BAR FLYER
ANCHORED IN PRINCIPLES, COMMITTED
JAKE EPSTEIN, PRESIDENT
TO SERVICE
TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR | EPSTEIN SHERLIN PLLC
AS WE APPROACH the end of the year, it is a fitting time to reflect—not just on what we accomplished but also on where we are headed. I will begin with the latter.
One privilege of serving as president of the Tenth Judicial District Bar is the opportunity to speak with lawyers across our district, the state and the country. In those conversations, I have heard four consistent concerns:
• Protecting the rule of law;
• Navigating the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence;
• Promoting and ensuring access to justice; and
• Managing issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion.
These are not fleeting issues. They will likely continue to be critical topics for the foreseeable future. It is evident that lawyers will need to be the trusted, guiding force. Amid uncertainty and change, our courts provide stability, reason and fairness.
As president, I have had the pleasure of talking with new lawyers as they are sworn in as members of the Bar and begin their legal careers. I share with them that lawyers occupy a unique and trusted position in society—one built of responsibility, respect, integrity and professionalism. Holding that reputation allows us the privilege of meaningful service. Maintaining that reputation requires us to continuously earn and strengthen it in everything we do, including supporting our clients, other lawyers, our system of justice and our communities.
As our country continues to face complex challenges, the legal profession has a central role to play. That role extends beyond the courtroom, to volunteering for good causes and being a steady and dependable presence in our communities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 6 | Learn Over Lunch: Nonpro it Oversight in North Carolina
November 12 | WCBA New Member Drop-In
November 13 | Joint Centennial Celebration with Durham County Bar
November 18 | November Senior Lawyers Division Luncheon
December 9 | Tenth J.D. Bar & WCBA Annual Meeting
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
6 Celia Pistolis: 2025 Joseph Branch Award Winner A Legal Aid Lawyer’s Life of Service
8 Candidate Profiles
18 Coming Soon from the Professionalism Centennial Subcomittee
19 Mission Accomplished: 100 CLE Hours for 100 Years
20 Thank You Centennial Public Service Volunteers
24 Nancy Grace Looking Back: A Career in Law and the Enduring Value of Professionalism and Collegiality
CENTENNIAL EVENTS
CENTENNIAL GALA | December 5
Don’t miss a night to remember as we continue our year of centennial celebrations! Celebrate with us at the Centennial Gala on Friday, December 5 from 7 - 10 p.m. at the Angus Barn Pavilion. Registration will be open from October 15 - November 15. Each WCBA member can bring one guest, and guest tickets will be $75. Space will be limited. Black tie optional.
WAKE BAR FLYER
VOL. LIII No. 4 | FOURTH QUARTER 2025
Presidents
KIMBERLY TURNER MILLER, WCBA
JAKE EPSTEIN, TENTH J.D. BAR
Presidents-elect
JOHN B. WARD, WCBA
LEANOR BAILEY HODGE, TENTH J.D. BAR
Secretary
TIFFANY COX
Treasurer
ERIKA N. JONES
Board of Directors
KRISTEN L. BEIGHTOL
DAVID R. BOAZ
JONATHAN M. BOGUES
MEREDITH P. BREWER
TARA CHO
JORDAN GROSS
GABE JIMENEZ
JOSUE JIMENEZ
JENNIFER JONES
DEAN J. RICH LEONARD
JACOB MORSE
WILL D. OWENS
CELIA PISTOLIS
LINDSAY A. UNDERWOOD
MALLORY UNDERWOOD
Senior Lawyers Division President
MARIA LYNCH
Young Lawyers Division President
PATRICK VANDERJEUGDT
Executive Director
WHITNEY D.G. von HAAM
Communications Manager
AMY DAVIS
Wake Bar Flyer Designer
ANNE STRICKLAND
Tenth Judicial District Bar Councilors
JUDGE JULIE L. BELL
ANNA DAVIS
NANCY L. GRACE
JESSICA HEFFNER
KIMBERLY A. MOORE
JUDGE ASHLEIGH S. PARKER
JUDGE ROBERT B. RADER
Opinions expressed in Bar Flyer articles are those of members as individuals and does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Wake County Bar Association. © 2025 Wake County Bar Association & Tenth Judicial District Bar
HIDDEN GEMS: OUR MEMORIAL SESSIONS OF COURT
BY WHITNEY D.G. von HAAM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IAM ABOUT TO let you in on a little secret: Our Memorial Sessions of Court are the hidden gem of the Tenth Judicial District Bar. If you haven’t been to one, you may think that they are like what you might hear at a loved one’s funeral, but they are not. They are a treasure trove of inspiration, collegiality and mirth, and provide a sense of pride in the legal profession. Every attendee leaves with something – whether a story about helping a client, a reminder of what is important in the world or a cautionary tale of living life every day to its fullest.
Having been in the executive director’s seat for 15 years now, I will assert that I have been to as many of these as anyone reading this message –okay, actually David Long, Colon Willoughby and John Silverstein might have me beat. Most importantly, these sessions are not sad, they are (generally speaking) joyful and celebratory of our lawyers’ lives. How can this be so? First, we wait for some time to pass before reaching out to the family of our deceased members. Generally, we allow at least 6-12 months of time, so that the grieving family has a chance to begin to heal from their loss. During COVID, we fell far behind and some of our families waited 3-4 years before their loved ones were honored. The Memorials Committee, chaired by Mary Winstead, has focused on “catching up” over these past two years, hosting four sessions a year to work through a sometimes-overwhelming list of people to honor.
Regularly I receive questions about why someone was not honored, so allow me to provide an overview of the process. When a member passes, the first touch point is a sympathy card to the family from me on behalf of our bar. Not only to express our condolences, but this step also enables us to gain access to an address, hopefully local. The member is added to our “to be memorialized” list, which
includes a link to their obituary and any other pertinent information, such as any contact information that we can collect.
The Memorials Committee, a team of about 10 lawyers, meets on a regular basis, and if someone has a relationship with the family, they will be the main contact. Sometimes no one on the committee knows the lawyer, but our intrepid volunteers reach out by any means available – phone, email and even a good, old-fashioned letter in the mail. Some families elect to take part in the session, by providing the name of a lawyer who will make the presentation in court and sending photos to be used in the video. Some families opt not to honor their loved one in this manner.
At the Memorial Session, we have been so fortunate to have Judge Bryan Collins preside over most of them these past few years, and before him Judges Don Stephens and Michael Morgan presided. We record the sessions and load them onto our Wake County Bar Association YouTube channel, and as part of our Centennial celebration, we digitized the earlier memorial sessions that were recorded, and we now have a catalogue of them going back to 2005.
I am going to be so bold as to invite –nay, challenge – you to experience one of these sessions – whether you join us at the upcoming one at 2 p.m. on November 21 in Courtroom 701 in the Justice Center, or you pull up one of our recordings on YouTube. You will not regret the time you spent honoring our lawyers, and even if the session recognized people you did not know, it will be fulfilling. Trust me.
WBF
von Haam
WHY WE NEED BAR AWARDS THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER AN INTERVIEW WITH LEGAL AID
JACOB MORSE | MORSE FRITTS PLLC | 2025 BAR
MISSY HATLEY | LEGAL AID OF NC
Jacob: What has the Wake County Bar Awards fundraiser meant for Legal Aid of North Carolina in past years?
Missy: Everything! Wake County Bar members who purchase tickets and firms and businesses who are sponsors are critical to our mission — the funds raised make legal services accessible for our neighbors that live at or near the federal poverty line. Clients come to us during the most difficult times of their lives. It’s not a stretch to say the Bar Awards and the pro bono support of Wake County Bar members has kept us steady through many challenges for more than a decade.
Jacob: Why is this year’s goal of raising $100,000 so important?
Missy: This has been one of the most challenging years in LANC’s financial history. Several key federal
AWARDS CHAIR
funding streams have been reduced or eliminated, and the freeze on IOLTA funds alone means a loss of more than $6 million for our statewide programs in 2026. In the face of this volatility, private sector support is what’s keeping our work strong.
Jacob: How has the WCBA’s ongoing support impacted Legal Aid’s ability to serve the community?
Missy: Every gift — from individual attorneys and from law firms — truly sustains our presence in Wake County and across North Carolina, and we are deeply grateful. We understand that there are challenges still ahead and know that it will take public-private partnership to meet the justice gap challenges.
Jacob: In your view, what is the most pressing legal need for low-income residents in our community?
Missy: It’s hard to single out one hardship, but two facts speak volumes: we can only answer a fraction of the calls flooding our helpline every day, and the greatest need is to help survivors of family violence.
Jacob: Can you tell us about a memorable case or client success story that increased donations this year could help replicate?
Missy: The cases that stay with me are the
ones where our services create new beginnings — where Legal Aid opens a door that was unfairly closed. Like when a mom wins full custody and her family can live free from abuse, the future is suddenly brighter in ways you can’t measure. Or when our Second Chance program restores a driver’s license, giving someone the ability to drive to work and reclaim opportunities most of us take for granted. Many people believe licenses are revoked simply for unpaid court fees, yet for someone living on less than $25,000 a year, coming up with $400 can be nearly impossible.
Jacob: What does Legal Aid have as part of this year’s Bar Awards show? Without giving too much away, can we get a preview?
Missy: The truth is that our funny bones are a little creaky at the moment, but we all love a good pun. Join the WCBA for this fun “Decades” theme.
Jacob: What is your message to WCBA members as they consider buying their tickets for this year’s Bar Awards?
Missy: Please come out this year and give generously. The Bar Foundation covers the costs of this event so that every dollar given goes directly to legal services for our clients. WBF
Morse Hatley
A LEGAL AID LAWYER’S LIFE OF SERVICE
2025 JOSEPH BRANCH AWARD WINNER CELIA PISTOLIS
HELEN HOBSON | LEGAL AID OF NORTH CAROLINA
WHEN CELIA PISTOLIS TALKS about her career, it is with a humility and grace that reflect the way she has practiced law for more than four decades. Born and raised in Tarboro, she is the daughter of Greek immigrants who ran a small café in town. Her childhood was shaped by the rhythms of hard work and service. She remembers waiting tables, peeling potatoes, shelling butter beans and snapping green beans in the sweltering café kitchen alongside her brother and sister. Life was steady and full of lessons about perseverance and responsibility. Yet it was a moment far from the café that set her course for the rest of her life.
As a teenager, Pistolis sat in a courtroom when a young Black boy was sentenced to reform school for stealing a quarter. The punishment was severe, the imbalance of power unmistakable. She left the courthouse that day unsettled, thinking, “That was incredibly unfair.” Though she did not know it then, the experience planted a seed that would grow into a lifelong commitment to justice.
At first, she imagined herself becoming a criminal defense attorney — standing beside those without a voice and ensuring fairness where she had once seen so little. But during law school, an internship with Alabama Legal Services shifted her path. There, she saw firsthand how civil legal aid could transform lives and realized this was where she was meant to serve.
believed their needs should come first.”
Her career is defined not by titles but by the tangible impact she has had on the lives of thousands of North Carolinians. She played a central role in developing statewide case priorities so that no matter where a client lived, they could count on the same fairness and access to justice as someone in another county. This was not simply a matter of logistics; it was a matter of equity.
Pistolis recognized that LANC clients needed not only skilled trial lawyers but also strong appellate attorneys to defend favorable rulings and challenge adverse decisions. In response, she redefined how LANC handles appeals — transitioning from a single attorney to a specialized appellate team selected for each case. She oversees and manages these teams, which handle about 10 appeals annually.
When she joined what would become Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC), her only goal was to be the best lawyer for her clients. Leadership was never part of her plan. Yet as the organization grew and evolved, colleagues recognized her vision and steady presence. She was asked to take on greater responsibilities, eventually serving as chief legal officer and general counsel. Even in those roles, her guiding principle never wavered: “Our clients’ needs come first because, at the end of the day, I go home to a house, food on the table and medical care. Our clients often do not. That is why I have always
Each appeal is more than just a legal battle to preserve a client’s housing, protect a domestic violence survivor or obtain unemployment benefits for a worker. It is an opportunity to establish legal precedents that could safeguard countless families for years to come. For example:
• In 2020, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in Winston Affordable Hous., LLC v. Roberts, 374 N.C. 395, 841 S.E.2d 267 (2020), that subsidized housing landlords could terminate a tenant’s subsidy and lease only in compliance with federal requirements.
• In 2023, the Court of Appeals in Chociej v. Richburg, 287 N.C. App. 615, 883 S.E.2d 649 (2023), held that when a trial court finds domestic violence has occurred between individuals with a qualifying personal relationship, the issuance of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) is mandatory, not discretionary.
To date, LANC’s appellate teams, including Pistolis, have represented clients in more than 158 appeals.
Her colleagues admire her integrity, sound judgment and ability to see the bigger picture. Many have said she embodies what it means to be a true leader in legal aid —
Celia Pistolis, 2025 Joseph Branch Award Recipient
Joseph Branch Award Winner Celia
someone who keeps clients at the center of every decision while also strengthening the organization and the profession itself.
Mentorship has also been a hallmark of Pistolis’s career. Generations of lawyers remember her steady guidance, the high standards she set and the simple yet powerful advice she often repeated: “Always take the high road. Your reputation in the legal community is paramount. Be zealous, but you do not have to be nasty.” To her, professionalism is not optional; it is central to what it means to be a lawyer. This insistence on dignity and integrity earned her the Joseph Branch WCBA Professionalism Award, a recognition that left her deeply moved. “To have your colleagues in the bar think you are worthy of this kind of award is incredibly moving.”
Despite her achievements, Pistolis deflects attention from herself. She insists her career has been defined not by her alone but by the clients who trusted her, the colleagues who worked alongside her and even the opposing counsel who sharpened her arguments and tested her resolve. To her, the privilege has always been in the practice, not the accolades.
As she looks ahead to retirement next year, Pistolis speaks with her characteristic modesty. She jokes that her main
goal is to leave behind no boxes for others to clean out. Yet those who know her understand that her true legacy cannot be packed away or discarded. It will live on in the legal protections she helped secure, the stronger legal aid system she helped build and the culture of professionalism and fairness she modeled for everyone privileged to work with her.
Outside the courtroom, Pistolis has another passion that has brought joy to many: baking. Known for her homemade bread, she once placed second at the North Carolina State Fair. Lately, she has been perfecting her recipe for whole wheat biscuits. “A biscuit has to be eaten warm out of the oven,” she says with a smile. Just like her career, it is the care, the craft and the heart behind it that make it extraordinary.
For more than 40 years, Celia Pistolis has been a force for fairness, a protector of dignity and a role model for the profession. Her story is a reminder that leadership is not always about seeking the spotlight. Sometimes it is about staying true to your values, lifting others up and never losing sight of the people who need you most. For Legal Aid of North Carolina, and for the countless lives she has touched, her legacy will endure far beyond her retirement.
We are proud to support the Wake County Bar Association
Helping civil, criminal, bankruptcy and matrimonial attorneys with the financial aspects of their most important cases.
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ELECTIONS
NOTICE OF ELECTION
THE NOMINATIONS 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:
That the annual election of Officers will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at the StateView Hotel (2451 Alumni Dr, Raleigh) 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.
The election is for the purpose of choosing officers for both the Tenth Judicial District Bar and the Wake County Bar Association, directors and State Bar Councilors.
1. The following officers will be elected: President-elect, Treasurer, Secretary
President-Elect, Tenth (Elect One)
Erika Nicole Jones
President-Elect, WCBA (Elect One)
Megan Sherron
Treasurer (Elect One)
Jordan H. Gross
2. The following State Bar Councilor position will be elected by the Tenth Judicial District Bar:
STATE BAR COUNCILOR | GRACE SEAT (Elect One) J. Heydt Philbeck
David L. Sherlin
STATE BAR COUNCILOR | GRANT SEAT Through December 2027 (Elect One)
Keith O. Gregory Kris Hilscher
Secretary (Elect One)
Tiffany Grant Cox
STATE BAR COUNCILOR | RADER SEAT (Elect One) Russell D. Babb
Plato Collins Barwick III
STATE BAR COUNCILOR | BELL SEAT (Elect One)
Julie L. Bell
3. The following directors have been selected by the Nominations Committee and will be affirmed by voice vote for a three-year term:
Kevin Boxberger
Meghan N. Knight
Elysia Prendergast-Jones Warren Savage
Please see biographical information on the following pages for more information. WBF
Mallory Underwood
ELECTIONS
PRESIDENT, TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR VOTE FOR ONE
Erika Nicole Jones
University of North Carolina School of Law, 2012
What is your theme song? "Survivor" by Destiny's Child
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it's a display of wisdom and strength.
Favorite Career Highlight:
Being interviewed by “The New York Times” about prosecuting Venus Flytrap poachers
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I LOVE game shows! I can never get enough of Family Feud, The Price is Right, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Press Your Luck or Weakest Link.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? Reaffirming my commitment to the legal profession at the Reaffirmation Ceremony held at the State Capitol.
PRESIDENT, WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION VOTE FOR ONE
Megan Sherron
Campbell University School of Law
Campbell University School of Law, 2010
What is your theme song? “Boogie Shoes” by KC and the Sunshine Band. I love to dance.
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: “Don’t let the first gust of wind blow you down.” This was something I heard early in life, and it continues to serve me well. Resilience is a skill developed only through challenge, so it is essential to persevere even when faced with adversity.
Favorite Career Highlight:
Celebrating 10 years of the Campbell Law Connections Program. Most mentoring programs fail within the first few years. We have worked hard as a community to make ours successful, and it was fun to celebrate the entire year.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I was on the dance team in college, so despite my limited athletic abilities, I was a college athlete.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? I have loved all the social events like the oyster roast and picnic. They are so special in bringing our bar together for a time of fellowship, community and fun. TREASURER | VOTE FOR ONE
Jordan H. Gross
Stauff & Gross, PLLC
Florida Coastal School of Law, 2009
What is your theme song? “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
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.
Jones Sherron
Gross
ELECTIONS
TREASURER, CONTINUED
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 violence and was able to see the invaluable service that Interact provides to victims in Wake County.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? Helping plan the 100 hours of CLE with the CLE Committee and WCBA staff.
SECRETARY | VOTE FOR ONE
Cox
Tiffany Grant Cox
North Carolina 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 do, be the best at it.
Favorite Career Highlight: What uplifts me is every single time a client lets me know they are so thankful someone took the time to look into their case when no one else would. I also enjoy hearing of my colleagues efforts and victories for their clients as well. It motivates me to continue doing this important work!
What is something that would surprise people to know about you?
After I swore we would not get into travel sports for my twins, our weekends are now filled with travel baseball and soccer tournaments! The real surprise? I enjoy being out there and watching them play!
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? I just know it’s going to be the Bar Awards and Centennial Gala!
BAR COUNCILOR | GRACE SEAT – VOTE FOR ONE
J. Heydt Philbeck
Bailey & Dixon, LLP
Valparaiso University, 1992
What is your theme song?
“With Arms Wide Open” by Creed (as a father), “Forever” by John Michael Montgomery (as a husband), and “Rock and Roll” by Led Zepplin (as a lawyer)
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You:
As a “puppy” lawyer, the best advice was learned at the coffee shop on the sixth floor of the old courthouse. Two bits of advice stand out today 25-30 years later: Tommy Manning told me that he “tries murder cases the same way that he tries speeding cases—Only that there are different elements.” This advice was excellent for me as a young lawyer for two reasons: first, it instructed me not to be “intimidated” by a case that appears to have gravitas – it’s just different elements involved; and second, treat all cases as equally important—do not differentiate cases based on the level of complexity in terms of dedication and focus. Also, I recall Judge Salisbury sharing what her mentor, Russell Dement, taught her: “Some of the best clients that you’ll ever Philbeck
ELECTIONS
BAR COUNCILOR | GRACE SEAT CONTINUED
serve wear their name on their shirts.” After 30 plus years of practice, I completely agree.
Favorite Career Highlight:
Many favorites, but one that stands out was when I represented a trooper who was fired for amending his report on an arrest by other troopers that involved (unreported) excessive force. The SHP dismissed my trooper claiming he was “untruthful” for not initially reporting an incident that the SHP claimed never happened. After 13 years of litigating the case in both the trial and appellate courts, a jury finally got to hear the evidence on the Whistleblower claim. The jury issued a verdict that fully compensated client for the harms, \ losses, and damages that he had incurred. Immediately after the jury verdict was read, I looked to my client with indescribable joy. The client looked at me with a tear in his eye – “after 13 years, I’ll be able to go home tonight and tell my sons that their daddy did nothing wrong.” I’ll never forget this.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? As a four-year-old-child, I drowned –well, almost. As my parents’ attention was diverted while unloading our station wagon for a picnic at the lake, I had stepped off a pier thinking it was shallow water below. The water’s depth was over my head and I went straight to the bottom. I recall thinking I should do like what I saw in the cartoons – walk up from the bottom to the shore while under water. Thankfully, that was not my only option. Out of nowhere, an unknown man jumped in the water to pull me out and lay me on the top of the pier. As he was evaluating CPR, my parents noticed the stranger placing my little body back on the pier. To this day, I have no idea who the man was or how he suddenly appeared at the remote lakeshore. But I remind myself this during the tough times in life— every day is indeed a privilege.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? I’ve enjoyed the many WCBAsponsored “100 hours” of CLE throughout the year with interesting legal topics to mark centennial. I’m also looking forward to the Holiday Party this year at “The Barn.”
WCBA/Tenth-related Activities:
• Member, WCBA Board of Directors
• Volunteer Mediator, Tenth Judicial District’s Fee Dispute Resolution Committee
• Member, Tenth Judicial District Board of Directors
• Member, Tenth Judicial District’s Committee on Indigent Appointments
Other Bar Activities:
• Fellow, NC State Bar’s Board of Continuing Legal Education
• Past President, Craven-Everett American Inn of Court
• Mentor/Judge, Wake County Teen Court
• Volunteer attorney for domestic violence victims, Project
• Member, NC Bar Association Professionalism Committee
• Pro Bono Honor Society (2018-25)
• Fellow, American College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
• Fellow, Melvin M. Belli Society
David L. Sherlin
Epstein Sherlin PLLC North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2004
What is your theme song?
Rocky Top…despite being a UNC grad, Rocky Top pays homage to my family in eastern Tennessee, it’s the first song blaring out the speakers at my house on football Saturdays!
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: “Say thank you often, take pride in your profession, the greatest gift in life is to give.” Allan Head
Favorite Career Highlight: It’s a tie…being sworn in at the U.S. Supreme Court the same day that my firm argued a case before the Court and working as president of the WCBA alongside Nancy Gracy who was president of the Tenth Judicial District to lead the efforts in purchasing the current WCBA/Tenth offices.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I’m 77 Dave Matthews concerts in (and counting) and have been to 12 with my 19-year-old daughter
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? So many to choose from already but my favorite moment will 100% be the Gala!
WCBA/Tenth-related Activities:
• Past-President, Wake County Bar Association
• Board of Directors, 10th Judicial District/Wake County Bar Association
• Chair, Grievance Committee Tenth Judicial District
• Chair, Wake County Bar Association Nominations Committee
Sherlin
ELECTIONS
BAR COUNCILOR | GRACE SEAT CONTINUED
• Co-Chair of Wake County Bar Association Building Committee
• Member, Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Committee and Wake County Bar Awards Committee
Other Bar Activities:
• International Society of Barristers
• NC Advocates for Justice Board of Governors
• North Carolina Bar Association Local Bar Outreach Committee
• NC Mock Trial Board of Directors
National Crime Victim’s Bar Association
BAR COUNCILOR | GRANT SEAT THROUGH DEC. 2027 – VOTE FOR ONE
Keith O. Gregory
Wake County Resident Superior Court Judge (elected in 2018), former Wake County District Court Judge (elected in 2010 and 2014)
North Carolina Central University School of Law, 1994 and Duke Law School, Master’s in Judicial Studies, 2023
What is your theme song? “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
Best piece of advice a mentor ever gave you? My mentor told me to always treat the court staff with respect. He said that the clerks, deputies and court reporters can be extremely helpful to new lawyers.
Favorite career highlight: My favorite career highlight would be participating in the reunification of parents and their children while presiding in Abuse, Neglect and Dependency Court as a District Court Judge. Watching parents recover from substance abuse or mental health issues and being able to return their children, when appropriate was an honor to be a part of.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? Most likely people would be surprised that while I was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, from 1984 to 1988, I wrote hundreds of poems
and in 1989 tried to start a band like Hootie and the Blowfish. Unfortunately, unlike Darius Rucker, I could not sing, which is probably not surprising.
Did you have a favorite moment in the Centennial Celebration this year? Earlier this year I sat on a panel, titled “Mentoring the Next Generation,” hosted by both the Wake County Bar Association (WCBA) and Capital City Lawyers Association (CCLA). As a past president of CCLA, and as a member of the bar for the past 30 years, it gave me great joy to see the two associations sponsoring an event together.
WCBA/Tenth-related Activities:
• Board of Directors, Wake County Bar Association/ Tenth Judicial District Bar (2009-2011 and December 2016-2018)
• Board Member, Wake County Bar Association/10th Judicial District Bar, Professionalism Committee (2014-2018)
• Committee Member, Tenth Judicial District Bar, Fee Dispute Resolution (2005-2006)
Other Bar Activities:
• President, North Carolina Association of District Court Judges (October 2017-May 2018)
• Vice President, North Carolina Association of District Court Judges (October 2016-October 2017))
• Secretary, North Carolina Association of District Court Judges (October 2015-October 2016)
• Board Member, North Carolina State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee (2002-2010)
Kris Hilscher
Sullivan & Hilscher Family Law
Campbell University School of Law, 2008
What is your theme song?
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
– because, like a good family law case, it’s timeless and you can’t help but sing along! In all seriousness, it reflects my approach to law: creating harmony in tough situations.
As a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 15 years of experience, and a knack for navigating complex military divorce cases, I strive to hit the right notes for clients and colleagues alike. Plus, who doesn’t love a good ‘Bum, bum, bum!’ to lighten the mood at a bar association event? Let’s keep the Wake County Bar Association singing strong.
Gregory
Hilscher
ELECTIONS
BAR COUNCILOR | GRANT SEAT CONTINUED
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: My law partner, Mark Sullivan, has a sign in our office that quotes Thomas Edison: ‘Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.’ As a farm kid from way back, I knew those overalls well – hard work was my breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’ve carried that grit into my practice, whether I’m tackling complex military divorce cases, mentoring or doing valuable committee work. I have applied that advice to practicing law, and appreciate everything it has brought me – a wonderful legal community, an opportunity to serve and a thriving practice. I’m happy to roll up my sleeves (overalls optional) and seize opportunities to strengthen our bar.
Favorite Career Highlight: Choosing my favorite career highlight is like picking the best barbecue in NC… a very tough call! I was tempted to say getting published opinions in the NC Court of Appeals because assisting in crafting the law feels like winning a courtroom cook-off. But I’ve got to go with becoming a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). I feel like I’ve graduated from the kids table, and made it to the family law feast after years of hard work, late nights and a few jokes to keep me sane.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? This family law attorney trades his briefcase for a steering wheel when the courtroom clock stops ticking. I’m the proud owner of a Jeep Wrangler and a Corvette, a turn-of-the-21st-century classic… think dial-up and flip phones. I think of them as my legal yin and yang, both convertibles soaking up that glorious North Carolina weather. But one’s built for kicking up dust or sand, the other for cruising like I’m auditioning for a Formula 1 cameo. My love for the outdoors and these polar-opposite rides (hopefully) keep me grounded, just like my passion for serving our Wake County Bar community – with maybe a few pit stops for laughs along the way.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? It was difficult to pick just one favorite moment from the Wake County Bar Association’s centennial celebration. I’m going with the incredible lineup of CLEs that marked our 100th year. From sessions on cutting-edge law to workshops, the variety was like a legal buffet with something for everyone. As someone who has presented approximately 20 CLE’s, I value CLE’s, the knowledge shared, and very much appreciate the work that went into making this happen.
My work with WCBA/Tenth and CLE teaching experience made those sessions extra special. I’m running to keep our bar’s learning legacy vibrant, hopefully with a side of lawyerly wit to keep us smiling.
WCBA/Tenth-related Activities:
• Social Committee Co-Chair, 2020
• Social Committee Appointed Member, 2021-2022
• Bench Bar Committee Appointed Member, 2023-2025
• Grievance Committee Appointed Member, 2025
Other Bar Activities:
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
o Fellow, 2024-present
o CLE Committee, 2025
• American Bar Association (ABA):
o Family Law Section, Military Committee: Chair, 2023-2026; Co-Chair, 2022-2023; Vice Chair, 2021-2022
o Family Law Section, Trial Practice Committee: Co-Chair, 2025-2026
o Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel: Appointed Member, 20222025; Appointed Special Advisor, 2025-2026
o Military Lawyers Coordinating Committee, 2022
o GPSolo Family Law Committee, Member, 2021-present
• North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), Family Law Section:
o Professionalism Committee, Appointed Member, 2024-2025, 2025-2026
o Continuing Legal Education Advisory Committee, Appointed Member, 2021-2024
o NC State Bar Family Law Certified Specialist Mentor, 2021
• Lee County Bar Association:
o President, 2011-2012
o Vice President, 2010-2011
• 2022 NC Pro Bono Honor Society Member
BAR COUNCILOR | RADER SEAT VOTE FOR ONE
Russell D. Babb
Tharrington Smith LLP University of North Carolina School of Law, 1999
What is your theme song? There are so many good ones for a criminal defense lawyer. I’d say either “Lawyers, Guns & Money” or “I Fought the Law.”
Babb
ELECTIONS
BAR COUNCILOR | RADER SEAT
CONTINUED
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You:
Don’t have coffee with your clients. This is especially good advice for criminal attorneys – because our cases often end in tears.
Favorite Career Highlight: I had the great privilege of trying a murder case with Wade Smith. I learned so much in those two weeks, but the best part by far was Wade “holding court” at dinner every night.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I played bass guitar in a jazz band years ago.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? I attended the Reaffirmation Ceremony at the State Capitol in April, where a large group of lawyers reaffirmed our commitment to our Oath and Creed of Professionalism.
WCBA/Tenth-related Activities:
• Wake County Bar Board Of Directors, 2014-2016
• Strategic Planning Committee, appointed twice, 2015 & 2018
• Tenth Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee, 2018-2020
• Tenth Judicial District Bar President-Elect, 2020
• Tenth Judicial District Bar President, 2021
• WCBA/Tenth Nominations Committee: 2020-present o Chair, 2022
Plato Collins Barwick III Barwick Attorney, PLLC d/b/a Barwick Mediation Wake Forest University School of Law, 1988
What is your theme song? “Funky Side” by Donna the Buffalo and Matthew Broderick’s lip sync version of Twist and Shout/Beatles during the parade in ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ plus anything Motown, the Cars, the Doors, Van Morrison and Squeeze!
Barwick III
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: Life is wonderful but it is going to slap you in the face and challenge you on occasion – more than you can imagine. Not what happens to you but how you interpret it and
how you react to it is going to get you through it in the best manner possible.
Favorite Career Highlight: Being sworn in to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court with my wife and three boys looking on and then visiting with Justices Ginsburg and Thomas after the ceremony (and being able to share with Justice Thomas that I had been fortunate to sample some of his mom’s handpicked crabmeat from Pin Point, Ga., his hometown – he was quite surprised!!)
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I cold plunge outside in almost any body of water I can find almost every morning all year long.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? Every time we got together. I love the camaraderie and fellowship and friendships we all share together as lawyers in Wake County and the Tenth Judicial District. I think our bar is one of a kind in that department!
WCBA/Tenth-related Activities:
• Board member, Wake County Bar Association/Tenth Judicial District Bar
• Former co-chair, WCBA Social Committee
Other Bar Activities:
• Board certified specialist, Workers Compensation, NC Board of Specialization
• Certified Superior Court Mediator
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• Speaker at CLE seminars, including NCBA Workers’ Compensation annual meeting
• Invited guest to NCIC’s Education Seminar
BAR COUNCILOR | BELL SEAT VOTE FOR ONE
Julie L. Bell
District Court Judge, Tenth Judicial District University of North Carolina School of Law, 1992
What is your theme song? “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
What is something that would surprise people to know about you?
I write short raps and perform them.
Bell
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? The park clean-up day at Chavis.
ELECTIONS
SLATE FOR DIRECTORS | VOICE VOTE FOR ENTIRE SLATE
Kevin Boxberger District Court Judge, Tenth Judicial District North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2013
What is your theme song?
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: When I became a non-commissioned
officer in the Air Force and started supervising airmen, the chief master sergeant of my unit told me to remember one thing: ask your airmen how they are doing. Everyone has stressors in their everyday life and asking that simple question could change the course of their day.
Favorite Career Highlight: There are several, but I am most proud of earning peer-voted awards.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? Contrary to my wishes, my house is like a zoo. We have a goldendoodle, conure, budgie, leopard gecko and a hognose snake. Free admission if anyone wants to take a tour.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? No.
Meghan N. Knight
Lynch & Eatman, LLP University of North Carolina School of Law, 2006
What is your theme song? "Next to Normal" by Lucius. It's about finding people who celebrate your quirks.
Best Piece of Advice
a Mentor Ever Gave You: You've got to practice law in a way that lets you keep being yourself.
Favorite Career Highlight: Year after year, I find that my favorite moments as a lawyer are the opportunities to connect with young people interested in the profession, whether through informal conversations with students or more formal programs like Lunch with a Lawyer.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I love to swim and (finally) learned how to swim butterfly at age 48. Old dog, new trick.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? I have two. (1) I had a surprisingly good time picking up trash at Pullen Park during the Centennial Day of Service. (2) The Centennial Reaffirmation at the State Capitol was a moving reflection on practicing law with integrity and professionalism.
Elysia Prendergast-Jones
Legal Aid of NC, Raleigh Office North Carolina Central School of Law, 2008
What is your theme song? “All I do is Win” by DJ Khaled.
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: Protect your reputation, it walks into a room before you do and stays after you leave.
Favorite Career Highlight: My first published Court of Appeals published win was my favorite career highlight.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I was on the Judge Steve Harvey show.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? My favorite moment for centennial celebration was the picture we all took as the WCBA bar at the May picnic.
Warren Savage Lawyers Mutual Campbell University School of Law, 1996
What is your theme song?
“Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: “Define your own wins.” –Tricia Shields
Favorite Career Highlight: Serving on the State Bar Ethics Committee for the past 11 years.
Boxberger
Knight
Prendergast-Jones
Savage
ELECTIONS
SLATE FOR DIRECTORS CONTINUED
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I have a collection of ‘70’s and ‘80’s funk records.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? Cleaning up Raleigh Parks on Centennial Day of Service.
Mallory Underwood
Campbell University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law, 1995
What is your theme song? “Get Along” by Kenny Chesney
Best Piece of Advice a Mentor Ever Gave You: I have gotten lots of great advice over the years, but perhaps the most memorable was the colorful reminder that "two heads are better than one, even if one is a goat's head."
Favorite Career Highlight: Arguing before the North Carolina Supreme Court was an honor and a highlight of my time as a practicing attorney. Now that I get to work with law students every day, one of my favorite things is when a student tells me that something I have been able to help them with has eased their mind or given them confidence to take the next step on their own legal journey.
What is something that would surprise people to know about you? As a kid I grew up riding horses. I loved it but life got busy and I eventually had to leave it behind to make room for work and family. I have recently been able to start riding again, and although it's a lot harder than I remember this time around, I love that as an adult, I get to "re-learn" something that brings me so much joy.
Did you have a favorite moment in the centennial celebration this year? I had a great time at the Mordecai Picnic in May. The weather was perfect and the food and fellowship were excellent. It was really special when everyone gathered for the group photo at the end. You could feel the camaraderie and sense of shared purpose as everyone squeezed together and smiled for the drone!
WBF
Underwood
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EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN
THE
CENTENNIAL
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE WORKS TO REPURPOSE ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE
ELIZABETH “BIZ” HARRISON | GASKINS HANCOCK TUTTLE HASH LLP | WCBA PROFESSIONALISM CENTENNIAL SUBCOMMITTEE
THE “BEST OF THE BEST” video montage, to rival any TikTok, showcases the many kinds of professionalism the members of the Wake County Bar Association demonstrate on a daily basis. Our subcommittee is working diligently to make this new professionalism film something no one should miss.
The unveiling will occur at the WCBA Centennial Celebration Gala on Friday, December 5 at the Angus Barn Pavillion. Thereafter, the “Best of the Best” will be featured at WCBA events and swearing-ins. In addition to this new film feature, the WCBA Professionalism Centennial Subcommittee is also assisting the WCBA Team with producing a new written electronic and iconic Professionalism Handbook to supplement “Practicing Law: Wake County Lawyers’ Observations On Professionalism” that was originally published in 2007.
We want to thank the WCBA Professionalism Centennial Subcommittee and the WCBA leadership and staff for their time and effort working on this project.
Please do not miss this special project release at the Centennial Gala. WBF
Harrison
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
100 HOURS OF CLE FOR 100 YEARS
JORDAN GROSS | STAUFF & GROSS PLLC | CLE COMMITTEE
IN THE LAST QUARTER of our Centennial year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the hard work of the CLE Committee. What a year it has been!
We set out with a goal of providing 100 hours of free CLE for our members, and we are set to deliver on that goal. We continued our long-standing schedule of CLEs and added many new opportunities. Members have been able to access free CLEs covering topics from civil and criminal law to family and domestic violence, litigation and transactional practice, technology, ethics, professional well-being and much more.
We continued one of our newer programs, the After Dark series, for those who have more time in the evenings once work is done and the kids are settled. I have to admit that I am one of those attorneys, and a CLE at night is very convenient. We hope you’ve taken advantage of this new time slot and our edgier topics. If you haven’t attended an After Dark CLE yet, the one scheduled in October—just days before Halloween—will be a great one to try as we learn about gunshot wound autopsies.
Another project of the CLE Committee was partnering with the Bench/Bar Committee to bring more View from the Bench CLEs. We’re thankful for that partnership, which brought us programs featuring our domestic, criminal, juvenile, district and superior court judges. We’ve heard from our longtime, retired and newer judges that these sessions have been very beneficial for our bar.
We also focused on technology—specifically eCourts and Odyssey CLEs. While we’ve had e-filing since the beginning, I can
never get enough guidance on it, and continued CLEs on the topic have been very beneficial. We started the year with a CLE featuring both criminal and civil practitioners, and we’ll end the year with another program returning to the basics. So there’s still time this year to get a refresher on eCourts in December.
As I end this reflection, I want to thank the members of the CLE Committee who have worked so hard this year. Without their efforts in finding speakers—and stepping up to serve as speakers themselves—we could not have offered such a diverse array of programs.
I also want to give a special thank-you to Sandy Fried, Amy Davis and Whitney von Haam at the WCBA. The staff has gone above and beyond to make sure our 100 free hours could happen. As CLE coordinator, Sandy has organized and scheduled all of the hours, completed the State Bar applications and attended the majority of these CLEs. I imagine she may be setting records for CLE attendance this year.
It has been a busy year for the CLE Committee, but also an exciting one. We hope you’ve enjoyed attending these CLEs as much as we’ve enjoyed planning them for you! WBF
Gross
TUTTLE AND THOMPSON WIN WCBA TENNIS TOURNAMENT
WILLIAM PLYLER | MILLER MONROE HOLTON & PLYLER
JASON TUTTLE AND BEN THOMPSON won the Wake County Bar Association Championship Division doubles title on October 3 at the Carolina Country Club. Tuttle and Thompson beat Webster Harrison and Hart Miles 7-5 in the final. Sharon Horn won the Open Division and Cameron Kirby was the runner-up. The weather was perfect. The food and drinks were great and a good time was had by all. WBF
Jason Tuttle and Ben Thompson
Webster Harrison and Hart Miles
Cameron Kirby Sharon Horn
DIRECT EXAMINATION: JUDGE ASHLEIGH PARKER & ASHLEY CAMPBELL
DIRECT EXAMINATION iis 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. In this issue of the Bar Flyer, we hear from the WCBA Centennial Co-chairs together after they worked to help plan our centennial year. This is the story of Wake County District Court Judge Ashleigh Parker and Legal Aid of NC CEO Ashley Campbell.
What was the goal of the committee as they came together to plan this year’s WCBA Centennial?
Parker: We wanted to make it memorable and reach as many members as possible—a celebration that offered something for everyone.
Campbell: Celebrate this wonderful Bar Association and its accomplishments over the last 100 years. Our Bar is full of my legal heroes.
What has been the highlight of the Centennial year for you?
Parker: The Re-Affirmation Ceremony! It was such a powerful event, showcasing our commitment to our community and profession for the next 100 years.
Campbell Selfishly, I am grateful for the emphasis on public service and supporting the Bar Awards this year. All proceeds from the Bar Awards go to support Legal Aid of NC and legal services for low-income people in our community. Our bar is big-hearted and deeply generous. The Bar Awards are the largest single fundraiser in NC for Legal Aid.
When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Parker: A radiologist. I never imagined becoming a lawyer, but studying biology at Wake Forest humbled me quickly.
Campbell A lawyer. I was a latch key kid and watched Perry Mason every afternoon when I came home from school.
What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?
Parker: Trust God and dedicate your life to helping others.
Campbell To have a strong work ethic. My parents are two of the hardest working people I have ever met.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Parker: Dean Dawson at NCCU Law. She was my Torts professor and an
inspiring model of intelligence, poise and talent. Today, she’s a national leader in Artificial Intelligence and the Law and continues to inspire me.
Campbell: Phyllis Madrid, my GT “Gifted and Talented”) teacher in elementary school. She adored children and saw unlimited potential in them. She instilled in us a deep belief that the world was full of wonder and we could accomplish anything.
Did you love or hate law school?
Parker: Hated it! The three toughest years of my life—but they shaped me into the attorney I am today.
Campbell Loved it! I have always been curious and loved to read, so it suited me very well.
What was your most embarrassing courtroom experience?
Parker: While in Franklin County for Superior Court Calendar Call, opposing counsel said that “the Attorney General’s Office didn’t send anybody [to handle the case]” and I was standing right there. I don’t think he realized that I was an attorney, but he figured it out when I won the case.
Campbell In my first year practicing in Gastonia, opposing counsel announced in open court that I “need[ed] to learn the rules of civil procedure.” He wasn’t wrong, but I could have melted into the floor. The
Ashley Campbell and Judge Ashleigh Parker at a Bar Awards a few years ago.
Parker Campbell
Gastonia Bar, which I loved, had a knack for toughening up new lawyers. What was your best courtroom experience?
Parker: Returning children to their parents in Abuse, Neglect and Dependency court. There’s nothing better than restoring a healthy, loving family.
Campbell During a month-long trial in the NC Business Court, I succeeded in having a key expert struck during voir dire. Hearing Judge Jolly—an excellent and tough judge—tell me “good job” from the bench was an incredible moment.
Why did you become a lawyer?
Parker: I realized three things about myself: I like to talk, I like to argue and I want to help people.
Campbell I became a lawyer to help people—but also because I thought it would be fun, and it is.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected development in your career?
Parker: Becoming a judge. I had only envisioned retiring as a prosecutor, so when God called me to this role, I was shocked, scared and humbled. Another blessing has been creating the Legal Support Center, which has helped more than 23,000 people in just under three years.
Campbell Becoming the CEO of Legal Aid of NC. Along the way, I have met the most honorable and extraordinary people. It has been both the greatest challenge and the greatest privilege of my career.
What is your favorite book?
Parker: My book “From Broken to Brazen: 40-Day Devotional for Healing from Heartbreak, Loss and Rejection.” Writing it was deeply healing, and I hope it helps others remember they are beautifully broken, boldly healing and fully loved.
Campbell This is akin to choosing a favorite child. I’ll choose my favorite biography of a President: “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt” by Edmund Morris.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Parker: When I commit to something, I don’t stop until it’s done.
Campbell I have a lot of energy and endless ideas. I am also three minutes late to every meeting.
What is your hidden talent?
Parker: I attract chaos on vacation— getting stuck in the dunes in Dubai or falling ill while at the legislature in Kenya.
Campbell I can tap dance.
Who are your real-life heroes?
Parker: My parents, Jason and Elizabeth Parker.
Campbell Maria Lynch, Alice Mine, Celia Pistolis, Bryan Stephenson
When and where were you happiest?
Parker: Holding my sons in my arms for the first time.
Campbell In a bookstore or a library.
PROUD SPONSOR
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LOOKING BACK A CAREER IN LAW AND THE ENDURING VALUE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND COLLEGIALITY
NANCY GRACE | RETIRED | 2024 JOSEPH BRANCH AWARD RECIPIENT
IRECENTLY RETIRED FROM the practice of family law after 29 years. As I step away from the practice of law, I find myself looking backward as much as forward. Retirement is both a closing and an opening, and as the next chapter begins, I cannot help but reflect on the years I have spent in this profession. When I sift through the memories, one lesson shines brighter than any other: professionalism and collegiality are the bedrock of a rewarding legal career.
When I first began practicing, I thought the measure of success as an attorney was counted in the victories. I quickly realized that this was not the case, and in family law in particular, it is often difficult to tell who is the “winner” and who is the “loser” in any dispute. While results matter, of course, I learned that a career built only on outcomes is neither sustainable nor deeply satisfying. Clients may come and go, cases may rise and fall, but the reputation you carry, the relationships you nurture and the manner in which you conduct yourself endure far longer than any single settlement or result in court.
Professionalism Is
More Than a Buzzword
Professionalism is often discussed in terms of rules — ethical obligations, codes of conduct and standards set forth by the State Bar. But true professionalism runs deeper. It is found in how you treat your clients, your colleagues, your adversaries and even yourself. It is about honesty, civility and accountability in every interaction.
I learned early in my career that professionalism is not tested in easy times. It is revealed in the moments when emotions run high, when your client insists on an aggressive approach that borders on the inappropriate or when an opposing
counsel goads you into anger. In those moments, the temptation is to meet fire with fire. Yet the lawyers I admired most were those who could hold fast to dignity and restraint. They showed me that you can be both a strong advocate and a professional, that strength does not require hostility and that credibility, once earned, is a currency more valuable than bluster.
The Quiet Power of Collegiality
Equally important in my career has been collegiality. The law, for all its adversarial trappings, is not meant to be practiced in isolation. We rely on one another for guidance, perspective and sometimes simple encouragement. Collegiality does not necessarily mean friendship with every colleague, but it does mean respect, generosity and a willingness to see the humanity in the people across the table or across the aisle.
I was blessed in my legal career to have mentors who modeled how to balance tenacity with kindness. Later in my career, I tried to do the same for younger lawyers — not out of obligation but out of gratitude. To this day, some of the most satisfying moments have come from helping younger lawyers learn the same valuable lessons I learned early in my practice about professionalism and collegiality.
Even among adversaries, collegiality enriches the practice. Some of my most challenging cases were against skilled, formidable opponents. But because we treated each other with courtesy and respect, we could advocate fiercely without descending into personal animosity. It made the work more rewarding and often led to better outcomes for the clients too.
Grace
CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
I learned early in my career that professionalism is not tested in easy times ... in those moments, the temptation is to meet fire with fire. Yet the lawyers I admired most were those that could hold fast to dignity and restraint.
The Personal and Professional Rewards of Professionalism and Collegiality
The rewards of professionalism and collegiality are not always immediate. They accumulate quietly over time. A reputation for fairness can earn the trust of a judge. A reputation for civility can draw clients who value integrity over bluster. A reputation for collegiality can lead to referrals, partnerships or simply the comfort of knowing you are respected in your community.
On a more personal level, these values provide a sense of peace. The law can be a consuming profession, filled with stress, conflict and pressure. But when you practice with
professionalism, you can sleep at night knowing you have acted with integrity. When you practice with collegiality, you find joy not only in the cases won but also in the relationships formed along the way.
As I look back, I do not tally my career in terms of the number of cases won or the billable hours recorded. Instead, I measure it in the trust of clients who returned, the friendships with colleagues that have lasted decades, the mentees who grew into mentors themselves and the satisfaction of knowing I conducted myself in a way that honored the profession I chose so long ago. WBF
Anchored in Principles, Committed to Service
To see what this looks like in practice, I encourage you to attend the Memorial Sessions of Court where we honor the lives and legacies of some of the most impactful lawyers in our district— professionals who led with distinction and left behind an enduring example for us to strive to follow. Read more about these impactful sessions in Whitney’s executive director column on page 2.
In May, I wrote that my goal this year was to serve our members and pursue changes that would make it easier for our members to focus on this important work and help our community. Here are a few updates on initiatives we have pursued this year to achieve that goal:
Trust Accounting Rule Reform
Rule 1.15-3(e)(2) of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct requires a quarterly random transaction review of trust accounts. While this review is valuable for firms handling a high volume of trust transactions, it takes a significant amount of time and has more negligible value for firms with only a few trust transactions per quarter. On behalf of our District Bar, I proposed to the State Bar that a threshold be established (e.g., 10 or
| CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
15 trust transactions per quarter), below which firms would be exempt from the quarterly transaction review requirement. There was a positive response, and the matter will now be addressed by the State Bar Issues Committee.
Secure Leave Reform
On behalf of our District Bar, I proposed several reforms to the secure leave rules to the State Bar, including:
• Reducing the required notice period (to file for secure leave) from 90 days to 30 days;
• Eliminating the requirement that leave be taken in full-week blocks; and
• Allowing leave to span weekends and holidays, counting only business days toward the aggregate limit.
These proposals were well received, and the next step is to present them to the Administrative Office of the Courts for consideration.
We have also discussed the idea of a centralized filing system for secure leave—a single platform where attorneys could submit a notice of secure leave without having to navigate different
procedures and file secure leave notices in each county. We have not yet proposed this change since eCourts had not yet been extended to several remaining counties. Now that eCourts is live in all 100 counties, a centralized filing system may soon be able to be implemented.
Looking Ahead
I hope these efforts—and others still underway—will help lawyers find more time to recharge, support clients and each other, and continue to lead with dedication, purpose and integrity.
As the biggest district bar in our state, we lead by example. This year, I have seen the lawyers in our district do just that, with ethics, collegiality and professionalism second to none. Thank you for your dedication to the profession and to justice. It is an honor to serve as your president.
THE NEXT 100 YEARS A FORECAST FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION
CAMILLE STELL | LAWYERS MUTUAL
AS THE WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION celebrates its 100th anniversary, it is worth pausing to look not just backward at the extraordinary progress of the past century but forward to imagine what the legal profession might look like 100 years from now. What will a law firm of 2125 look like? What roles will lawyers play in society? How will justice be delivered? The short answer: It will be dramatically different — and remarkably the same.
The Law Firm of 2125
The traditional image of a law firm anchored in a downtown office tower may be as quaint to the lawyers of 2125 as a rotary phone is to us today. Firms may exist primarily in virtual space, operating across continents with lawyers working from anywhere. Instead of filing cabinets and conference rooms, they may rely on secure digital platforms and immersive virtual meeting environments. Technology will continue to reshape how firms operate. Artificial intelligence will likely handle many of the tasks we now associate with associate lawyers — research, contract drafting and even predictive analysis of cases. Yet far from eliminating lawyers, this will elevate their role. The human lawyer of the future will focus on strategy, judgment, empathy and advocacy — the elements of lawyering that cannot be automated.
The Lawyer of the Future
Future lawyers will be interdisciplinary professionals. Dual training in law and another field - such as data science, engineering, psychology, or finance may be commonplace. A lawyer might also serve as an “AI dispute arbitrator,” an “ethics engineer,” or a “virtual courtroom designer.” As society creates new industries, from space exploration to bioethics to AI governance, lawyers will be essential in charting the rules and resolving conflicts.
Mobility will also define the lawyer of 2125. Rather than being confined to a single jurisdiction, a lawyer’s license may allow seamless practice across borders, reflecting the increasingly global nature of commerce, technology and human rights.
How Clients Will Engage with Lawyers
The relationship between lawyers and clients will change as well. Legal advice may be as accessible as tapping an app, with clients instantly connecting to vetted professionals around the globe. Preventive law may be embedded in everyday life through smart contracts and AI compliance tools, with lawyers stepping in only when human judgment or negotiation is needed.
And the billable hour? While its demise has been predicted for the 40 years I’ve been in the profession, it may finally be relegated to history. Instead, legal services will be offered on subscription models, flat fees or outcomes-based pricing, reflecting the value of results rather than time.
The
Courts and the Justice System
Courthouses may look very different in 2125. Routine disputes could be resolved by AI-assisted judges, with humans available for oversight and appeals. Hearings may occur in virtual reality environments where participants appear as avatars. Entirely new courts may be created to address global cyber disputes or the rights of artificial intelligence.
At the same time, the need for fairness, transparency and human judgment in the justice system will remain constant. The tools may change, but the pursuit of justice will remain timeless.
The Wake County Bar in 2125
Just as the Bar has evolved from its founding in 1925 to meet the needs of today’s lawyers, it will continue to be a vital source of connection, education and community for the next century. Imagine:
• Professional community in a virtual age — As lawyers practice from anywhere, the association can be the anchor that keeps local lawyers connected to each other, to the courts and to the community.
• Innovation hub — The association could serve as a laboratory where new practice models, technology tools and ethical standards are explored and shared.
• Well-being and resilience — With the pace of change accelerating, lawyers will need support not just in their practices but in their lives. The association can continue to provide mentorship, wellness resources and opportunities for balance.
• Champion of access to justice — The Wake County Bar Association will play a central role in ensuring that even as the tools of law change, the doors of justice remain open to all.
What Will Endure
One hundred years from now, lawyers will still be advocates, counselors and guardians of justice. They will still sit with clients in moments of crisis, still argue passionately for fairness and still uphold the rule of law. Technology, training and titles may evolve, but the heart of the profession will remain steady: serving people, solving problems and strengthening communities.
As we celebrate a century of the Wake County Bar Association, we can be confident of one thing: The lawyers of 2125 will look back on us with the same mix of astonishment and appreciation that we feel for our predecessors in 1925. Just as they built the foundation for us, we are laying the groundwork for them.
The future of law is as boundless as human imagination — and as enduring as the pursuit of justice itself.
Camille Stell is the Vice President of Risk & Practice Management for Lawyers Mutual and the co-author of the book, RESPECT — An Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans available from Amazon. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@ lawyersmutualnc.com or 800.662.8843
Stell
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