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THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR WINTER JOURNAL2020 IN THIS ISSUE An Interview with Our New President page 5 Improving the Mechanics of Justice page 9 Remarks from Wade Smith page 16 IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING STATE BAR EMAILS As a member of the North Carolina State Bar, you are routinely sent critical emails regarding dues notices, CLE report forms, etc. As the State Bar continues to seek ways to increase efficiency and reduce waste, some reports and forms that were previously mailed will now only be emailed. To receive these emails, make sure you have a current email address on file. You can check membership information by logging into your account at ncbar.gov/member‐login. If you have unsubscribed or fear your email has been cleaned from our email list, you can resubscribe by going to bit.ly/NCBarResubscribe. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL FEATURES Winter 2020 Volume 25, Number 4 5 An Interview with Our New President, Editor Barbara R. Christy Jennifer R. Duncan 7 COVID and the Military Legal Assistance Office By Michael S. Archer © Copyright 2020 by the North Carolina State Bar. All rights reserved. Periodicals 9 Improving the Mechanics of Justice: postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional Lessons of the Coronavirus offices. Opinions expressed by contributors By Judge Martin B. McGee are not necessarily those of the North Carolina State Bar. POSTMASTER: Send 12 Grandmother’s Confederate Statue— address changes to the North Carolina State That’s a Big Suitcase to Unpack Bar, PO Box 25908, Raleigh, NC 27611. By Louis Allen The North Carolina Bar Journal invites the submission of unsolicited, original articles, 16 Looking Back: Remarks at the State essays, and book reviews. Submissions may Bar Presidential Installation be made by mail or email (jduncan@ By Wade Smith ncbar.gov) to the editor. Publishing and edi- torial decisions are based on the Publications 18 NC Faith and Justice Alliance: Committee’s and the editor’s judgment of Connecting Local Faith Communities the quality of the writing, the timeliness of the article, and the potential interest to the to Legal Resources readers of the Journal. The Journal reserves By Julian H. Wright the right to edit all manuscripts. The North Carolina State Bar Journal (ISSN 10928626) 20 A Holistic Approach to Hiring is published four times per year in March, By Kayla Britt June, September, and December under the direction and supervision of the council of the North Carolina State Bar, PO Box 25908, Raleigh, NC 27611. Member rate of $6.00 per year is included in dues. Nonmember rates $10.73 per year. Single copies $5.36. The Lawyer’s Handbook $16.09. Advertising rates available upon request. Direct inquiries to Director of Communications, the North Carolina State Bar, PO Box 25908, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611, tel. (919) 828-4620. ncbar.gov Follow us at: Twitter: @NCStateBar Facebook: facebook.com/NCStateBar THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL 3 DEPARTMENTS 30 Legal Ethics 47 State Bar Swears In New Officers 21 Upcoming Appointments 33 Proposed Ethics Opinions 48 Resolution of Appreciation 22 The Disciplinary Department 43 Rule Amendments 50 Law School Briefs 23 IOLTA Update 51 Annual Reports of Boards 24 Legal Specialization BAR UPDATES 54 February Bar Exam Applicants 26 Lawyer Assistance Program 45 In Memoriam 58 Selected Financial Data 28 Pathways to Well-being 46 Client Security Fund Officers 16: Dorothy Hairston Mitchell, 40: Anna Hamrick, Asheville Durham 41: H. Russell Neighbors, Marion Barbara R. Christy, Greensboro William S. Mills, Durham 42: Michael A. Lovejoy, President 2020-2021 17: Charles E. Davis, Mebane Hendersonville Darrin D. Jordan, Salisbury 18: Charles Gordon Brown, Chapel Hill 43: Gerald R. Collins Jr., Murphy President-Elect 2020-2021 19: William C. Fields Jr., Raeford Marcia Armstrong, Smithfield 20: Joshua Dale Malcolm, Pembroke Public Members Vice-President 2020-2021 21: Richard Buckner, Rockingham Patricia Head, Littleton C. Colon Willoughby Jr., Raleigh 22: Matthew W. Smith, Eden Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, Greensboro Past-President 2020-2021 23: Thomas W. Anderson, Pilot Mohan Venkataraman, Morrisville Alice Neece Mine, Chapel Hill Mountain Secretary-Treasurer 24: Patrice A. Hinnant, Greensboro Executive Director Stephen E. Robertson, Greensboro Alice Neece Mine Councilors 24H: Raymond A. Bretzmann, High By Judicial District Point Assistant Executive Director 1: C. Everett Thompson II, Elizabeth 25: Jay White, Concord Peter Bolac City 26: David N. Allen, Charlotte 2: Thomas D. Anglim, Washington Robert C. Bowers, Charlotte Counsel 3: Charles R. Hardee, Greenville A. Todd Brown, Charlotte Katherine Jean 4: Scott C. Hart, New Bern Mark P. Henriques, Charlotte 5: Kevin Joseph Kiernan, Clinton Dewitt McCarley, Charlotte Editor 6: W. Allen Cobb Jr., Wilmington Gena Graham Morris, Charlotte Jennifer R. Duncan 7: Takiya Fae Lewis, Ahoskie Eben T. Rawls, Charlotte 8: Charles S. Rountree III, Tarboro 27: Jennifer Davis Hammond, Salisbury Publications Editorial Board 9: C. Branson Vickory III, Goldsboro 28: John Webster, Albemarle Andrea Capua, Chair 10: Julie L. Bell, Raleigh 29: Richard Costanza, Southern Pines Stephen E. Robertson, Vice Chair Heidi C. Bloom, Raleigh 30: H. Ligon Bundy, Monroe Thomas W. Anderson Walter E. Brock Jr., Raleigh 31: George M. Cleland IV, Winston- Phillip Bantz (Advisory Member) Theodore C. Edwards II, Raleigh Salem Heidi C. Bloom Katherine Ann Frye, Raleigh Kevin G. Williams, Winston- Margaret Dickson (Advisory Member) Fred M. Morelock, Raleigh Salem Anthony S. diSanti (Advisory Member) Robert Rader, Raleigh 32: Kimberly S. Taylor, Taylorsville John Gehring (Advisory Member) Warren Savage, Raleigh 33: Sally Strohacker, Mocksville Ashley London (Advisory Member) 11: James Thomas Burnette, Oxford 34: John S. Willardson, Wilkesboro L. Thomas Lunsford II (Advisory Member) 12: Eddie S. Winstead III, Sanford 35: Andrea N. Capua, Boone Camille Stell (Advisory Member) 13: Dionne Loy Fortner , Smithfield 36: M. Alan LeCroy, Morganton John Webster 14: Harold Lee Boughman Jr., 37: Clark R. Bell, Asheboro Fayetteville 38: Timothy L. Patti, Gastonia 15: Michael R. Ramos, Shallotte 39: Rebecca J. Pomeroy, Lincolnton 4 WINTER 2020 An Interview with Our New President, Barbara R. Christy Greensboro attorney Barbara R. Christy was sworn in as president of the North Carolina State Bar by Chief Justice Cheri Beasley on October 23, 2020. Q: Tell us about your upbringing. I grew up as an “air force brat” and lived in several states (and Newfoundland) before my father was transferred to Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, where I graduated from high school and went on to college at Ap- palachian State. I am the oldest of four children which, according to my siblings, accounts for my leadership skills (they call it “being bossy”). Both my father and mother grew up in large families on farms in middle Tennessee and in- stilled in all of us the importance of family, faith, hard work, and gratitude. Q: When and why did you decide to become a lawyer? With her husband, Rick, and grandson, Cooper, looking on, Barbara R. Christy is sworn in a pres- I decided to major in criminal justice ident of the North Carolina State Bar. while in college. I did not have much experi- ence with the legal system (other than repre- to his hometown, I opened a solo practice ground. While I was a sole practitioner, I senting myself in traffic court), but one of concentrating on residential real estate. In learned to do every aspect of the closing from my favorite professors introduced me to sev- 1987, Schell Bray Aycock Abel & Livingston title search to settlement statement. People eral local lawyers and strongly encouraged was formed, and Bill Aycock asked me to were happy to be buying a home and I loved me to apply to law school. I entered law join as an associate in the firm’s commercial the challenge of pulling all the pieces togeth- school thinking I wanted to be a litigator, but real estate practice. Joining Schell Bray was er to close on schedule. I now close large quickly decided that my skill set was more the best decision I ever made, as they allowed commercial transactions, but the basics are suited to a transactional practice. me the flexibility I needed while my children the same. Everyone is working toward the Q: Can you tell us how your career as a were young, and they supported my transi- same goal, so there is a lot of opportunity for lawyer has evolved? tion to partnership in later years. They’ve also collaboration and problem solving. Bill I started practice in Greensboro in 1983 been extremely supportive of the time I’ve Aycock was one of the first commercial real as an associate for a general practitioner. I spent on State Bar and pro bono matters. estate specialists, and he encouraged me to quickly gravitated to residential real estate Q: You are a North Carolina State Bar real pursue certification. (despite the fact that the average mortgage property law specialist and you have a high- Q: If you had not chosen to become a rate at that time was above 15%). The num- ly respected, top drawer, commercial real lawyer, what do you think you would have ber of women realtors and brokers was start- property practice. What attracted you to done for a living? ing to increase at that time, and I began to do this area of practice, and why did you seek My father really wanted me to apply to closings for several of them. When the attor- specialty certification? the Air Force Academy, but I would probably ney I was working for decided to move back Residential real estate was a great learning have chosen to work with the justice system THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL 5 in some capacity such as a juvenile court too many other people of color caused many Q: To make room for innovation in the counselor.