North Carolina Bar Association

THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROMOTING AND IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN NORTH CAROLINA; FOSTERING AND ENCOURAGING LAW REFORM WHEN IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST; ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF JURISPRUDENCE IN ALL ITS ASPECTS; MAINTAINING THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY OF THE PROFESSION OF LAW; PROMOTING THE STUDY OF LAW AND THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF LAWYERS; IMPROVING THE STANDARDS OF THE SERVICE OF THE ASSOCIATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; FOSTERING AND PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE LAWYER; AND PROVIDING A MEANS OF ORGANIZATION THROUGH WHICH ITS MEMBERS MAY PURSUE THESE AND OTHER COMMON OBJECTIVES.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION:THE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT MEET THE COMPETENCY NEEDS AND NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE PRODUCED, RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS FORMATS INCLUDING LIVE IN-PERSON, WEBCAST, AND ON-DEMAND. HOUSED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IS OUR PUBLICATIONS DIVISION, WHICH PROVIDES A HOST OF PROFESSIONAL PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MATERIAL INCLUDING ATTORNEY DESKBOOKS, GUIDES AND PRACTICE MANUALS.

CENTER FOR PRACTICE MANAGEMENT:THE CENTER FOR PRACTICE MANAGEMENT (CPM) IS A PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FREE, CONFIDENTIAL HELP TO MEMBER ATTORNEYS WITH TECHNOLOGY, MARKETING, MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE. CPM HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HIGH-PRICED PRIVATE CONSULTANTS FOR NCBA MEMBERS. THE SERVICES OFFERED CAN BENEFIT ALL NCBA MEMBERS BUT ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE FOR THE SIZABLE PORTION OF NCBA MEMBERS WHO WORK IN LAW FIRMS WITH FEWER THAN 10 ATTORNEYS AND WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL MANAGERIAL STAFF.GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS:THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS (OGA) SERVES THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION (ASSOCIATION) AT EVERY TURN OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THE OGA TEAM PERFORMS AS AN EXPERIENCED AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR ATTORNEYS THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA ON A VARIETY OF LEGAL ISSUES BY ORGANIZING AND DIRECTING THE LOBBYING EFFORTS FOR THE ASSOCIATION. THE OGA ADVOCATES FOR THE PASSAGE OF ALL LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS OR POSITIONS ADOPTED BY THE ASSOCIATION. THE OGA ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION TO MEMBERS AND LEGISLATORS ABOUT PENDING LEGISLATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO AN ASSOCIATION SECTION OR COMMITTEE OR OF CONCERN TO THE PUBLIC, THE BENCH, OR THE BAR AS A WHOLE. MARKETING:THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THE MARKETING OPERATIONS OF THE NCBA AND THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR FOUNDATION, INCLUDING OUR SOCIAL NETWORKING MESSAGING WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKEDIN AND INSTAGRAM. LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE:THE NORTH CAROLINA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE IS A SERVICE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION THAT PROVIDES FREE ATTORNEY REFERRALS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. ATTORNEYS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE LRS AGREE TO PROVIDE CALLERS WITH AN INITIAL 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION FOR NO MORE THAN $50. APPROXIMATELY 30,000 REFERRALS ARE MADE YEARLY.ANNUAL MEETING:THE ANNUAL MEETING IS HELD EVERY JUNE IN A LOCATION DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AS REQUIRED IN THE BY-LAWS OF THE ORGANIZATION. ALL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE NOTIFIED MONTHS IN ADVANCE AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AND BENEFIT FROM THE EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED THROUGH THE MEETING. THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, CHANGES IN BY-LAWS, AND APPROVAL OF THE DUES STRUCTURE ARE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE GENERAL SESSION.COMMUNICATIONS:THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONVEYING THE ACTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE NCBA TO OUR MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. COMMUNICATIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, E-BAR; THROUGH THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE NCBA AND ITS COMMUNITIES, NCBARBLOG; VIA EMAIL THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; AND THROUGH THE QUARTERLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE NORTH CAROLINA LAWYER, WHICH IS POSTED ON THE NCBA WEBSITE. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION AND PROVIDES EXTENSIVE CONTENT AND EDITORIAL SUPPORT FOR THE WEBSITES OF THE NCBA AND THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR FOUNDATION.

MEMBERSHIP:THE MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT WORKS TO INFLUENCE THE CREATION AND DELIVERY OF MEMBER VALUE AND COMMUNICATE THAT VALUE TO MEMBERS AND POTENTIAL MEMBERS. ITS GOAL IS TO PROVIDE LAWYERS, JUDGES, PARALEGALS AND LAW STUDENTS WITH PRODUCTS, RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCES THAT WILL GUIDE AND SUPPORT THEM AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY. THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO PARTNERS WITH OUTSIDE VENDORS TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF DISCOUNTS ON PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

COMMUNITIESTHE COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT STRIVES TO ACCELERATE ENGAGEMENT, INTERCONNECTEDNESS, AND SHARED EXPERIENCES WITHIN GROUPS OF MEMBERS WITH COMMON INTERESTS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A PATHWAY TO ENGAGEMENT THROUGH 43 COMMUNITIES (4 DIVISIONS, 8 COMMITTEES, AND 31 SECTIONS). THESE COMMUNITIES ARE GROUPED BASED ON PRACTICE AREA, AGE, YEARS IN PRACTICE, AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS. THE RESOURCES PROVIDED RANGE FROM LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO INFORMATION SHARING THROUGH CONNECTED PLATFORMS.