we all benefit from her advice and expertise.

She models not just how to be a lawyer with the work we do but what a lawyer should be in a greater sense of the word.

Nancy is generous with the time she makes for her colleagues in and outside our office. She is known within our local bar, and especially within our family law community, for kindness and integrity. I learned from her early on that “you catch more flies with honey.” She taught me that win or lose and especially when you lose you always shake hands with opposing counsel after trial. I learned that an attorney doesn’t have to be aggressive to be effective. She knows that in family law, a measured response is often more helpful. She showed that an attorney’s good reputation is everything and is more important than any client. Nancy believes that every phone call with a colleague should begin with a personal interaction, not just jumping straight into business. She believes it’s much easier to treat our colleagues with professionalism and courtesy when there is a personal connection. She teaches that if a colleague

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

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JOSEPH BRANCH PROFESSIONALISM AWARD, CONTINUED makes a mistake, it’s best to kindly and privately address it when you can because next time it could be you that makes a mistake. I understand because of her that you can lose a case with a colleague and still go out for coffee (or drinks) with them afterward.

We all win and our profession benefits when we support other lawyers. We all improve when we help them grow, learn, thrive and when we genuinely want good things for our colleagues. There is enough success out there for all of us and in family law, there is always enough work.

As the saying goes, when you’ve reached the top, send the elevator back down for others. Nancy is probably too humble to acknowledge she’s one of the most accomplished family law attorneys in the state, but she is always sending the elevator down for others and bringing them up. I am grateful to have been in that elevator many years ago and to be her law partner now. I know so many others are grateful to have been in the elevator too. Congratulations Nancy!

WBF

NOTICE OF ELECTION THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE reviewed all submitted applications and member recommendation forms and selected candidates for available positions.

There will be an electronic vote to affirm the slate and contested elections at the December Annual Meeting and Luncheon. The officers of the Tenth Judicial District Bar and Wake County Bar Association hereby give notice pursuant to Article XII of the By-Laws of the North Carolina State Bar: 1.That the annual election of Officers will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at the Sheraton Hotel Raleigh (412 S. Salisbury Street) at 12:15 p.m. Lunch will be served and the cost of lunch will be borne by the Tenth Judicial District Bar at no additional cost to members.

2. The election is for the purpose of choosing officers for both the Tenth Judicial District Bar and the Wake County Bar Association, directors and a State Bar Councilor 3. The following officers will be elected: President-elect, Treasurer, Secretary PRESIDENT-ELECT TENTH (ELECT ONE) Leanor Bailey Hodge

PRESIDENT-ELECT WCBA (ELECT ONE) John B. Ward

TREASURER (ELECT ONE) Erika N. Jones

SECRETARY (ELECT ONE) Tiffany Grant Cox

4. The following State Bar Councilor position will be elected by the Tenth Judicial District Bar: STATE BAR COUNCILOR | BROCK SEAT (ELECT ONE) Meredith Pace Brewer Jessica Heffner

STATE BAR COUNCILOR | CAMPBELL SEAT (ELECT ONE) Jerry Oliver Ashleigh S. Parker

STATE BAR COUNCILOR | SAVAGE SEAT (ELECT ONE) Anna Davis Celia Pistolis

STATE BAR COUNCILOR | GRANT SEAT (ELECT ONE) Evin Grant

STATE BAR COUNCILOR | MOORE SEAT (ELECT ONE) Kimberly A. Moore 5. The following directors have been selected by the Nominations Committee and will be affirmed by voice vote (three-year term): Jonathan M. Bogues Jordan H. Gross Jacob M. Morse

Ashley Payne Ratliff Lindsay Underwood

Please see biographical information on the following pages for more information. WBF

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

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TENTH PRESIDENT-ELECT ELECT 1 OF 1 CANDIDATES Leanor Bailey Hodge First Citizens Bank Temple University, 1996

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Mt. Airy Groove” by Pieces of a Dream

TREASURER ELECT 1 OF 1 CANDIDATES Erika N. Jones

North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts – Office of General Counsel University of North Carolina School of Law, 2012

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Feedback is a gift.

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG?

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT:

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Take criticism seriously but

After my closing argument in a condemnation trial, a juror started to clap. Our team was fairly confident we had persuaded at least one person in favor of our client’s position.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? One of my favorite television shows is Survivor.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Food and nutrition is a fundamental human need, without it a person has little hope of pursuing and achieving their life goals.

WCBA PRESIDENT-ELECT ELECT 1 OF 1 CANDIDATES John B. Ward

Nicholls & Crampton, P.A. / University of North Carolina School of Law, 2012 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Sting Me” by The Black Crowes. It’s the perfect opening track to my desert island album, and it always puts me in a good mood.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you say you are not going to do something, don’t do it. There is no quicker way to lose credibility than by going against your own word.

“Survivor” by Destiny’s Child

not personally.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Successfully prosecuting the first jury trial for a felony taking of Venus flytraps.

The case was covered by The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I love game shows and wish I could be a game show host.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? The Boys & Girls Club is important to me because I believe in investing time and energy into our young people so they can be equipped with the skills they need to become productive citizens and leaders.

SECRETARY ELECT 1 OF 1 CANDIDATES Tiffany Cox

Prisoner Legal Services North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2013 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley and The Wailers

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: It doesn’t matter what you

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT:

do, be the best at it.

I represented an indigent client with a contested interest in a piece of family property in a land condemnation case. He lived in a shelter, and I negotiated a settlement that allowed him to buy a used car so he could visit his out-of-town niece without relying on the bus schedule.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Seeing the looks of relief on each of my client’s faces, and hearing their words of gratitude, when they realize someone has listened to and advocated for them.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? This may not be surprising if you have seen me try to match a shirt and tie, but I am partially colorblind.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Band Together uses the power of live music and community engagement to raise money for local nonprofits by putting on annual live concert fundraising events.

In addition to raising money, the concerts shine a light on local nonprofits, raise awareness about existing needs and service opportunities, and bring the community together for a night of fun, activism, and live music.

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Perhaps that I am becoming more introverted as I get older!

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Spoiler alert! My favorite non-profit is North Carolina Prisoner Legal

Services. Our organization is filled with tenacious and brilliant people who are committed to advocating for the voiceless, and often silenced, folks in the jail and prison systems. NCPLS has a history of making real change in people’s lives and we are committed to continuing the exceptional work of advocating for justice for ALL people in our State.

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SLATE FOR DIRECTORS VOICE VOTE FOR ENTIRE SLATE Jonathan M. Bogues

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2013 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? Too many to choose just one but a handful are: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans; “Optimistic”

by Sounds of Blackness; “So Ambitious” by Jay-Z featuring Pharrell Williams; “Black Boy Fly” by Kendrick Lamar; and “Love Yourz” by J.Cole

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: I had a mentor

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Hard work always pays off.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Starting my own law firm to help injured or harmed people.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I had the same English teacher as Dale Earnhardt Jr. NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Greyhound Friends of North Carolina. The group helps re-home retired racing dogs from all over the world, and that’s where I got my racing girl, Rosie.

tell me when I was just studying for the bar and just starting out that you have put in the work and successfully passed the same bar exam that everyone else has taken so you belong, you deserve to be at the table with everyone else, and you deserve everything good that comes your way.

Ashley Payne Ratliff

North Carolina State Bar University of North Carolina School of Law, 2013

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Working for Michael Jordan.

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Either YMCA of the Triangle or 100 Black Men of America. Both of these organizations have community programs and initiatives that are aimed at mentoring, health & wellness, the importance of education, and economic empowerment.

Jordan H. Gross

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Your reputation will speak for you in many places.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: When a victim’s family told me that my words helped them to begin processing losing a loved one.

Stauff & Gross, PLLC Florida Coastal School of Law, 2009

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Despite my parents’ efforts, I never learned to ride a bike and

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers

still cannot.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: The best advice I received from a mentor is to always be prepared, and it is more important what you do and how you act when no one is looking as that shows your true nature more than anything.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Becoming a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law by the North Carolina State Bar.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I love to bake, especially cakes.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Interact because I started my legal career representing victims of domestic

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? I am a board member of the Clarence E. Lightner YMCA Achievers, a program that introduces teens in grades 6th- 12th to adults of color who guide them through experiences that prepare them for life after high school. It is important to support our youth and it has been inspiring to see the positive impact that this program has had on teens year after year.

Lindsay Underwood

Skidmore Law Group, PLLC Wake Forest University School of Law, 2014 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Let go or be dragged.

violence and was able to see the invaluable service that Interact provides to victims in Wake County.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT:

Jacob M. Morse

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I’m an avid gamer (both video games and board games).

Morse Fritts PLLC Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, 2017 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “You Might Die Trying” – Dave Matthews Band WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

Arguing in front of the Court of Appeals.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? World Central Kitchen because of their willingness to provide food to individuals all over the world in times of crisis. Most recently, they have been in North Carolina to provide meals in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

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BAR COUNCILOR (BROCK SEAT) VOTE FOR ONE Meredith Pace Brewer

Maynard Nexsen, PC Wake Forest University School of Law, 2017 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: “Never Let Them See You Sweat” (Dry Idea) FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: In March 2024, the law firm - Dysart Willis – where I began my legal career merged with the national firm, Maynard Nexsen. While I credit my early years of legal practice to DW, the merger with Maynard Nexsen has opened doors and career opportunities that I would not otherwise have had.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Following a Panthers game, I rode the three-hour Amtrak train from Charlotte to Raleigh in full-face Panthers face paint.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? I proudly serve on the Board of the Christian Women’s Job Corp of NC, a non-profit focused on assisting individuals trapped in the cycle of poverty. CWJC is important because it provides one-on-one support, encouragement, job training, housing and other daily needs to program participants so that they may come to know their self-worth. This is all done through a Christian lens in order to assure individuals that God loves them.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: Strategic Planning Implementation Committee; Past Secretary, Tenth/WCBA; Past Bylaws Chair, Tenth/WCBA; Past Social Chair, WCBA YLD; Past Summer Clerk Orientation Chair, WCBA YLD

OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Co-Chair, Legal Feeding Frenzy, NCBA; American Bar Association; Women’s White Collar Defense Association; Rose Council, WFU School of Law

Jessica B. Heffner

Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Law School: Campbell Law School, 2013 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Before spending significant energy or time agonizing over something, consider whether it will matter in 5 years—and if not, slow down and maintain perspective.

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: There are several child custody cases I’ve litigated over the years that resulted in particularly positive and impactful outcomes for the children involved. I feel honored and privileged to have been able to help them through my work as a family law attorney, and those outcomes continue to motivate and remind me of my professional “why” (especially on the tough days!)

What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I am a voracious fiction reader and book collector. If I were not a practicing attorney (and won the lottery!), I’d want to own an independent bookstore.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I am a voracious fiction reader and book collector. If I were not a practicing attorney (and won the lottery!), I’d want to own an independent bookstore.

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION I SUPPORT AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT? The Children’s Home Society of NC. Their mission is to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. I serve on their Community Leadership Council and also manage their partnership with Wyrick Robbins in the Hope for the Holidays program each year, donating gifts to children in foster care over the holidays. These roles are important to me because children are vulnerable and require our help/support. Devoting our time and resources to improving their circumstances in any small measure now can improve their lives forever.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: Board of Directors Member (currently); Public Service Committee Member (2015-2018) OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: NCBA (Family Law Section): Alt-Vice Chair (currently), Executive Committee Member (2023-2024), Secretary (20202024); and Co-Chair Communications Committee (2017-2019); various CLE presentations for NCBA, NC State Bar, and NC Advocates for Justice (20182024); co-planner of NCBA Family Law Section 2025 Annual Meeting (currently)

BAR COUNCILOR (CAMPBELL SEAT) VOTE FOR ONE Jerry Oliver

Fox Rothschild LLP University of Tennessee WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Oh’ Happy Day” BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: By the Executive Director of the NC State Ports Authority. “Son don’t tell me what the law is because you’re supposed to know it. Tell me how to do what I want to do.”

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: In 2003 being selected by my Peers as first in my field in Employment Law in Business North Carolina Legal Elite.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Argued labor law cases before the Fourth Circuit on Monday and the Ninth Circuit on Friday of the same week.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Keep NC Beautiful. I have served on the Board and as President for over twenty years. The purpose of the organization is to promote and protect the environmental beauty of North Carolina. The organization provides $1000.00 grants to K1 through K-12 teachers to instruct their students through hands on projects, such as planting gardens or beautification projects around their school. The organization also partners with WRAL to giveaway thousands of azaleas each year to other nonprofit organizations across the state to take back to their communities for beautification purposes.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: I have been a member of the WCBA/ Tenth Judicial Bar for more than 30 years. I served on the Tenth Judicial Grievance Committee for three years.

OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: I currently and have served on the State Bar Grievance Committee as an advisory member for more than six years. I served as an Assistant Attorney General with the NC Attorney General’s Office for more than four years.

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BAR COUNCILOR (CAMPBELL SEAT) VOTE FOR ONE, CONTINUED Ashleigh S. Parker

District Court Judge, Tenth Judicial District North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2012 WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “This Girl is On Fire”-Alicia Keys

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: “Never sacrifice who you are for where you want to be.”

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Becoming President of the Tenth Judicial District Bar and WCBA.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I have not eaten hot wings since we did the “Hot One’s Challenge” last October for the Bar Awards. I think I’m still traumatized.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? The Wake County Legal Support Center because of the amazing work that they have done to increase equity and access to justice for civil litigants. It has been a huge asset to our court system and local community and I’m so grateful that the WCBA has been an influential partner in its success.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: Co-Chair of WCBA Centennial Committee, 2023-2025; Immediate Past President/Nominations Committee Chair, 2024; President of the Tenth Judicial District/WCBA, 2023; PresidentElect of the Tenth Judicial District/WCBA, 2022; Treasurer of the Tenth Judicial District Bar/WCBA, 2019-2021; Board of Directors of the Tenth Judicial District/WCBA, 2016-2018; Chair of the WCBA Public Service Committee, 2016-2018; Member of the WCBA Public Service Committee 2013-2018

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? I’m the eldest of six children from a poor, working class family. My parents worked very hard as a construction worker and a school cafeteria worker, but tapped federal assistance programs, like Medicaid and WIC, for medical care and food to make ends meet. My life changed course when I was awarded the Aubrey Lee Brooks (founder of Brooks Pierce) Scholarship for college. His generous legacy sparked my interest in a career in law even though I had never met a lawyer and did not know anything about the practice.

I thought maybe law could be a way to help someone the way Mr. Brooks helped me.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: Membership Wellness Committee, Chair (2023-Present), WCBA Board of Directors (2020-2023), WCBA Swearing Inn Committee, Vice Chair (2018-2020), Public Service Committee, Member, WCBA Inaugural Camp Confidence Coordinator (2018-2019), Campbell Connections Mentor, (2019-2021, 2023-Present), Recipient of the WCBA President’s Award for Excellence (2018, 2023), Rule of Law (2019, 2023, 2024), Lunch with a Lawyer OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Legal Aid of NC Volunteer Attorney (2020-2023), NC State Bar Authorized Practice Advisory Member (2017-Present), Capital City Lawyers Association (2020-2022, Present, Youth Law Day, 2022), Wake Women Attorneys (Past Board Member), Susie Sharp Inn of Court (Past Board Member), North Carolina High School Mock Trial Program (Judge).

Celia Pistolis

Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc University of North Carolina School of Law, 1982

Support Center, 2023

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers

BAR COUNCILOR (SAVAGE SEAT) VOTE FOR ONE

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Don’t be afraid to try and fail because

OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Co-Founder of the Wake County Legal

Anna Davis

you will always learn from the experience. “It never hurts to be nice.”

City of Raleigh / North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2010

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I bake bread and have a second-place ribbon from the NC

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG?

State Fair for my whole wheat bread.

UNC’s Fight Song “I’m a Tarheel Born”

NAME YOUR FAVORITE NON-PROFIT OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? NC Food Bank- As the daughter of Greek immigrants, food was always

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: Redefine “failure” FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Working with law students during their government internships and providing mentorship through WCBA Campbell Connections Program

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I’m the eldest of six children from a poor, working class family.

My parents worked very hard as a construction worker and a school cafeteria worker, but tapped federal assistance programs, like Medicaid and WIC, for medical care and food to make ends meet. My life changed course when I was awarded the Aubrey Lee Brooks (founder of Brooks Pierce) Scholarship for college. His generous legacy sparked my interest in a career in law even though I had never met a lawyer and did not know anything about the practice. I thought maybe law could be a way to help someone the way Mr. Brooks helped me.

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

a central part of our family. My parents grew up in a poor mountain village, where hunger was a constant challenge. Their experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for how everyone, especially children, should be fed good, healthy food. The Food Bank not only fills bellies but also fosters a sense of community and support for those in need.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: I am a member of the WCBA Professionalism Committee where I currently serve as the Chair of the Spotlight Subcommittee which recognizes our unsung colleagues whose daily work epitomizes professionalism and inspires us. I serve as a member of the Swearing in Committee, where I have the pleasure of sponsoring new admittees to our Bar. Also, I volunteer on our character and fitness committee to interview applicants who are sitting for the bar exam and have authored an article in the Bar Flyer to encourage others to serve on this committee.

PAGE 8

OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: NC Bar Association Pro Bono Committee where I am co-chair of the Awards Subcommittee and the Professional Vitality Committee, where I served as Chair last year; annual participant on Call4All; former advisory member of the Authorized Practice Committee of the NC State Bar.

BAR COUNCILOR (GRANT SEAT) VOTE FOR ONE

OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Capital City Lawyers Association Communications Chair, 2018-20, 2022-23 Among other previous roles with the WCBA, CCLA, NCBA, and the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NC Chapter)

BAR COUNCILOR (MOORE SEAT) VOTE FOR ONE Kimberly A. Moore

Evin Grant

Federal Public Defenders Office Law School: NC Central University School of Law, 1994

WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? “Prosper (DMV

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU: “Be kind to everyone in the courthouse,

NC Department of Administration Campbell Law School, 2016 Edition)” - David Michael Wyatt

especially the clerks of court.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE A MENTOR EVER GAVE YOU? “It’s not about what you know. It’s not

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: I have two actually: Serving as a Deputy Special Master for the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund and serving as the US DOJ Resident Legal Advisor to the US Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo.

even about who you know. It’s about who knows you, and what they know about you.” - Ken Hammer

FAVORITE CAREER HIGHLIGHT: In January 2023, I was presented the 2022 NC Department of Administration’s Secretary’s Award of Excellence in Public Service for making outstanding contributions by participating in or implementing community and public service projects such as volunteering in the community or helping various non-profit organizations.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I have over 40 plants in my home.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: Wake County Bar Association DEI Committee, 2018-2023 Wake County Bar Association Grievance Committee, 2023 Wake County Bar Association Nominations Committee, 2023 Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Committee, 2023

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

FAVORITE WCBA ANNUAL EVENT/BEST PART ABOUT BEING A WCBA MEMBER: My favorite event is the swearing-in ceremony. The best part of being a WCBA member is sharing my experiences in the legal profession and serving as a mentor to new attorneys.

WCBA/TENTH JD BAR ACTIVITIES: Swearing-In Committee, Bar Candidate Interview Committee, Bar Councilor

OTHER BAR-RELATED ACTIVITIES: Prior to the pandemic, I served as a NITA instructor during trial advocacy trainings at Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles and in the Caribbean countries. I served as a prosecutor consultant in the Caribbean, focusing on enhancing trial advocacy skills among the prosecutors, streamlining case management systems promoting plea negotiations.

PAGE 9

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BRIDGING THE JUSTICE GAP: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF PRO BONO WORK IN THE WAKE COUNTY LEGAL SUPPORT CENTER

BY ANH LYJORDAN | WAKE COUNTY LEGAL SUPPORT CENTER

Jordan

IN NORTH CAROLINA, civil legal needs in family law—especially custody cases—and housing issues stand out as some of the biggest challenges, according to a 2020 statewide assessment. Unfortunately, a 2017 American Bar Association study revealed that 86% of civil legal needs for low-income individuals go unmet. With 71% of low-income households facing legal problems each year, many people are left to navigate the legal system on their own. Here in Wake County, where 11% of residents live in poverty, it’s clear this problem hits close to home.

Under the leadership of Judge Ashleigh Parker, the Wake County Legal Support Center (WCLSC), a program of the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission, opened in January 2023 to address these needs. With primary funding from Wake County and grants such as the Wake County Bar Association Community Grant, the Center has helped more than 11,000 people by guiding them through courthouse procedures, providing access to important legal forms, and offering education on what to expect as they move forward with their cases. While the Center provides forms and information about family law and housing, it quickly became clear that sometimes, people just need to talk directly to a lawyer.

also brought Katie King, a member of the Wake County Bar Association and partner at the Wake Family Law Group onto the pro bono team and the concept of the Attorney of the Day program was born. The program provides pro bono family law consultations twice a month. On the first and third Thursday of every month, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteer attorneys offer 30-minute consultations to self-represented litigants. Initially piloted by the Wake Family Law Group, the program faced early challenges, such as appointment noshows and process inefficiencies. Adjustments were made, such as switching to a first-come, first-served model, automating conflict checks and digitizing limited representation agreements. Even small improvements like adding forms to consultation rooms and installing a doorbell for the 8th-floor office helped enhance the experience – thanks Helen!

Since its public launch in May 2023, the AoTD program has served over 300 clients, with 15 local firms donating a total of 288 pro bono hours. Feedback from both clients and attorneys has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the huge impact these consultations have had on the community.

Katie King explains the program’s importance: “Having access to good, free legal advice— even if it’s brief—helps pro se parties (those representing themselves) participate effectively in the legal process when hiring an attorney isn’t an option. The AoTD program also fills in gaps when people have questions about forms or need advice where no form exists.”

Thanks to its success, the AoTD program has expanded to offer even more pro bono services. Steve Epstein leads the Attorney on the Go project, offering

INTRODUCING THE ATTORNEY OF THE DAY PROGRAM: A PRO BONO SOLUTION The vision for more direct legal assistance began to take shape with the involvement of Richard Waugaman, a member of the WCLSC Advisory Board. Richard played a key role in connecting the Center with Campbell Law School’s Gailor Family Law and Blanchard Community Law Clinics, which have accepted clients from the Center since day one. He also helped build the foundation for the Center’s growing volunteer program.

In spring 2023, law students from both clinics began volunteering and have since become the backbone of the Center’s pro bono efforts. The program has grown to include partnerships with NCSU, local high schools, and Meredith College’s paralegal program, fostering a culture of pro bono work starting with students. In fall 2024, we proudly launched the Wake County Legal Support Center Pro Bono Project, officially making WCLSC a partner of Campbell Law School’s pro bono program. This is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to expanding pro bono opportunities in the student community.

In addition to connecting the WCLSC with the clinics and students at Campbell Law School, Waugaman

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

PAGE 11

BRIDGING THE JUSTICE GAP, CONTINUED free 15-minute phone consultations on family law issues. The Wake County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has hosted volunteer clinics to assist with expunction, housing and family law, while pro bono attorneys through Legal Aid of North Carolina now receive direct housing referrals from the Center.

EXPANDING ACCESS: LAWYERS IN YOUR LIBRARY Building on the success of the AoTD program, the WCLSC has expanded its reach with the Lawyers in Your Library initiative, launched in January 2024 in partnership with Wake County Public Libraries. Recognizing that not everyone can take time off during the workweek to seek legal help downtown, this program brings legal assistance into the community. Four pilot locations— Knightdale’s East Regional Library, Garner’s Southeast Regional Library, Raleigh’s Oberlin Regional Library and North Regional Library—now host quarterly Saturday morning sessions where volunteer attorneys offer guidance on common civil legal issues.

In its first year, the program has already served 125 clients and proven its ability to help people before their legal problems escalate into litigation. Looking ahead to 2025, the WCLSC plans to expand both the Lawyers in Your Library and Attorney of the Day programs to cover a wider range of legal issues. While family law continues to be a top priority, there’s a growing need for assistance with housing and other civil matters. The WCLSC will continue to rely on the support of Wake County’s volunteer attorneys to meet these needs.

Katie King noted that recruiting volunteers hasn’t been difficult: “Our family law colleagues understand how important this work is and are eager to help. Both

programs are minimal time commitments for busy attorneys. As more people volunteer and spread the word, I’ve had many reach out asking how they can get involved.”

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED “All of the work we do as family lawyers is important, but over time, as our practice grows, it can feel like we’re moving further away from the kind of work that drew us to law in the first place. The WCLSC volunteer opportunities give us a chance to reconnect with that passion—helping people who truly need us.”

If you’re interested in volunteering for the Attorney of the Day or Lawyers in Your Library programs, reach out to Katie King at katie@wakefamilylawgroup.net.

Your time and expertise can make a world of difference to someone in need.

To support the Wake County Legal Support Center through donations, visit https://wakelsc.org/donate.

The next Lawyers in Your Library event will be held on Saturday, December 14, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at North Regional Library in Raleigh. More clinics at the Legal Support Center are coming in 2025. The Attorney of the Day program continues on the first and third Thursday of every month from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. By volunteering, you can help bridge the justice gap and ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, has access to the legal help they need. WBF

JENNINGS AND JIMENEZ REPEAT AS 2024 WCBA TENNIS CHAMPIONS Vance Jennings and Gabe Jimenez won the Wake County Bar Association Championship Division doubles title for the second year in a row on October 4, 2024 at the Carolina Country Club. Jennings and Jimenez beat Macy Fisher and Webster Harrison 6-2 in the final.

Duane Hall won the Open Division, and Cameron Kirby was the runner-up. The weather was perfect. The food and drinks were great! A good time was had by all. WBF

Vance Jennings & Gabe Jimenez

Macy Fisher & Webster Harrison

Claire Duff & Jena Taft

Cameron Kirby & Duane Hall

Claire Duff, Ashleigh Black, Joy Heath, William Plyler, Caryn McNeil and Judge Bill Pittman

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

PAGE 14

DIRECT EXAMINATION: JOHN MABE DIRECT EXAMINATION IS THE FIRST opportunity for the jury to meet a witness. An effective lawyer will use the opportunity to personalize the witness, making the witness appear both likeable and credible. At the end of the day, the direct examination is a party’s best chance to tell his or her story. This is the story of John Mabe, Maynard Nexsen.

1. When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?

At various times: astronaut, symphony conductor architect or contractor.

2. What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?

John Mabe

Always be truthful.

3. Who was your favorite teacher and why?

The word “teacher,” following the previous questions, seems to preclude law professors, but certainly one was Paul Haskell, who taught property law, and another was John Orth. An influential and perhaps favorite gradeschool teacher was Trudy Tidwell, who taught high school math. Her eyes lit up when she could see that her explanation of a concept landed and she always could find another way to explain something, even asking us students to enlighten one another, when something proved difficult.

4. Did you love or hate law school?

Yes, several times over.

5. What was your most embarrassing courtroom experience?

I needed to go back to the office to find a document before I finished with my witness, so I was in the four corners, asking question after question and hoping the judge would adjourn until tomorrow. He called counsel to the bench. After pointing out that one of the jurors was asleep, he said what I was doing reminded him of when he learned to fly a helicopter in the Marines, it was straight-forward enough to float around up in the sky, he said, but eventually you have to bring the thing down to the ground and land it.

6. What was your best courtroom experience?

Seeing my client’s son give my legal assistant a bear hug after a verdict that saved his family’s business.

8. What has been the most surprising or unexpected development in your career?

That I ended up in a firm of over 500 lawyers. I believe that the largest firm in Raleigh was fewer than 20 lawyers when I began practice.

9. What is your favorite book?

It’s a tie: Saturday by Ian McEwan Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope 10. What is your most marked characteristic?

My spouse says I too often offer to help when help is neither requested nor needed. What’s a word for that?

11. What is your hidden talent?

I would say tower bell ringing, though that’s hard to hide.

12. Who are your real-life heroes?

John B. McMillan Bruce Springsteen 13. When and where were you happiest?

Dancing with a crowd of family and friends at my daughter Kate’s wedding in London in 2013. WBF

7. Why did you become a lawyer?

To help people solve problems.

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

PAGE 15

THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERISM: BENEFITS TO MENTAL HEALTH

BY CAMILLE STELL | LAWYERS MUTUAL CONSULTING & SERVICES

SERVING AS A VOLUNTEER is a selfless act of contributing one's time, energy and skills for the betterment of others without expecting financial gain. While the focus is often on the external impact volunteers have on communities, a growing body of research highlights the benefits to volunteers themselves, particularly when it comes to their mental health. It turns out that volunteering is also an act of self-care.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN VOLUNTEERISM AND MENTAL HEALTH Volunteering has been shown to have profound positive effects on mental well-being. Engaging in activities that help others provides a sense of purpose, fosters social connections and promotes a feeling of belonging—all of which are crucial for mental health. In an increasingly fast-paced, digital and often isolating world, volunteering offers a meaningful way to reconnect with one's community and combat feelings of loneliness and depression which are ever rising in the legal profession.

KEY MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERISM Reduction in Stress and Anxiety. When people focus on helping others, their attention shifts away from the personal, allowing for a more positive perspective on life. The National Institutes of Health found that volunteering activities could reduce the risk of stress-related health problems and lower cortisol levels, a hormone closely associated with stress. While stress is unavoidable, taking time to do something for someone else can be as effective at reducing stress as other coping strategies such as exercise or meditation.

Combating Depression. Volunteering reduces the risk of depression, particularly in older adults. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) reports that individuals who volunteer have lower rates of depression compared to those who do not. Volunteering provides meaningful activities that counteract feelings of purposelessness, which can contribute to depression. A report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) revealed that people who volunteer for at least 100 hours per year are 28% less likely to feel hopeless or depressed than those who do not volunteer. The Journal of Gerontology showed that older adults who volunteered were 27% less likely to develop depression and 30% less likely to suffer from cognitive decline.

Boosting Happiness and Life Satisfaction. Numerous studies affirm that volunteers experience greater life satisfaction and happiness. A report from Harvard Health Publications highlights that the simple act of helping others releases dopamine in the brain, often referred to as the "helper's high."

This natural mood enhancer boosts feelings of euphoria, reducing feelings of sadness or hopelessness. The Journal of Happiness Studies published a 2021 report from the U.K. citing evidence that while happy people are often those most likely to volunteer, that the reverse is also true, volunteering makes people happier. Respondents who volunteered for at least one month also reported having better mental health than those who did not volunteer.

Those who volunteered monthly were 7% happier than those who didn’t, and those who volunteered weekly were 16% happier.

Increasing Social Connection. Social isolation is a known risk factor for mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Volunteering combats loneliness by fostering a sense of community and belonging. In a world where people may feel more disconnected due to technology or busy schedules, volunteering provides an avenue for meaningful, face-to-face interactions. A 2020 study published in the BMC Public Health Journal demonstrated that people who volunteered regularly had stronger social

WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024

networks, which led to lower levels of loneliness and improved psychological well-being.

Enhancing Self-Esteem and Confidence. Volunteering offers individuals a chance to learn new skills, build confidence and experience the pride of accomplishment. It is especially impactful for individuals who may feel they lack purpose or value in their personal or professional lives. Knowing that their efforts are making a difference can significantly boost self-esteem. For young adults, volunteering can also help develop a sense of identity and self-worth.

Camille Stell is the President of Lawyers Mutual Consulting & Services and the co-author of “RESPECT – An Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans”. The second edition is available from Amazon beginning in October 2024. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@lawyersmutualconsulting.com or 919.677.8900.

Provides a Sense of Purpose. In recruiting volunteers for The Mayo Clinic, they cite research showing that when volunteers give of their time and talent, they experience a sense of purpose, as well as greater increase in life satisfaction. Whether volunteers are serving as greeters, using their craft skills to make prayer shawls or baby blankets or offering pet therapy. These everyday but essential activities are meaningful. Volunteering can help you reassess priorities and examine your life from a different perspective.

VOLUNTEERING AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE FOR MENTAL HEALTH Beyond treating mental health issues, volunteerism can serve as a preventative measure. Those who volunteer experience resilience and cope with life's challenges more effectively. People who regularly engage in volunteer activities often report a greater ability to handle adversity, which is crucial for maintaining good mental health over the long term.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING If you're interested in reaping the mental health benefits of volunteering, there are countless opportunities to explore. Local community centers, schools, hospitals, animal shelters and non-profit organizations are often in need of volunteers. Online platforms like VolunteerMatch or Idealist can help match you with causes that align with your interests and skills. Involvement with your local bar association is also a great way to volunteer to serve the profession or to partner with those in your community through activities such as pro bono efforts, clothing or food drives.

CONCLUSION Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Those who give not only enrich the lives of those they serve but also bolster their own mental health, leading to a happier, more fulfilled life. Volunteering is a powerful tool for nurturing one's mental health.

With its ability to reduce stress, combat depression, boost happiness and build social connections, volunteering is a meaningful activity that enhances both individual well-being and societal health. As studies continue to show, the positive impact of volunteerism on mental health is undeniable, making it a win-win for everyone involved. WBF

PAGE 16

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS WE WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBERS TO THE WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Corey Alcivar | The Law Office of John T. Benjamin, Jr. PA April Alex | Phelps Dunbar LLP Ana Alexander | Alexander Law PLLC Hay’ralah Alghorazi | Triangle Legal Summer Allen | Federal Judiciary Samantha Allen | Triangle Divorce Lawyers Marietta Averitte | Page Law PA Sarah Ayad | Syneos Health Inc Jack Ayers | Ayers & Haidt, P.A. Brian Ball, II | Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Lauren Barnett | Tharrington Smith LLP Meghan Barney | NC Court of Appeals Cecilia Barreca | Poyner Spruill LLP Nathan Baskerville | Baskerville & Baskerville, PLLC Michael Beam, III Jack Belk, Jr | Parker Poe Trenor Bender | Legal Aid of North Carolina Riya Bhatt | Ward Family Law Group Riley Blake | Supreme Court of North Carolina Anthony Bland | Jackson Lewis PC Richard Blanks | RCB Forensic Psychiatry PLLC Susan Brancaccio | Williams Mullen Jonathan Breeden | Breeden Law Jacob Britt | Ward and Smith PA Morgan Brown | Miller Monroe & Plyler PLLC Ellenor Brown | Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Madelyn Bruckel | Hartzog Law Group LLP Kennedy Buechner | Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Judith Bullock | Law++ Kay Burgwyn Alexandra Buxbaum | Elon University School of Law Jeffrey Caison | Midtown Property Law Nick Christopherson | Poyner Spruill LLP Kengyeh Chu | Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Sydney Clark Adrianne Cleven | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Katherine Copeland | NC Judicial Branch Michael Coppess | KPMG LLP Matthew Couch | Michael Best & Friedrich Sarah Couillard | Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Daniel Crandol | Crawford & von Keller Hannah Cross | Granados Law Group PLLC Freddie Cruz | Wunsch Law Firm Cynthia Currin | WEMC & CEMC Ashley Davis Christian Delgado | Michael Best & Friedrich WAKE BAR FLYER • FOURTH QUARTER 2024 LLP

Lyric Derglin Gunjan Devnani | US Bankruptcy Court EDNC Joseph Dipierro | Solo Practitioner Robert Driggers | Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP Nathaniel Drum Clara Ellington | Loebsack & Brownlee PLLC Mollie Ellis | Wake Family Law Group Kacie England | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Nicole Evans | Legal Aid of North Carolina Mattie Ferguson Nicolette Ferriolo | Raleigh Divorce Law Firm Matthew Ferris | NC Court of Appeals Kevin Flynn | Flynn IP Law Chase Freeman | Williams Mullen Sunny Frothingham | North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services Cameron Funderburk | Fairview Investment Services Ashwat Giri | Young Moore & Henderson PA Madeleine Goldman | Brown Crump Vanore & Tierney LLP Alexander Goodin | McGuireWoods LLP Melaina Grewal | Williams & Ray PLLC Jaden Grimes | Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP Melissa Gustafson | NC Supreme Court Shelsey Hall | Whitley Law Firm James Hamlett, II | Etheridge Hamlett & Murray LLP Brittany Harry | Lewis & Roberts PLLC Benjamin Hartell Vanessa Harvey | McAngus Goudelock & Courie PLLC Taylor Hastings | Hastings Law & Counsel, PLLC Emily Hatem | McAngus Goudelock & Courie PLLC Harrison Hayne | Mayer Brown LLP Nicholas Heintzman | Phelps Dunbar LLP Jessica Herring | Herring Law PLLC Chloe Holden | Remnant Management Lucas Holder Shannon Holland | Alabama Department of Labor Abigail Holt | Underwood & Roberts PLLC Morgan Hoyt | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Alexis Hurd Iris Izaguirre | Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC Elisa Jernigan | Jernigan Law Firm Morgan Johnson | Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP Letreshia Joyner | The Law Offices of L. Shanelle Joyner, PLLC Lynne Kay Joanna Keck CONTINUED, PAGE NEXT18 PAGE

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS, CONTINUED WE WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBERS TO THE WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Brigitte Kelly Reginald Kelly | Kelly & West P A Cameron Kelshaw Alison Kennihan | Rodgers Waters Law, PLLC Huma Khursheed Emily Kingston | Vesta Enterprises Inc Ruth Kintzele | NCPLS Sabrina Kiplinger Kaley Knight | NCPLS Latrice Knighton | Raleigh Law Center Sydney Kraft | Milberg Gordon & Stewart PLLC Kelly Kramarenko Elizabeth Kwon | Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Brooke Laing | Herischi Human Rights Law Center Matthew Langston | Howard Stallings Law Firm Brett Lewis | Law Office of Brett Alan Lewis Avery Maggiolo | Schneider Electric Robert Maitland, II | Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm PLLC Sean Mannette | The Law Office of Sean Mannette and Associates Julian Manrique | The Law Offices of Benjamin T. McLawhorn Meagan Mariano Kaitlyn Marley | Life Law Shannon Martells | Ricci Law Firm PA Jasmin Martin Aurora May | Brown Crump Vanore & Tierney LLP Shaunis Mercer | Peaceful Law Katherine Merritt | Coleman Merritt Murphy & Rainsford PC Brandon Minella | Ricci Law Firm PA Ryan Mitiguy | Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP Ryan Moore | Williams Mullen Sarah Morehouse Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP Andreas Mosby | Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP Dvimidha Muniappan | Young Moore & Henderson PA Emily Murphy | Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers LLP Jason Murphy | Schmeiser Olsen & Watts LLP Tomas Nazer-Paniagua | NC Court of Appeals Meagan Neil | Ohayon Neil, PLLC Brett Neve | Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP Lindsay Noe Frank O’Hale | Ellis & Winters LLP Kelsey Palacios | Moore & Alphin PLLC Lauren Peterson | McGuireWoods LLP WAKE BARPeterson FLYER •| FOURTH QUARTER Marley Ward and Smith PA2024

Aliya Peterson | McGuireWoods LLP Nicolle Phair | The Phair Firm Maya Pillai Lauren Pless | Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC Caitlin Preston | Breeden Law Grace Prillaman | Adams, Howell, Sizemore & Adams, P.A. Tom Rand, Jr. | Tom Slade Rand, Jr., Attorney at Law Anna Rodriguez | Vann Attorneys PLLC Rachel Rogers | North Carolina Bar Association John Salt | Tharrington Smith LLP Katina Sammis | McGuireWoods LLP Beverly Scarlett Garett Schwartz | Morningstar Law Group Carollyn Sierra | Tharrington Smith LLP Lindsay Simon | Gantt Family Law Tyra Slade | Duke University Madison Stamper | NC Planning Emily Steele | Weatherspoon & Voltz LLP Emily Stellman | UNC Chapel Hill Angenette Stephenson | Stephenson & Fleming LLP Jay Thomas | Envisage Law Stacy Thompson Samuel Thorne | Campbell University James Tolin, III Trent Turk | Ballew Puryear PLLC Jordan Turner Sandra Vasher | The Prism Learning Group Annelisse Velazquez Fernandez | Sodoma Law Holly Vetrano | City of Raleigh City Attorney’s Office Sophia Vouvalis | Envisage law Stephen Walker | Barringer Sasser LLP Virginia Walker | Underwood & Roberts PLLC Winslow Ward, III | Direct Connect Development Co Vanessa Way | Moore & Alphin PLLC Magdalena White | White Law Offices PLLC Isabel Wigley | Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Aaron Wilkinson | Wilkinson Law PA Jessica Williams | Jessica Creech Williams, Attorney, PLLC Mary Wilson | Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP Nathan Wilson | Fox Rothschild LLP Bailey Wiseman Kevin Wolff | Wolff Law Offices PLLC Benjamin Wood | Wake County Public Defender’s Office David Woodlief | NC Supreme Court Peter Wright | McGuireWoods LLP Jason Wunsch | Wunsch Law Firm PAGE 19 Joseph Zavala Diek | USPTO

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