Jun., 2010 - Mecklenburg County Bar

2009-10 Summary
Young Lawyers Division
By Amy B. Foxhall, Chair
The Young Lawyers Division of the
Mecklenburg County Bar (YLD) had an
exciting 2009-10 year. This year’s YLD Council
(Amy B. Foxhall, Amy P. Hunt, Libby J. James,
Carrie A. Mansfield, Danny A. Merlin,
Amanda S. Smiley, Tony B. Taylor, Stacey A.
Vandiford and Lauren M. Vaughn) worked
hard to ensure the continued success of the
YLD by focusing their energy on community
service initiatives and fun social events. This
year also brought about a structural change
that turned the old “Young Lawyers Section”
into the new “Young Lawyers Division.”
Academic Internship Program
The 2009-10 Academic Internship Program
was a great success thanks to the volunteer
speakers and the Charlotte Mecklenburg
Schools. Seventeen high school students spent
their spring semester learning about the legal
profession. Each week the students would
meet with a local attorney who would teach
the students about various areas of law ranging
from sports law to intellectual property to the
immigration system. Special thanks to all of
the volunteers who donated their time and
energy to this program, but most significantly
the co-chairs of this committee, Amy P. Hunt
and Michael J. Hoefling.
Ask-A-Lawyer Day
The YLD co-sponsored the North Carolina
Bar Association’s Ask-A-Lawyer Day on
February 6, 2010. Thanks to the leadership of
Lauren M. Vaughn, 21 MCB attorneys
volunteered to provide free legal advice to
members of our community at the walk-in
clinic at the Johnston YMCA.
Community Service Projects
The YLD Community Service Committee
started their year off with a book drive in
connection with Read to Me, Charlotte! The
generous support of Mecklenburg County
attorneys led to the collection of more than
300 books for use in free community
bookshelves throughout Mecklenburg
County’s social service agencies, hospitals and
laundromats. In November, attorneys and staff
from law firms and companies across
Mecklenburg County provided Thanksgiving
meals to 36 families through the YLD and
Thompson Child and Family Focus Center. In
December, the YLD coordinated with the
Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project to donate
holiday gifts to 289 Mecklenburg County
children who would otherwise not have had
holiday presents. The YLD also organized an
April clothing and household goods drive to
benefit Crisis Assistance Ministry. The YLD
appreciates the support of each person who
participated in these worthy initiatives. Many
thanks to Amanda B. Smiley and Stacey A.
Vandiford who headed up the Community
Service Committee.
Law Explorers Program
The Law Explorers program educated
Charlotte area high school students on various
aspects of the legal profession. The students
heard from several volunteers with diverse
practice areas and participated in a mock trial.
Thanks to Jessica J. Sibley and Tony B. Taylor
for heading up this worthy initiative.
Social Events
The YLD coordinated a number of social
events that allowed members to network and
enjoy the company of their fellow young
lawyers. This year, the YLD hosted socials at
some of Charlotte’s hottest new restaurants,
including Strike City Bowling, Enso Asian
Bistro, Vivace and Georges Brasserie. The YLD
thanks Tony B. Taylor, Ben-Austrin Willis, F.
William Devore IV, Tonya S. Graser, Trey
Lindley and Christian H. Staples for
organizing our successful socials. Carrie
Mansfield also organized a YLD softball team
which will start its first season this summer.
Swearing-In Ceremonies
The YLD hosted two swearing-in
ceremonies for new admittees to the North
Carolina State Bar. Approximately 190 new
attorneys were sworn in during these two
ceremonies. Libby J. James chaired the
Swearing-In Committee again this year and
ensured its continued success.
Your BFF
continued from page 2
Sam several times, comforting him
through the process and listening intently
to his perspective on the situation. It was
not long before the team discovered
aspects of Sam’s life that had been hidden
from the court. When he was five, a
report was called in by a neighbor to
Child Protective Services because of
domestic violence. His father had been
mistreating his mother. His mother had
indeed been over-using prescription
drugs.
Nevertheless, all of this tragedy did not
change the fact that these were Sam’s
parents, and that some kind of solution
must be developed. The team required
that Sam’s mother receive extensive
substance abuse counseling. Both parents
were required to attend parenting classes.
And, Sam’s father began seeing a
therapist. After several months of
working with Sam’s parents, the entire
family came together to agree upon a
custody arrangement. Sam’s parents had
transformed - they were no longer
focused on who hated whom more, but
instead, they focused on what would
work best for Sam.
With your help, we are building brighter
futures for families by intervening at a
crucial time. No, Sam will not grow up in
the traditional nuclear family, but he will
grow up having strong relationships with
both his mom and his dad. Like any
parents, they have their issues. But today,
they express their love for Sam in a
healthy manner, by providing a safe,
happy home for him to grow up.
These are just a few of the ways your
generosity has helped those in need over the
years. The MBF would like to thank each of
you that have supported the Foundation
through your donations and your time and
ask that you continue your support in these
trying economic times as the needs of others
continues to increase. Be a Foundation
Friend. Support Your BFF!
www.meckbar.org June 2010 15