BAR FLYER
YOUR VOICE. YOUR BAR. YOUR IMPACT.
JAKE EPSTEIN | EPSTEIN SHERLIN PLLC TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR PRESIDENT
YOU MIGHT KNOW the Tenth Judicial District Bar as the mandatory bar. And yes — it is. You may also know it holds elections for judicial nominations to submit to the Governor when a district court seat opens, elects bar councilors to the State Bar Council, conducts the work of the Grievance Committee and submits nominations for Wake County public defender to the senior resident superior court judge.
It does all of that — and more. It has various other committees and handles the business of the Tenth Judicial District. Beyond fulfilling its formal obligations, it is also a platform for service, connection, and progress.
What else does the bar do? The answer is up to you
At our annual meeting in December, I asked those in attendance to consider some questions:
1. Why did you become a lawyer?
2. Who do you want to help?
3. How can we, as your District Bar, help make that a little easier?
4. How can we help you help our community?
As you answer these questions, think about the work of other lawyers that helped us get to where we are today. One of the committees of the Tenth Judicial District Bar is the Memorials Committee, chaired by Mary Winstead. This committee organizes Memorial Sessions of Court, where we honor and celebrate the lives and careers of bar members who have passed. If you have not attended one of these sessions, I encourage you to do so. You will hear moving, personal stories of lawyers who helped shape our legal community. You will leave with an understanding of who these lawyers were, what they accomplished and what made them truly great. Many of them saw problems and found ways to fix them.
UPCOMING CLE
May 21
Breakfast Discussion Series: Lessons From Lawyers Mutual
May 28
WCBA 2025 Family Law Day
May 30
CCLA Panel: Building Confidence in High Stakes Legal Settings
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2 Creed of Professionalism Video: Our History Celebrated
4 Centennial Day of Service
6 Something for Everyone: Building the Next Century Together
8 A Voice for the Vunerable: A Lawyer’s Responsibility
9 Lawyer Wellness Committee: A Resource for Members’ Mental Health
10 The History of The Courthouse and The Justice Center
12 Father and Son Share the WCBA Court
14 Direct Examination: Patrick VanderJeugdt
16 The Next 100: Future-Proofing the Legal Profession
17 Our Members Speak: Best and worst icebreakers
WAKE BAR FLYER
VOL. LIII No. 2 | SECOND 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
LINDSAY A. UNDERWOOD
MALLORY UNDERWOOD
Young Lawyers Division President
PATRICK VANDERJEUGDT
Executive Director
WHITNEY D.G. von HAAM
Communications Manager
AMY DAVIS
Wake Bar Flyer Designer
THOMAS PHILLIPS
Tenth Judicial District Bar Councilors
JUDGE JULIE L. BELL
ANNA DAVIS
NANCY L. GRACE
EVIN GRANT
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
CREED OF PROFESSIONALISM
VIDEO: OUR HISTORY CELEBRATED
BY WHITNEY D.G. von HAAM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IHOPE YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE
to see our Creed of Professionalism video, which premiered at the February virtual luncheon and has been shown at a variety of subsequent WCBA events, including our Centennial Movie Night at the Rialto during Member
Appreciation Month in April. It was amazing to see it on the big screen and members in attendance were definitely blinking back tears.
tell us a story of professionalism. The story that he told was shared as part of our virtual luncheon after Robert passed away last summer, following his 100th birthday.
After we had that first one in the can, we knew we had a winning plan – and Sarah, our videographer Bryan Miller and I set off to get as many of our Branch winners in front of the camera as possible. The tougher ones were with
We have more footage that we’re excited to share with you with some great memories of professionalism in action.
The video, which features past Branch Professionalism Award winners reading the full creed, was shot over the past two and a half years, and I would love to share the back story to how it came to be.
It seems hard to believe, yet it is true but way back in 2022, Sarah Justice (our communications person prior to Amy Davis) and I sat down to begin planning out events that we wanted to do for our Centennial year. That’s right…we started far before 2025 – even before having Judge Ashleigh Parker and Ashley Campbell sign on as our Centennial Task Force co-chairs. When we began kicking around the idea of the Creed of Professionalism read by Branch winners, we knew that time was not our friend with the first winner of the Branch Professionalism award, Robert McMillan. Robert was getting ready for his 99th birthday that fall.
Before even standing up from the table where the idea had been conceived, we reached out to Carrie McMillan, Robert’s granddaughter and a member of the WCBA, to see about scheduling some time with him. Within a couple weeks, we had a plan in place for Carrie to have him repeat parts of the Creed back to her and for Robert to
people who had moved away, including Sally Scherer, who now lives outside of Baltimore. When the Child’s Advocate was creating an unrelated video about their organization – of which Sally was the founding member – and Bryan was their videographer, too, we asked him to have her read the Creed. When Sarah left the WCBA to join the South Carolina Bar as communications director, incoming communications manager Amy took the baton (and the list of who had not yet done it) and continued running with it, getting a chance to meet our Branch winners along the way.
We have more footage that we’re excited to share with you, which includes some great memories of professionalism in action. I hope you have had a chance to check out the Wake County Bar Association’s YouTube channel, where we have not only this video of the Creed, but also memories from Bar Awards, Memorial Sessions of Court, Professionalism CLEs and interviews with a wide variety of “Legends of our Bar.” Check it out, it really does show our decadeslong commitment to professionalism, and will make you proud yet again to be a member. WBF
von Haam
CENTENNIAL DAY OF SERVICE – A DAY TO REMEMBER SOME MEMORABLE TRASH
MEGHAN KNIGHT | LYNCH & EATMAN LLP | PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE CHAIR
On Saturday, March 15, a large group of Wake County Bar Association members and their guests gathered at three City of Raleigh parks for its Centennial Day of Service. Volunteers tackled litter cleanup at Chavis Park, Pullen Park and Walnut Creek Wetlands Park. Armed with trash bags, gloves, trash pickers and enthusiasm, they fanned out across the three parks in their close-toed shoes to tidy things up for Raleigh residents. What a variety of trash we found! My family volunteered at Pullen. While Pullen is generally tidy, we still found all sorts of things to add to our industrialstrength trash bags. Among the finds at
Pullen were straws, wrappers, golf tees, a railroad spike, a pair of tiny shark Crocs (one in a pond and one in the bushes), a full jar of turmeric, cigarette butts, a lunchbox, cans, bottles, stuffed animals, old tennis balls, Lego bricks, pom poms, a hat and shards from a piece of broken pottery scattered far and wide. It was fun – a little like an egg hunt except you had absolutely no idea what you might find next and you certainly didn’t find anything you might consider eating (except maybe the turmeric). Even my teenage daughters enjoyed themselves.
Judge Ashleigh Parker was one of the participants at Chavis Park, along with her sons, ages 9 and 4. She said she enjoyed teaching her boys about the importance of service and called it a “great opportunity to give back to our community in a hands-on way.”
I understand there was no shortage of trash at Walnut Creek Wetlands Park, and that volunteers could have spent
the whole day there and not collected all of it. Volunteers had to carefully trek down hills toward the creek and gather trash from wetland areas. Warren Savage and Patrick Brown were seen digging up large items embedded in the ground. This group found typical trash like cigarette butts, cans and bottles, but also picked up a used COVID test strip (yuck!) and can claim they found everything and the kitchen sink, as their finds included pieces of an actual sink. Our local parks are used by so many people for so many things, and keeping them clean is great for our communities. We are grateful to our volunteers who made this event a success and to the City of Raleigh for its help organizing this project. As chair of the Public Service Committee, I am going to propose an annual litter cleanup project in our parks (especially after hearing about all the trash at Walnut Creek). When this happens, I hope you will join us! WBF
Knight
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: BUILDING THE NEXT CENTURY TOGETHER
NIYA
FONVILLE SWINT | LEGAL AID OF NC | STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
While we cannot be everything to everyone, we will be something to everyone.
This was a guiding principle during the strategic planning process for the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. Our planning committee recognized it was unrealistic to think the Wake County Bar Association/Tenth Judicial District Bar, or any entity, can meet all the needs of all members. However, we knew that if we remained intentional in our approach and committed to integrating the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of our members, we would arrive at a plan that acknowledged the changes imposed by the pandemic and the opportunities presented by the same.
Fortunately, the bars’ work from the prior strategic process positioned us well to take on this charge. We were fiscally and organizationally sound, allowing us to center the current plan around increase and impact. Additionally, relocating the headquarters — perhaps the most visible accomplishment from the prior plan — set the stage for staff and committees to take innovative and creative approaches to fostering community and providing uninterrupted services and support to members, while the world navigated a global pandemic.
As we continue to recognize our past (reconciling certain
I challenge each of you to find a way to contribute. Our collective efforts will allow us to continue strengthening our bars and transforming our communities.
portions, as necessary) and celebrate our successes through Centennial events (all of which have been amazing), the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee encourages each of you to embrace this time as an opportunity to secure our future growth through reimagining your programming and initiatives.
Many of you have already made strides toward the plan’s objectives. The restructuring of the Lawyer Wellness Committee, offering late-night CLEs, introduction of Decisis as a member benefit, the creation of the Affiliate membership and Senior Lawyers Division, and every Centennial event
thus far, are all examples of the bars giving the plan life. Let us not lose our momentum. I challenge each of you to find a way to contribute. Our collective efforts will allow us to continue strengthening our bars and transforming our communities.
If individuals have suggestions for activities or programming, please reach out to staff, and they will connect you with the appropriate committee chair (or pass along the suggestion if you’d like to remain anonymous). Committee leaders, look out for an email invitation to participate in a virtual brainstorming session with members of the Strategic Plan Implementation Team. In the meantime, below is a reminder of the five goals in the Plan and a short brainstorming list of possible initiatives to consider (thanks ChatGPT for some of the suggestions).
Goal 1: Prioritize and promote lawyer well-being
• Peer Support Circles: Establish confidential small groups for attorneys to discuss challenges and share coping strategies.
• Wellness Integration in Events: Incorporate mindfulness sessions or wellness breaks into CLEs and luncheons.
• Wellness Challenges: Initiate friendly competitions promoting healthy habits among young attorneys. This could also be created as a B-I-N-G-O card like we have for the WCBA’s centennial year.
Goal 2: Strengthen member engagement and the bars’ inclusive, welcoming culture
• Inclusive Leadership Workshops: Offer training for committee leaders on fostering inclusive environments.
• Community Partnership Programs: Collaborate with local organizations to host events that celebrate cultural diversity.
• Digital Memorial Archive: Create an online repository honoring deceased members, allowing for broader community access and remembrance.
• Historical Exhibits: Curate displays highlighting significant milestones and figures in the bar’s history at events and online.
Goal 3: Advance professional excellence and career satisfaction (NOTE: all committees should strive to contribute to the Centennial goal of 100 hours of CLE)
• Career Pathway Series: Host panels featuring attorneys from various legal sectors to discuss career trajectories.
• Tech Integration CLEs: Continue to provide sessions on emerging legal technologies and their practical applications.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Swint
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A VOICE FOR THE VULNERABLE: A LAWYER’S
RESPONSIBILITY
SUZANNE CHESTER | LAW OFFICE OF SUZANNE CHESTER PLLC
ASHLYN MILLIGAN | 3L CAMPBELL LAW
Advocating for Individual Children
Lawyers who represent children in legal proceedings have a duty to provide zealous advocacy, consistent with the attorney-client relationship. North Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2 defines the scope of representation: “a lawyer shall abide by a client’s decisions concerning the objectives of representation.” It makes no distinction between adult and child clients. Unless the law imposes a different role upon the attorney, the ultimate responsibility of a child’s lawyer is to advocate for the child’s position, just as they would for an adult. Even when a lawyer may need to take protective action on behalf of a child client because of the child’s diminished capacity, Rule 1.14 notes that “the lawyer shall, as far as reasonably possible, maintain a normal client-lawyer relationship with the client.”
Children involved in legal matters are vulnerable in ways that adults are not, precisely because attorneys who represent children may be tempted to substitute their judgment for that of their clients – substitution adults are much less likely to countenance. For example, in child custody cases, instead of advocating for the child’s position, the lawyer may be tempted to act in the role of a guardian ad litem and advocate for what the attorney believes is best for the child, not the outcome sought by the child.
To clarify the professional responsibilities of children’s lawyers in child custody cases, the North Carolina State Bar issued 9 FEO 12, a formal ethics opinion that describes the roles a lawyer may be appointed to: best interests attorney (like the role of a guardian ad litem) or child advocate attorney (a traditional attorney role). In addition, the ethics opinion specifies the importance of the appointment order defining the role of the attorney.
Other exceptions to the duty imposed by Rule 1.2 arise in child welfare law. In North Carolina, the lawyer must act in the role of guardian ad litem for the child — that is, advocate for what they believe is in the best interests of the child, regardless of the client’s individual wishes. By contrast, the American Bar Association Model Act Governing the Representation of Children in Abuse, Neglect and Dependency proceedings mandates the appointment of a traditional client-directed attorney to advocate for the child’s objectives.
Notwithstanding the role assigned, or the substantive area of law, all attorneys representing children have a professional responsibility to investigate the child’s specific circumstances, understand the effect of trauma on the child and recognize the cultural differences at play. Similarly, all attorneys should be ready to counsel their clients in a developmentally appropriate way, ensuring their clients understand their legal rights, the decisions that must be made, and the implications of each decision.1
Advocating for Children during Times of Crisis:
“Lawyers play a vital role in the preservation of society.” This assertion from the Preamble to the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct has never been more relevant than it is today. As powerful law firms bend the knee to the Trump administration, and concerns grow about providing pro bono services to causes at odds with the current administration, two groups of children are in the crosshairs: unaccompanied migrant children and transgender youth.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, passed in 2008 with bipartisan support, requires the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that children who cross into the U.S. without a parent or guardian are provided with legal representation in immigration proceedings. A few weeks ago, the administration ordered the elimination of legal services for 26,0000 unaccompanied children, many of whom arrived at the US Border alone, after fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries. The efficacy of these legal services is uncontroverted: immigration judges are 100 times more likely to grant relief to unaccompanied children with legal representation than to those without it.2 Transgender children also face aggressive, possibly unlawful actions by the current administration, which is attempting to erase transgender identity. Since Inauguration Day, through an array of targeted executive orders, the administration is seeking to eliminate the identity of transgender people: one order mandates the recognition of two sexes only, male and female; another demonizes transgender individuals by banning them from the military; and a third prohibits the use of Medicaid and Tricare for genderaffirming health care for transgender children, despite the support for such care by major medical institutions.3
As lawyers, we have a responsibility to speak up and shine a light on the actions of an administration that seeks to undo legal protections for the most vulnerable and marginalized among us. As Elie Wiesel said, “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” WBF
1 Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), has excellent resources for attorneys representing children in the immigration context, and are helpful for lawyers representing children in any context. https:// supportkind.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ Representing-Children-In-Immigration-Matters-FULLVERSION.pdf
2 Congressional Research Service, Unaccompanied Alien Children: An Overview, at 17, Sept. 1, 2021
3 For attorneys wanting to understand the challenges facing transgender children, the Trevor Project, a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, is a valuable resource. https://www.thetrevorproject.org
Chester
Milligan
LAWYER WELLNESS COMMITTEE: A RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS’ MENTAL HEALTH
KRISTINE SULLIVAN | DISABILITY RIGHTS RHODE ISLAND | LAWYER WELLNESS COMMITTEE
We all know the statistics: Attorneys experience higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general public. While depression affects about 8.3% of the U.S. population, more than 45% of attorneys will experience depression during their careers. Many of us selfmedicate with alcohol, with nearly 21% considered “problem drinkers.”
In this time
of political turmoil, employees across all industries are experiencing more stress. In 2024, the American Psychological Association found politics to be a leading cause of significant stress among adults (77% of participants). A more recent study revealed 74% of participants want
mental health resources specifically related to current events.
That is why it is so critical for the Wake County Bar Association to offer wellness resources to our members. As a lawyer who has lived with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety diagnoses for more than two decades, I am particularly grateful to the WCBA for supporting lawyer wellness. BarCARES and the NC Lawyer Assistance Program (NC LAP) were invaluable when I lost a beloved family member and spiraled into the worst cycle of depression I’ve ever experienced. Being a member of the WCBA Lawyer Wellness Committee lets me “pay it forward” and support others who are struggling.
Lawyer Wellness Committee –
Recognizing how vital wellness is to our profession, the WCBA merged a number of committees to create the Lawyer Wellness Committee. The committee hosts wellness activities like nature hikes, socials, yoga and professional well-being
CLEs. We also send sympathy cards and notes of encouragement to attorneys who experience a death or injury in the family, need surgery or otherwise need a kind word. Anyone can ask the committee to send a card by contacting Whitney von Haam (whitney@wakecountybar.org).Your request is confidential.
BarCARES – BarCARES connects the legal community, and our families, with confidential counseling for mental health needs, substance use, domestic violence and parenting matters. BarCARES can help you find a provider. You have access to three free counseling sessions each year with one of BarCARES’s partners. Pro tip: If you have a provider who doesn’t partner with BarCARES, the program can still help defray the cost of your co-pays; ask about this when you call. It is free to use BarCARES, and everything - even the fact that you calledis confidential. You can reach BarCARES at 800-640-0735.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Sullivan
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CURSIVE: THE HISTORY OF THE COURTHOUSE AND THE JUSTICE CENTER
ROB E. HOWARD JR. | HOWARD MCCOY & BOLTON LLP | HISTORY COMMITTEE
Have any of you wondered why we opened a new Justice Center in 2013, and not a new courthouse? One can find examples across the state of new courthouses sitting adjacent to the old courthouse. Why didn’t Wake County follow that same course? The answer requires us to go back in time to 1792.
Raleigh was established as a new centrally located capital city after a long and contentious debate spanning almost two decades. Ultimately a group of nine commissioners was tasked with picking a new site in Wake County and planning the new seat of government. They felt good enough about their work that they named the (now downtown) streets after themselves (Hargett, Dawson, McDowell, Martin, Blount, Jones, Bloodworth, Harrington and Person). Ultimately Joel Lane’s property was selected and an auction of acre lots was held in June 1792 (most of the lots were not purchased for private residences and in fact, many buyers were not local, which proves that Raleigh real estate speculation is not a new phenomenon). A courthouse commission was tasked with selecting a “large and elegant court house for the use of the Court of Wake” and agreed to purchase land on the western side of the 300 block of Fayetteville Street. The northern half acre was owned by James Bloodworth, and the southern half acre from local notable citizen Theophilus Hunter Sr. Bloodworth, of New Hanover county, was one of the nine commissioners tasked with selecting the site for Raleigh. Notably, he was not present during the actual site selection process. Hunter was a Wake County resident who was the
first chairman and presiding justice on Wake County’s initial governing body, the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, in 1771. His wife, Jane, was the niece of Joel Lane. He later served as the leader of Wake County militia, and as a colonel in the Revolutionary War. Though the site was selected much earlier, the deed was not executed until July 15, 1793, and each seller received five shillings as consideration from Wake County.
This is the part of the story that has come to occupy Wake County lore and affected building decisions over two hundred years later. James Bloodworth included a reversionary clause as part of his deed, which instructed that if the property did not serve as the site of a courthouse, that it would revert back to him or to his heirs. This provision has led to five courthouses being built on this same site, including the present courthouse opened in 1970. It further colored the decision to open an auxiliary building named the “Justice Center,” and NOT as a new courthouse like so many other jurisdictions.
The deed survived fires and war and was kept in a safe in a private office for part of the nineteenth century. It was re-recorded by the then Register of Deeds, W. W. White on April 29, 1881. White endorsed the document into the index on the face of the deed, which is now searchable in the ROD website. Go to Book 000064 and Page 00465, if you love deciphering lovely eighteenth and nineteenth century script or simply want to gaze on a piece of local history that still affects us today. WBF
Howard
“The Problem of the State Capital” from Rebuilding an Ancient Commonwealth, 1584-1925 by R.D.W. Connor. Available via the Joel Lane House website.
Wake: Capital County of NC, Volume 1, Prehistory through Centennial, by Elizabeth Reid Murray available online in the Special Collections of Wake County Public Libraries.
“Chief Justice Marshall in Raleigh: The Untold Story”, Campbell Law Review Volume 41, Issue 1, Winter 2019, by J. Rich Leonard.
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service- National Register of Historic Places Inventory –Nomination Form for Spring Hill, the Theophilus Hunter House. November 8, 1983.
James Bloodworth included a reversionary clause as part of his deed, which instructed that if the property did not serve as the site of a courthouse, that it would revert back to him or to his heirs.
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A DREAM COME TRUE: FATHER AND SON SHARE THE WCBA COURT
JASON TUTTLE | EVERETT GASKINS HANCOCK TUTTLE HASH LLP | WCBA BASKETBALL LEAGUE
TWO DECADES AFTER JOINING the Wake County Bar and consistently playing in the lawyer’s basketball rec league, Lance Fife finally had the chance to live out a LeBron James-esque dream. That dream was not to play in the NBA or to don a diamond-encrusted championship ring. No, for Lance, the dream was all about family and it came true when he and his son, Josh, were drafted to the same team, opening the door for the Fife duo to dominate on the hardwood in the Charles Brandon Hunt* WCBA League.
OK. Dominate might be overstating it; they came up just short of clinching the championship. But it was clear to both players and spectators that what was happening on the court was bigger than the win-loss record.
Josh is the third of Lance and Stephanie Fife’s four children. For the Fife family, basketball has always been a family affair. All four children played varsity basketball at Sanderson High School. The youngest son, Nathan, just finished a historic season with the Spartans and is committed, on full scholarship, to Northern Michigan. For each of his children, Lance often served as their coach, and he always showed up as their biggest cheerleader.
After high school, Josh attended Brigham Young University and followed in his father’s footsteps by attending Campbell Law. While it’s fair to say Josh is not attending law school for the sole purpose of joining the WCBA basketball league, it’s a perk.
The age gap in the father-son duo proved to be an advantage for the Fife’s team, creating a formidable one-two punch. Josh led fast breaks and made lay-ups look easy. Lance used his veteran savvy to control the tempo of the game and find Josh for open shots. There were moments that the two were so in sync it was clear they shared DNA.
While the familial connection was key, it was their shared love of the game that shone through. The competition, the ups, the downs, the highlights and the bloopers combined to build camaraderie amongst teammates and strengthen, even further, the father-son bond. These are the moments that create lifelong memories and can transcend even the most uncertain times.
Lance does not know how many games he has left in him. Following that season, Lance was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. He has had surgery along with chemo medication and radiation treatment through Duke Cancer center. He was not able to play in the league this year due to his illness, but having the one season together was priceless. This season, he was back to being Josh’s biggest fan. He
attended Josh’s games and was there for the championship game where Josh dominated and secured the championship in Lance’s honor.
Lance continues to battle and has made progress towards recovery. Neither age nor illness will deter him from seeking to have another ‘court of dreams’ with his son in the future. Even though they didn’t win the championship the season they played together, that was a team and a season that will be remembered for years to come in the Charles Brandon Hunt League, both by the Fife family and by all of those who had the honor to play alongside them. WBF
*Charles Hunt (1982-2013) was an active member of the WCBA, the YLD president and team captain of his WCBA basketball team. His legacy of community service and teamwork live on, in part, through the Lawyer’s Basketball League named in his honor.
Tuttle
Lance Fife, right, and son Josh
Something for Everyone
• Interactive Workshops: Facilitate hands-on workshops focusing on skills like negotiation or legal writing.
• Professionalism Spotlights: Regularly feature stories of attorneys exemplifying professionalism in newsletters and social media.
• Judicial Roundtables: Facilitate informal discussions between judges and attorneys to share perspectives and improve courtroom practices.
Goal 4: Encourage community service, especially efforts that promote community dialogue and build understanding of the legal system
• Legal Literacy Campaigns: Organize seminars in community centers to educate the public on legal rights and processes. This could also include the creation of a “Street Law” program in collaboration with Campbell Law School that can be taken into area schools and public libraries.
• Pro Bono Clinics: Partner with local nonprofits to offer free legal assistance days.
• Civic Engagement Initiatives: Encourage attorneys to participate in local government advisory boards or committees.
Goal 5: Ensure the bars’ infrastructure enables them to effectively carry out their mission (much of this work is contemplated for the Board of Directors, but there may be spaces for committees to contribute)
• Leadership Development Programs: Identify and mentor potential leaders.
• Inter-Committee Collaboration Forums: Facilitate regular meetings for committees to share successes and challenges.
As we celebrate 100 years of service to the legal profession, let’s honor our legacy by actively shaping what comes next. Whether through small ideas or bold initiatives, every contribution helps bring our strategic plan to life. Together, we can ensure our bars continue to grow, connect and lead into its second century. WBF
Lawyer Wellness
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
North Carolina Lawyer Assistance Program – If connecting with peers who have “been there, done that, got the T-shirt” is more your speed, contact NC LAP. This is a network of volunteer lawyers who are in recovery from mental health, substance use, grief, trauma or burn-out. NC LAP volunteers support lawyers starting their recovery journey through support groups, connecting you with counseling or other support services, and crisis services. NC LAP also offers professional well-being CLEs and guides law firms in supporting lawyers in need. It is free to use NC LAP and everything is confidential and subject to the attorneyclient privilege. You can call NC LAP at 919719-9267. WBF
1 National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh. nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.
2 The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys, Krill, Patrick R. et al., 10 Journal of Addiction Medicine, 46-52 (Jan.-Feb. 2016).
3 Id.
4 Stress in America 2024: A nation in political turmoil, American Psychological Association, https://www.apa. org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024.
5 The Workforce Mental Health Crisis of 2025: Why Employers Can No Longer Ignore the Warning Signs, Modern Health, https://explore.modernhealth. com/2025-trends/elevate-insights-march-2025?utm_ source=media%5B…%5Dm=press-release&utm_ campaign=elevate-insights-march-2025.
DIRECT EXAMINATION: PATRICK VANDERJEUGDT
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 Patrick VanderJeugdt of Young Moore & Henderson PA and the 2025 WCBA Young Lawyers Division president. VanderJeugdt
When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an architect all the way up through high school. But, after my sophomore year I went to a summer architecture camp and realized that I do not have the artistic talent required for that path. So, I pursued chemistry and (obviously) changed my mind again late in college.
What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?
The value of effort over results. That is, we can’t always control how events shake out, but we can control how we influence and respond to them, our conduct is the best measure of us as people and professionals.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Prof. Don Hornstein, at UNC Law. I took his environmental law class in undergrad, which is one of the main reasons I decided to go to law school. It was it first time I was exposed to legal analysis and something just clicked in me. I took one of his classes in law school and ended up as a TA for that same undergrad class while I was a 3L!
Did you love or hate law school? Love! Because it was engaging and my fellow students and I actually wanted to be there.
What was your most embarrassing courtroom experience?
I forgot to explain the difference between direct and cross examination to my client. So instead of answering my direct exam questions as expected,
their answers were short and curt, as though they were on cross exam. I had to quickly pivot to get the necessary testimony without catching a series of objections for leading my witness.
What was your best courtroom experience?
Getting a positive result on a sort of test case for a client. It was the first time we seriously tried and argued a certain basis for dismissal and the court granted it without much necessary convincing!
Why did you become a lawyer?
See above, re: Prof. Hornstein’s class. It made me realize that while chemistry was interesting, I did not enjoy working in a lab and probably wouldn’t be happy in that line of work. Lawyering provides a type of stimulation for me that chemistry did not. Though it may be a tired cliché about lawyers, I also realized that going into law allows me to talk for a living. My siblings would be quick to point that out as a perfect match for me.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected development in your career?’
Ending up working in insurance coverage. It’s plenty stimulating for me and there is always something different from matter to matter. I originally planned to work with patents and other intellectual property matters. The world had different plans, and I’m kind of glad it did.
What is your favorite book?
A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara. A deep read, with fascinating characters and some serious but important topics. If you do read it, keep the tissues close.
Lawyering provides a type of stimulation for me that chemistry did not. Though it may be a tired cliché about lawyers, I also realized that going into law allows me to talk for a living.
What is your most marked characteristic?
“The gift of gab,” as my dad told me about 10 years ago. I’m a Chatty Charlie through and through.
What is your hidden talent?
I play the cello. Admittedly, I don’t play regularly nowadays. I bet with a few months of regular practice I could get my skills back to high school levels.
Who are your real-life heroes?
Any person who does important, rewarding and helpful work for little to no personal gain or reward. I could name lots of individuals and groups, but I think that includes pretty much all of them.
When and where were you happiest?
I don’t think I can pick just one time. But the top contenders are moments and experiences with the people most dear to me. Especially if those are at any brewery in Appalachia. WBF
Your voice. Your bar. Your impact. |
You may walk away feeling inspired, and perhaps reconnect with the reasons you became a lawyer in the first place.
The State Bar regularly seeks input from its members and values their feedback. With more than 6,700 members, the Tenth Judicial District Bar is the largest in North Carolina. That gives us both a responsibility and an opportunity: our voice can help shape the future of the practice.
I have recently suggested some ways to make things a little better for lawyers across the state. Those ideas have been met with support and enthusiasm, and I am excited for the next steps.
This year also marks a special milestone that creates a distinct opportunity to reflect on our service, connection, and progress — the centennial anniversary of the Wake County Bar Association. As part of the celebration of the centennial, the Tenth Judicial District Bar hosted a Reaffirmation Ceremony at the North Carolina State Capitol. Our attorneys stood together to reaffirm their commitment to the profession and enjoyed a reading of the Creed of
Professionalism, which includes the following:
“To the public and our profession, I
Each Bar Flyer and member email this year includes a link to a suggestion page. It looks like this:
offer service. I will strive to improve the law and our legal system, and to make our legal system more accessible, responsive, and effective for all.”
Even if you could not attend, I hope you will reflect on those words. And I hope you will tell us how we can help you live them out.
My goal this year is simple: to serve our members and to help make the changes you want or need. To do that, we need to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Some may be unique to our District, and others may apply statewide. We want to hear them all.
Please use it, or reach out however is easiest for you. Your suggestions do not need to be fully formed. You can point out a problem, propose a solution or just tell us what has been bothering you. I will personally read every response. We are committed to turning ideas into action.
Next time you are out for lunch, coffee or drinks with your colleagues, take five minutes to talk about the changes you would like to see. Chances are, there is something on your mind — or theirs.
Let us know. We are here. We are listening. And we are ready to help. WBF
Members gather in the North Carolina State Capitol’s House chamber for the WCBA Centennial Reaffirmation Ceremony in Raleigh on Friday, April 25.
THE NEXT 100:
FUTURE-PROOFING THE LEGAL PROFESSION
CAMILLE STELL | LAWYERS MUTUAL
AS WE CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL of our bar association, we stand at a powerful intersection of legacy and innovation. One hundred years ago, the legal profession was built on handshakes, typewriters and courtrooms echoing with in-person arguments. Today, the world is digital, data-driven and increasingly complex—and so is the practice of law.
In times of global uncertainty, political unrest and fast-moving change, the law remains a cornerstone of stability. The rule of law is not just a principle—it is the foundation of democratic societies. Lawyers are uniquely positioned to defend this foundation, especially as we witness attacks on democratic institutions, erosion of civil discourse and widespread public fear about the future. In an interconnected world, our role extends beyond national borders; we are stewards of justice, guardians of rights and interpreters of law in a rapidly shifting global landscape. The legal profession must rise to this moment with courage, clarity and an unwavering commitment to fairness.
A Changing Society, A Changing Role for Lawyers
The legal profession is—and always has been—a reflection of society. As our communities grapple with technological advances, global interconnectedness and social change, lawyers are being called to do more than interpret the law; we are being asked to help society understand it, trust it and shape it.
New legal frontiers are emerging every day: digital privacy, cryptocurrency regulation, AI governance, climate law and bioethics, to name just a few. These issues cut across borders, industries and generations. The future demands lawyers who are not only legal experts but also ethical guides, policy shapers and social architects.
The Individual Lawyer in a Digital Era
For individual attorneys, the next 100 years will bring both challenges and opportunities. Technology—from artificial intelligence to automation—is redefining the
lawyer’s toolkit. Research that once took hours now takes minutes. Contracts are being generated by algorithms. Courtrooms are hosted on Zoom and WebEx.
Yet, in the midst of automation, human judgment, creativity and empathy remain irreplaceable. The future lawyer must be digitally fluent, but also deeply human—able to build trust, interpret nuance and advocate in a world that moves faster than ever.
Lifelong learning, adaptability and crossdisciplinary collaboration will no longer be optional. Whether you’re in your first year of practice or your fourth decade, tomorrow’s lawyer is a curious, resilient one.
Law Firms: Innovation at Every Scale
Across the spectrum—from solo offices to large international firms—legal organizations are rethinking their models. Remote work, client expectations for efficiency and new fee structures are reshaping firm culture and business strategy.
Small firms are finding new ways to thrive by embracing niche practices, outsourcing administrative tasks and using cloud-based tools to compete with larger players. Midsize firms are becoming hubs of innovation, experimenting with new service delivery models. Large firms are investing in legal tech incubators, data analytics and AI-powered platforms.
Success in the next century won’t be measured by office size, but by agility, relevance and values. Firms that lead with purpose, prioritize inclusion and align with the needs of an evolving client base will shape the next chapter of legal excellence.
Regulatory Reform and the Public Interest
One of the most significant
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
The future demands lawyers who are not only legal experts but also ethical guides, policy shapers and social architects.
Stell
OUR MEMBERS SPEAK:
BEST AND WORST ICEBREAKERS
At this year’s Committee Chair Kick-off, we emphasized having committee members introduce themselves and offer an icebreaker question at each meeting. We asked our WCBA committee chairs and vice chairs two questions: “What is the BEST ice breaker question to start a meeting?” and “What is the WORST ice breaker question to start a meeting?”
Best: “What is the last show you binge watched?”
Worst: “Tell us something no one knows about you.”
Judge Ashleigh Parker Centennial Committee
Best: “What is your go-to karaoke song?
Worst: (Potentially) “What is your go-to karaoke song?” Or, “Where would you rather be than this meeting?”
Chris Pereira Public Service Committee
Best: “ What was the last thing that you ate that was really good? Why’d you enjoy it so much?” (It’s concrete and let’s people share as much or as little as they want.) I also like “Milky way or Snickers?” or “Twix or KitKat?” I’ve also heard (and liked) “If you could have any superpower, what would it be? If you’re thinking ‘China’ as a superpower, you’ve misunderstood the question.”
Worst: “Tell us something interesting or fun about yourself that people might not know.” (It puts people on the spot and many folks are uncomfortable with sharing in a new group.)
John Szymankiewicz History Committee
Best: “Are we the greatest or what?!”
Worst: “What’s that smell?”
Warren Savage Lawyer Wellness Committee
Best: “What was your very first job and what did you learn from it?”
Worst: “Marry, Kiss, Kill?”
Tamika Henderson Swearing-In Committee
Best: “If I have to do an icebreaker, it is going to be along the lines of ‘What was the best trip you have ever taken?’”
Worst: “What is the last movie you watched? Because I rarely watch movies, don’t have Netflix and am always left not listening to others’ answers as I madly try to figure out how to answer without sounding foolish.”
Nan Hannah History Committee
Best: “Tell us about one of your most embarrassing moments (whether in your personal or professional life).”
Worst: “Tell us about your last vacation.”
Judge Kevin Boxberger Bench-Bar Committee
Best: “When was the last time you did something outside of your comfort zone and what was it?”
Worst: “Tell us a fun fact no one in this meeting knows.”
Evin Grant Committee for DE&I
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!
Lindsey
Alecia Amoo
Blakely
Alexis Biesemeyer
Riley Bittner
Bosquez Porter Family Law
Joseph Bledsoe III
Whitney Brownlow
& Hilscher PA Zachary Marks
Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Taylor Marks Ward and Smith PA
The Next 100 | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
developments on the horizon is regulatory reform—rethinking how legal services are delivered, who can deliver them and how access to justice can be expanded. From alternative legal service providers to changes in ownership structures and licensing models, these reforms are designed to better meet the needs of a public that often finds the legal system inaccessible. For lawyers, this is both a challenge and an opportunity: to reassert our value, to innovate ethically and to help design a
Matthew Martin Gwynn Edwards & Getter PA Yorlibeth Martinez
Boyette & Frost PLLC Jonathon Mendoza Fuquay-Varina Family Law
Sherri Morissette Fractional GC Solutions LLC
Richard Morris
and Smith PA
Stacy Newton Batten McLamb Smith PLLC Demetris Neyland Piedmont Eastern Litigation
Jane Nowell Ward and Smith PA Adam Olls State Employees Credit Union
Grant Osborne Ward and Smith PA
Earthvi Patel Mitratech
Alyssa Pearce
Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
Meghan Pridemore State Employees’ Credit Union
Mary Ray
North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jeffrey Roether
Morningstar Law Group
Nora Rooney
Schevon Salmon K&L Ga tes LLP Morrisville
system that protects consumers while expanding access. The question is not whether change will come—but how we, as lawyers, will help shape it in the public interest.
Looking Forward with Purpose
As we raise a glass to our 100-year legacy, let us also raise our sights to the horizon. The future of law is not something to brace for—it is something to build. It is filled with promise, fueled by progress and grounded in
Colin Shronts
Hitachi Energy
Charlotte Smith
Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC
Jeffrey Smith
North Carolina Division of Employment Security
Elizabeth Smith Wyrick Robbins
Bradford Sneeden Moore & Van Allen PLLC
Cassidy Somers
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP
Leea Stacks
Supreme Court of NC
Thomason Stockton
John McWilliam PLLC
Aulie Strickland
Ward and Smith PA
Samantha Taylor Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP
Melissa Thirer-Hayward
Suraj Vege Ellis & Winters LLP
Albert Veverka
Dickie McCamey & Chilcote PC
Kandace Watkins State Employees Credit Union
Emma Watts
Monroe Wallace Morden & Sherrill PA
Jamar Wilson
the enduring principles of justice and service.
Together, as lawyers and leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to future-proof this noble profession—not only for ourselves, but for the society we serve.
Here’s to the next 100 years. WBF
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@ lawyersmutualconsulting.com or 800-662-8843.
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