Jay Reeves

How can you fill your law firm with loyal, enthusiastic and motivated workers? The answer is Enlightened Empowerment. Enlightenment means all team members know their individual roles and understand how they fit into the larger picture. Empowerment means they are given not just the tools to succeed but also th… Read More

In 2023, the paralegal community lost a dear friend, Kaye Summers. Let’s take a minute to honor Kaye and look back at her many contributions.  Kaye won the 2013 Distinguished Paralegal Award from the North Carolina Bar Association and was a shining light and example for her paralegal colleagues. Ka… Read More

Looking for yet another reason to hire a paralegal? Here’s one: they just might be the key to winning a million-dollar case. It happened in Chicago. The case has all the drama of an episode of Law & Order. And the star of the show is a sharp-eyed, bilingual paralegal. It all began in 2007, when a 2… Read More

Twenty years ago, the North Carolina Supreme Court adopted the Plan for Certification of Paralegals. One year later, on July 1, 2005, the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification began accepting applications for the certification process. In May 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an… Read More

In a tight job market such as we are currently experiencing poaching staff from other firms can be problematic for lawyers and firms. For the paralegals who are being wooed by rival firms with promises of higher pay and better conditions – not so much. “Candidly, I will admit I was … Read More

After more than 200 columns for this newsletter over the past 30 years, this will be My Last Monthly Missive on law, life, legal malpractice and baseball. That announcement will cause no tremors on Wall Street, nor will it stir excitement among the masses. In fact, it is unlikely to be of much interest to any sentient being on the planet except the dog, who is interested in everything I do and enraptured by everything I say because I am the Bringer of Treats and Opener of the Back Door.    Read More

As the Carolina landscape turns red and gold and November arrives with a nip, I bring you news from the Fall Classic to brighten your Law Life:  There is greatness all around, and giants walk among us. For proof, look no further than Major League Baseball’s champion Texas Rangers, winners of the 2023 World Series.    Read More

If there’s a narcissist in your law office, and if you find said narcissist a tad tiresome at times, you’ve come to the right place. The end to your frustration could be to become a “gray rock.” It is no secret that the legal profession tends to attract individuals with Type A personal… Read More

We all know that wellness is essential to a safe and successful practice. The proof is all around us. Lawyers who tend to their personal and professional wellbeing and happy and productive. Lawyers who neglect self-care do so at their peril. This year, Lawyers Mutual will present a special hour-long presentat… Read More

 When was the last time you truly savored a win in your Law Life?  The type of win – a job promotion, a grateful client, a favorable case outcome – is irrelevant. As is the size. The printer is finally unjammed! I found my keys! It’s not Monday! Even small victories deserve to be savored. So why don’t we do it more often?   Read More

The best advice for avoiding wire fraud in a real estate transaction is SIMPLE.  Seller Identity Must Precede Literally Everything. That’s the headline of a new risk management brochure from Investors Title Insurance Company. “When we are small children, we are warned about talking to strang… Read More

Make sure you’ve got your calendars marked for the tour dates of Lawyers Mutual’s three-hour CLE road show. We look forward to visiting your community and saying hi. If you can’t make it in person, no problem. Virtual showings will be offered. Here are upcoming CLE programs of Put Into Pract… Read More

Only one in eight people in the U.S. smoked cigarettes last year, as usage rates continue to track historically low levels.  In fact, more Americans now smoke weed than cigarettes.  The 12 percent smoker rate is but a fraction of what it was in the 1950s, when it reached an all-time high of 45 perce… Read More

Need a guest speaker for your next firm retreat, county bar luncheon, or CLE event?  Lawyers Mutual has you covered. Our panel of presenters can deliver real-life examples and practical, timely information. Our speakers are available for bar associations, legal professional organizations and in-house prog… Read More

You can meet your annual State Bar requirements online – and at your convenience – with minimal sweat, stress and strain. Our on-demand videos bring the experts to your office. They offer the same content as our popular “Put Into Practice” three-hour CLE road show, and you can view them… Read More