North Carolina Bar Association

THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR ASSOCIATION IS A VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF LAWYERS, JUDGES, PARALEGALS AND LAW STUDENTS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNITIES: THE MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT WORKS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN MEMBERS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO PARTNERS WITH OUTSIDE VENDORS TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF DISCOUNTS ON PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. ITS GOAL IS TO PROVIDE LAWYERS, JUDGES, PARALEGALS AND LAW STUDENTS WITH MEMBERSHIP SERVICES AND BENEFITS THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, STAFF RESOURCE THREE DIVISIONS, 10 COMMITTEES AND 31 SECTIONS. THESE "COMMUNITIES" ARE GROUPED BASED ON ASSOCIATION BUSINESS NEEDS, DEMOGRAPHICS OR PRACTICE AREA INTERESTS. THE RESOURCES PROVIDED RANGE FROM LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORKING EVENTS TO CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO DOCUMENT SHARING. COMMUNITIES ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN INTERNAL LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES THAT INCLUDE EITHER APPOINTED OR ELECTED POSITIONS.

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.

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.

CENTER FOR PRACTICE MANAGEMENTTHE 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 AFFAIRSTHE 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.MARKETINGTHE 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 35,000 REFERRALS ARE MADE YEARLY.ANNUAL MEETINGTHE 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.