The annual Law Day celebration, co-hosted by the North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and the North Carolina Bar Foundation, took place Friday, May 5. Part of the day’s events included the final stage of the McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge, which was held at the North Carolina Court of Appeals building in downtown Raleigh. Started by former Congressman Mike…
By Scheree Gilchrist On March 30, a free informational session was held for college students to help answer the common questions among prospective students: is law school a good fit for me, and what can expect in the first year? Featuring an experienced panel of North Carolina Bar Association lawyers from diverse backgrounds and specialties within the legal field, the…
On February 24, 2023, five Charlotte-area middle schools gathered at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse for a Middle School Mock Trial Competition. The NC Bar Foundation and the NCBF Civic Education and Community Engagement Committee play an integral role in facilitating these competitions by providing case materials and rules documents, helping coach teams or identify coaches, and participating as presiding judges…
There are many ways to spend a Friday in the month of May, but for four middle school students, representing various parts of North Carolina, May 6 was a Friday to remember. The students were selected as finalists in the 2022 McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge. Out of nearly 20 video submissions, these four had the privilege of spending the day in…
The North Carolina Bar Foundation’s Civic Education and Community Engagement Committee supports Middle School Mock Trial competitions by actively engaging in relationships with schools, teachers, and volunteers across North Carolina. One such event took place in Charlotte on February 25, hosting four Mecklenburg County middle school teams and another team from Asheville. The teams participated in a day-long competition, with logistical support…
If you are reading this it is likely because you are exploring the possibility of going to law school. It’s a big decision, one that very few people understand in 2022. Student debt is through the roof, first-year associate positions are harder than ever to attain, and the whole prospect of “the law” is dramatically different than it was for…
When searching for an opportunity to volunteer within the local community, many look forward to working with younger age groups to educate and excite them about the legal process and trial procedure. One of these opportunities for civic engagement is getting involved with the Middle School Mock Trial Program. Various mock trial competitions are held each year and there is…
Kids at bus stops and school supplies on store racks mean that August has finally turned the page in summer, and September will usher in new experiences for young people across North Carolina. The start of the school year brings many opportunities, not just for students, but for legal professionals as well, particularly those volunteers serving students through the North…
The North Carolina Bar Foundation Lawyers in Schools programming coordinates a number of civic education-focused initiatives that connect judges, lawyers and paralegals with students and schools across the state. This school year presented new challenges and opportunities, inspiring teachers to open their virtual classrooms to engage North Carolina Bar Association member guest speakers and presenters in new and fun ways:…
This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of North Carolina Lawyer Magazine. Read the complete article written by Russell Rawlings and view all NC Lawyer issues at ncbar.org/nc-lawyer. They sat anxiously in the courtroom of the Justice Building, springing to their feet as the clerk banged her gavel and proclaimed “oyez, oyez, oyez.” Their eyes widened as Chief…