NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR The 2014 Lawyer’s Handbook State Bar Art Collection/Jane Filer Administrative Rules . .2-1 Gen. Stat. Chapter 84 . .1-1 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) . .5-19 IOLTA Q&A . .11-14 Discipline and Disability . .3-1 Rules of Professional Conduct . .9-1 Fee Dispute Resolution . .5-6 Rules Index . .9-73 IOLTA . .5-13 Trust Accounting Q&A . .11-1 Legal Specialization . .5-28 Membership . .2-1 7-1 Paralegal Certification . The North Carolina State Bar Lawyer’s Handbook 2014 (Abridged) Professional Organizations . .6-1 An official publication of the North Carolina State Bar Ethics Opinions . .10-1 containing the most frequently referenced rules of the North Carolina State Bar, annotated Rules of Professional Conduct, all ethics opinions adopted under the Rules and Index to Ethics Opinions . .10-258 Superseded (1985) Rules, and trust account guidelines. Hanging on by a thread? You are not alone. Free, confidential assistance is available. 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[email protected] www.NCLAP.org FREE l SAFE l CONFIDENTIAL Western Region Piedmont Region Eastern Region Cathy Killian 704.910.2310 Towanda Garner 919.719.9290 919.719.9267 State Bar Contacts North Carolina State Bar Ethics/Professional Responsibility Beth McLamb [email protected] PO Box 25908 (answers inquiries about lawyer’s own conduct) Adam Maner [email protected] Raleigh, NC 27611-5908 Nichole McLaughlin [email protected] (919) 828-4620 Suzanne Lever [email protected] Office of Counsel (legal department) Alice Neece Mine [email protected] Heather Pattle [email protected] Address Changes Tom Lunsford [email protected] Katherine Jean [email protected] Kelly Beck [email protected] Beth McLamb [email protected] Fee Dispute Resolution Paralegal Certification Adam Maner [email protected] Luella Crane [email protected] Joy Belk [email protected] Krista Bennett [email protected] Alice Neece Mine [email protected] Administration Tom Lunsford [email protected] Grievance Professional Organizations (registers p.c./p.l.l.c’s ) Joe Cerone [email protected] Heather Pattle [email protected] Adam Maner [email protected] Attorney-Client Assistance Program (receives Investigations Pro Hac Vice Registration complaints from clients) Joseph J. Commisso [email protected] Martha Fletcher [email protected] Judy Treadwell [email protected] Publications - Media Kits and Orders Sandra L. Saxton [email protected] IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts) (919) 828-0477 Jennifer Duncan [email protected] Certificates of Good Standing (919) 821-9168 (Fax) Martha Fletcher [email protected] Kelly Beck [email protected] PO BOX 25996 Specialization Beth McLamb [email protected] Raleigh, NC 27611-5996 Denise Mullen [email protected] Adam Maner [email protected] Lanice Heidbrink [email protected] General email: [email protected] Alice Neece Mine [email protected] Client Security Fund (reimbursement for client- Evelyn M. Pursley [email protected] victims of lawyer theft) Claire Mills [email protected] Student Practice Certificates (for 3rd year law Root Edmonson [email protected] Aaliyah Pierce [email protected] students) Randy Ross [email protected] Mary Irvine [email protected] Dottie Miani [email protected] Alice Neece Mine [email protected] Continuing Legal Education Lawyer Assistance Program (a confidential Debra Holland [email protected] program) Trust Account Random Audits Emily Oakes [email protected] Robynn Moraites [email protected] Anne Parkin [email protected] Lori Nicolicchia [email protected] Towanda Garner [email protected] Julie Ferrer [email protected] Cathy Killian [email protected] Trust Account Support Charlotte Office: (704) 892-5699 Peter Bolac [email protected] Disciplinary Hearing Commission (DHC and final Raleigh Office: (919) 719-9269 disciplinary orders) Unauthorized Practice of Law www.nclap.org Dottie Miani (clerk) [email protected] David Johnson [email protected] Membership Records District Bar Liaison Tammy Jackson [email protected] Peter Bolac [email protected] Kelly Beck [email protected] State Bar Officers Ronald G. Baker Sr. - President Margaret McDermott Hunt - Vice-President M. Keith Kapp - Past-President 4417 N. Croaton Highway 52 W. Main St. 301 Fayetteville St., Suite 1700 PO Drawer 1027 PO Box 1175 PO Drawer 1000 Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 Brevard, NC 28712 Raleigh, NC 27601 (252) 261-2126 (828) 884-2780 (919) 981-4024 Ronald L. Gibson - President-Elect L. Thomas Lunsford II – Secretary/Treasurer 831 Morehead St., Suite 860 PO Box 25908 Charlotte, NC 28202 Raleigh, NC 27611-5908 (704) 377-1634 (919) 828-4620 Visit the State Bar online at: www.ncbar.gov page 3 Selected Provisions from the Rules of the North Carolina State Bar Table of Contents .0807 Vacancies . .2-3 North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 84: .0808 Bylaws Providing for Geographical Rotation or Attorneys-at-Law: Selected Division of Representation . .2-3 Statutes . G.S. Chap. 84 Section .0900 Organization of the Judicial District Bars . .2-3 § 84-2.1. "Practice law" defined . .1-1 .0901 Bylaws . .2-3 § 84-4. Persons other than members of State Bar prohibited .0902 Annual Membership Fee . .2-3 from practicing law . .1-1 .0903 Fiscal Period . .2-4 § 84-4.1. Limited practice of out-of-state attorneys . .1-1 Section .1000 Model Bylaws For Use by Judicial District Bars . .2-4 § 84-4.2. Summary revocation of permission granted .1001 Name . .2-4 out-of-state attorneys to practice . .1-1 .1002 Authority and Purpose . .2-4 § 84-5. Prohibition as to practice of law by corporation . .1-1 .1003 Membership . .2-4 § 84-5.1 Rendering of legal services by certain nonprofit .1004 Officers . .2-4 corporations . .1-2 .1005 Councilor . .2-4 § 84-8. Punishment for violations . .1-2 .1006 Annual Membership Fee . .2-5 § 84-15. Creation of North Carolina State Bar as an agency .1007 Meetings . .2-5 of the State . .1-2 .1008 District Bar Finances . .2-5 § 84-16. Membership and privileges . .1-2 .1009 Prohibited Activities . .2-5 § 84-17. Government . .1-3 .1010 Committees . .2-5 § 84-18. Terms, election and appointment of councilors . .1-3 .1011 Board of Directors or Executive Committee . .2-6 § 84-18.1. Membership and fees of district bars . .1-3 .1012 Amendment of the Bylaws . .2-6 § 84-19. Judicial districts definition . .1-4 .1013 Selection of Nominees for District Court Judge . .2-6 § 84-21. Organization of Council; publication of rules, regulations and bylaws . .1-4 Section .1200 Filing Papers with and Serving the North Carolina State Bar . .2-7 § 84-22. Officers and committees of the North Carolina State Bar . .1-4 .1201 When Papers Are Filed Under These Rules § 84-23. Powers of Council . .1-4 and Regulations . .2-7 § 84-28. Discipline and disbarment . .1-4 Section .1400 Rulemaking Procedures . .2-7 § 84-28.1. Disciplinary hearing commission . .1-5 .1401 Publication for Comment . .2-7 § 84-28.2. Persons immune from suit . .1-5 .1402 Review by the Executive Committee . .2-7 § 84-29. Evidence and witnesses . .1-5 .1403 Action by the Council and Review by the . § 84-30. Rights of accused person . .1-6 North Carolina Supreme Court . .2-7 § 84-32.1. Confidentiality of records . .1-6 § 84-34. Membership fees and list of members . .1-6 Subchapter B: Discipline and Disability Rules . Subchap. 1B § 84-34.2. Specific statutory authority for certain fees . .1-6 § 84-36. Inherent powers of courts unaffected . .1-6 Section .0100 Discipline and Disability of Attorneys . .3-1 § 84-37. State Bar may investigate and enjoin .0101 General Provisions . .3-1 unauthorized activities . .1-6 .0102 Procedure for Discipline . .3-1 .0103 Definitions . .3-1 27 NCAC Chapter 1 .0104 State Bar Council: Powers and Duties in Subchapter A: Organization of the North Carolina Discipline and Disability Matters . .3-2 State Bar . .Subchap. 1A .0105 Chairperson of the Grievance Committee: Powers and Duties . .3-2 Section .0200 Membership - Annual Membership Fees . .2-1 .0106 Grievance Committee: Powers and Duties . .3-3 .0201 Classes of Membership . .2-1 .0107 Counsel: Powers and Duties . .3-3 .0202 Register of Members . .2-1 .0108 Chairperson of the Hearing Commission: .0203 Annual Membership Fees; When Due . .2-2 Powers and Duties . .3-3 .0204 Good Standing Definition and Certificates . .2-2 .0109 Hearing Panel: Powers and Duties . .3-4 Section .0800 Election and Appointment of State Bar Councilors . .2-2 .0110 Secretary: Powers and Duties in Discipline .0801 Purpose . .2-2 and Disability Matters . .3-4 .0802 Election - When Held; Notice; Nominations . .2-2 .0111 Grievances: Form and Filing . .3-4 .0803 Election - Voting Procedures . .2-2 .0112 Investigations: Initial Determination; Notice and Response; Committee Referrals . .3-5 .0804 Procedures Governing Elections by Mail . .2-2 .0113 Proceedings Before the Grievance Committee . .3-6 .0805 Election and Appointment of State Bar Councilors . .2-3 .0114 Formal Hearing . .3-7 .0806 Procedures Governing Early Voting . .2-3 .0115 Effect of a Finding of Guilt in Any Criminal Case . .3-9 For a complete listing of all Rules of the State Bar, see page 11-23 page 4 .0116 Reciprocal Discipline & Disability Proceedings . .3-10 .0204 Certification as Legal Intern . .4-2 .0117 Surrender of License While Under Investigation . .3-11 .0205 Supervision . .4-2 .0118 Disability . .3-11 .0206 Activities . .4-2 .0119 Enforcement of Powers . ..