2010 Presentation to the Charlotte Rotary Club

MECKLENBURG
COUNTY BAR
th
26
J
Judicial
lD
District
WHAT IS THE
MECKLENBURG COUNTY BAR?
Mecklenburg County Bar
26th Judicial District
The MCB consists of all attorneys
who live and practice law in
Mecklenburg County.
County
What is the MCB?
 26th
Judicial District (Mecklenburg
County)
 Mandatory Bar
 Subdivision of NC State Bar
 4,335
4 335 Members
◦2 to 1 male/female ratio
Increasing Diversity
in the Legal
g Profession
Diversity Action Plan
for law firms
Lunch with a
Lawyer
Diversity Day
for high school and
undergraduate students
for middle school
students
MCB – Charlotte Rotary
Connection
Collin Brown
Christian Cherry
Dumont Clarke
Judge Bill Constangy
Thomas Cottingham
David Erdman
Anthony Foxx
Randall Groves
Mi h l Hawley
Michael
H l
Robert Johnston
Matthew Joyner
Warren Kean
James Kiser
John Lassiter
Anthony Lathrop
Marcus Lee
Fred Lowrance
DeWitt (Mac) McCarley
Pender McElroy
St
Steven
M
Meckler
kl
Luther Moore
Todd Owens
Robert Phifer
Ronnie Pruett
Chase Saunders
Dalbert Shefte
Gibson Smith
Karen Steffens
Thomas Templeton
William Underwood
Philip
p Van Hoy
y
Jerry Walters
Samuel Woodward
Paul Wyche
History of the MCB
•Formed in 1912
•Long rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War
Minimum ffee rates in 1869





Writing deeds for property under
$500: $10
Writing wills: $10
Misdemeanor defense: $10
Oral Advice: $5
Written advice: $10
Growth of the MCB
In 1928, a new
courthouse opened
MCB had 75members.
On Feb. 9, 2007 a new
courthouse opened…
MCB had 3,800
,
members.
Growth of the MCB
As of February 2010, the MCB has:
 4,335
4 33 members
b
 And growing:
◦ 100+ new attorneys last year
◦ New NC law schools
◦ Lowest per capita ratio of attorneys
y
p
to
◦ Vibrant Charlotte Economy/Transplants
NC
MCB Mission and Goals
Mission
To serve the ppublic and the Bar in improving
p
g
and preserving the administration of justice
and assisting the NC State Bar as required by
NC statutes
MCB Mission and Goals
Goals

Promote professionalism,
professionalism competence,
competence and ethical behavior

Promoting the administration of justice.

Assuring access to legal services

Promoting public education on legal issues

Provide members with educational and support services
MCB Structure
More than 70 committees, subcommittees, divisions and
section / 17 full time staff
WHAT DOES THE
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
BAR DO?
Mecklenburg County Bar
26th Judicial District
What does the MCB do?
•Promote
Promote professionalism (Bar Leadership Institute)
•Promote competence and ethical behavior (CLE
Committee)
•Self regulation (Grievance Committee / Fee Dispute
R l ti Committee)
Resolution
C
itt )
•Access to legal services / administration of justice
(Volunteer Lawyer Program / Lawyer Referral Service /
Mecklenburg Bar Foundation)
Training future community leaders
Bar Leadership Institute
Program for attorneys to develop their personal
leadership, with an emphasis on impacting the Bar and
the greater Charlotte Community.
The Honorable Selina Brooks
Mayor Anthony Foxx
The Honorable Tyyawdi Hands
What does the MCB do?
•Provides
Provides educational support and service to
members
•Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
•More than 500 hours offered in 2009
through live & video programs
•Networking and other support services
Access to legal services for
those in need
Access to Legal
g Services Volunteer Lawyer Program
The Volunteer Lawyer Program places
lawyer volunteers with our Community
Partners who serve the under-privileged.
Access to Legal
g Services Volunteer Lawyer Program
 MCB Wills
Program provides wills, free of
charge to those in need,
need primarily through
Habitat for Humanity
 MCB
Pro Bono for
f Nonprofits
fi Program
provides qualifying local non-profits 501(c)(3)
fili
filings,
d f i bbylaws
drafting
l
and
d other
h llegall
assistance.
Access to Legal
g Services Lawyer Referral Service
 Connecting
individuals with attorneys for
more than 50 years
 More than 2,000 clients referred to attorneys
i 2009
in
 Most calls are consumer and labor law related
 Greatest
G
need
d is
i for
f family
f il law
l attorneys
Public Education &
Awareness
Law & Society annual
event – Speakers
Jennifer Thompson
ThompsonCannino and Ronald
Cotton, Best Selling
Authors of Picking
C tt
Cotton
Law Day
L
D
annual event
Up to date source of
information www.meckbar.org
Mecklenburg Bar
Foundation
 501(c)(3)
charitable arm of the MCB
 Promotes
public service / access to legal
services
 Recent grants awarded to Council for
Child ’ Rights,
Children’s
Ri h LSSP,
LSSP L
Larry Ki
King’s
’
Clubhouse, International House
Special Judicial Nominations
When District Court judges step down, the
members of the MCB nominate three
candidates for the Governor to choose from.
December 2009, the MCB
held a special election of 15
candidates The three
candidates.
candidates to receive the most
votes were submitted to Gov.
Perdue. She will appoint one
of these candidates in midFebruary.
Fritz Y. Mercer Jr.
Karen EadyWilliams
Ben S. Thalheimer
Future of the MCB
•Anticipate continued growth
•Current Bar Center on Queens Rd. (<6,000 sq.
ft.) inadequate
•Need for new Bar Center with 15
15,000
000 sq
sq. ft
ft.
and 150 parking spaces
•438 Queens Rd. and 1926 Luther St. currently
for sale (contact Nancy Roberson)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.meckbar.orgg
Mecklenburg County Bar Center
438 Queens Road