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# Lawyers Mutual Insurance Of North Carolina: Since 1977, Lawyers Mutual has been a trusted provider of professional liability insurance for North Carolina lawyers, offering unmatched financial protection. Serving nearly 8,000 lawyers statewide, we are the longest-standing insurer dedicated to the legal profession in North Carolina.

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Put into Practice, June 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-june-2026/): Too Much Research and Revision?; 50 State Running Challenge: Laura Loyek; Attorney-Paralegal Relationships; ERISA Bonds
- [Put into Practice, May 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-may-2026/): Wellness, Burnout and Recovery: An Interview with Will Graebe; The AI-Assisted Client; Wellness for Legal Support Professionals and more
- [Lawyers Mutual Annual Report 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-annual-report-2025/): We are pleased to present the 2025 Lawyers Mutual Annual Report, A Better Insurance Experience.
- [Lawyers Mutual NC Welcomes Summer Law Intern Dominic Ekezie](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-nc-welcomes-summer-law-intern-dominic-ekezie/): Lawyers Mutual NC is pleased to welcome Dominic Ekezie, a rising 2L at Duke University School of Law, as our summer law intern. Dominic graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia in May 2024.
- [Put into Practice, April 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-april-2026/): Real Estate Claims and Metallica: Getting to Know Wayne Stephenson; Wrongful death claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act; Electronically Stored Wills, Notary Public helps avoid Malpractice Risk; Upcoming CLE; and more
- [Put into Practice, March 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-march-2026/): Lawyers Mutual’s monthly newsletter is here! Improve your practice with pointers from the Innovation Center for Practice Management on handling pushy clients, discovery requests and Odyssey, unused technology, entrepreneurship for Black women attorneys, and CLE opportunities.
- [Lawyers Mutual Declares Policyholder Dividend for 15th Consecutive Year](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-declares-policyholder-dividend-for-15th-consecutive-year/): Lawyers Mutual has declared a policyholder dividend for the 15th consecutive year. The 2025 dividend – approximately $1 million, or 5.5%, of your 2025 policy premium – will be paid in 2026 at policy expiration. With this dividend, we will return more than $16.24 million to policyholders since 2011, and over $10 million in the last ten years.
- [Effective March 1, 2026:  Why All Lawyers Who Prepare Deeds and Transfer Property Need to Pay Attention to FinCEN’s New Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule ](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/effective-march-1-2026-why-all-lawyers-who-prepare-deeds-and-transfer-property-need-to-pay-attention-to-fincens-new-residential-real-estate-reporting-rule/): FinCEN’s new Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule goes into effect March 1, 2026, and creates federal reporting obligations that extend beyond traditional real estate closings.
- [Put into Practice, February 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-february-2026/): The latest Innovation Center for Practice Management is here! Discover how to enhance client interactions through technology, navigate the challenges of NC’s e-filing system, and regain control of digital clutter.
- [Put into Practice, January 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-january-2026/): Read the latest from the LM Innovation Center for Practice Management, featuring risk management articles on client service, retirement, North Carolina’s Odyssey platform, Paralegal Pointers, LM news, and more.
- [Put into Practice, December 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-december-2025/): Read the newest from the LM Innovation Center for Practice Management. Embrace the holiday spirit, explore AI's role in law, get the latest from our Paralegal Pointer, and more!
- [New Scam Targeting Law Firm Bank Accounts](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/new-scam-targeting-law-firm-bank-accounts/): Lawyers Mutual has recently seen multiple reports involving a sophisticated fraud in which fraudsters pose as representatives from a law firm’s bank. The caller appears credible, they know the firm’s name, account details, and use urgent language to gain trust. 
- [Put into Practice, November 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-november-2025/): The Innovation Center for Practice Management is here to enhance your legal practice. From understanding the importance of probate bonds to navigating the eCourts era, we provide valuable resources for attorneys. Explore our free CLE opportunities and gain insights into attorney compensation plans.
- [Put into Practice, October 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-october-2025/): Lawyers Mutual's monthly newsletter is here! Check out the latest from the Innovation Center for Practice Management, featuring: “The Case of the Missing Fingerprints” by Will Graebe, an interview with Kathy Fisher, VP of Underwriting, “What Retiring Lawyers Need to Know About Malpractice Coverage” Paralegal Pointers by Camille Stell, LM News, and upcoming CLEs.
- [Put into Practice, September 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-september-2025/): Read the latest LM Newsletter - Innovation Center for Practice Management - and learn how law firms can better handle State Bar grievances, master end-of-year billing pressure, and tap into free continuing legal education courses.
- [Put into Practice, August 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-august-2025/): Check out the latest LM newsletter – the Innovation Center for Practice Management!
- [LM Board Member Valerie Johnson Elected Vice-Chair of Lawyers Mutual Board](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lml-board-member-valorie-johnson-elected-vice-chair-of-lawyers-mutual-board/): Cary NC — Lawyers Mutual is pleased to announce the election of Valerie Johnson as Vice-Chair of its Board of Directors. Valerie, a well-respected attorney, has served on the Lawyers Mutual Board since 2015.
- [Lawyers Mutual Announces Changes to Its Board of Directors](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-announces-changes-to-its-board-of-directors-3/): Lawyers Mutual, North Carolina’s leading provider of professional liability insurance for lawyers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicholas (Nick) Bakatsias to its Board of Directors, effective Friday, July 25, 2025. Nick succeeds longtime board member June Basden, who will transition to Emeritus status.
- [Put into Practice, July 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-july-2025/): Check out the latest LM newsletter – the Innovation Center for Practice Management!
- [Defending Your Law Firm from Holiday Cyber Threats: A July 4th Cybersecurity Checklist](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/defending-your-law-firm-from-holiday-cyber-threats-a-july-4th-cybersecurity-checklist/): As Independence Day approaches, so do heightened risks from online scams targeting law firms. Scammers often intensify their efforts before holidays. It is crucial for law firms to be vigilant and proactive in defending against ransomware, wire fraud, and social engineering threats during this time.
- [Put into Practice, June 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-june-2025/): The LM Innovation Center for Practice Management June 2025 Newsletter! Articles include Sammy the Sparrow (R.I.P.) by Will Graebe; Subpoena Assistance – An Added Benefit for Our Insureds by Camille Stell; Learning to Fail Well: Lessons from 1L Year by Jessica Cody; Paralegal Pointer by Camille Stell; LM News and more!
- [Put into Practice, May 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-may-2025/): Get the latest for the LM Innovation Center for Practice Management newsletter. Articles from Will Graebe, Erik Mazzone, Jon Biggs and Camille Stell - as well as Lawyers Mutual CLE and Risk Management updates.
- [Lawyers Mutual NC Welcomes Jessica Cody as Summer Law Intern](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-nc-welcomes-jessica-cody-as-summer-law-intern/): Lawyers Mutual NC is pleased to welcome Jessica Cody, a rising 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law, as our summer law intern. Jessica graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from Hampton University in 2024.
- [Put into Practice, April 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-april-2025/): Read Lawyers Mutual's newest Innovation Center for Practice Management newsletter. Articles include Racing Toward the Finish Line of Death, by Will Graebe; Cyber Insurance for Law Firms: Q&A with Camille and Adam, by Camille Stell; Paralegal Pointer Updates and Reminders re: Emergency Video Notarization and Remote Electronic Notarization by Ann Wall; LM Updates and more!
- [Lawyers Mutual Annual Report 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-annual-report-2024/): We are pleased to present the 2024 Annual Report. As the trusted provider of legal malpractice insurance for North Carolina, we have proudly served our insureds for nearly 48 years. Our commitment to integrity, empathy, and transparency is at the heart of everything we do. We invite you to explore the full report, which provides an overview of our performance and reflects our ongoing efforts to maintain your trust and confidence. READ MORE
- [Put into Practice, March 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-march-2025/): Read Lawyers Mutual's newest Innovation Center for Practice Management newsletter. Articles include Puzzling Behaviors, by Will Graebe; "Of Counsel" Relationships Properly Understood, by Mark Scruggs; Paralegal Pointer Mastering AI Prompt Writing: A Guide for Paralegals by Camille Stell; LM Updates and more!
- [Lawyers Mutual Declares Policyholder Dividend](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-declares-policyholder-dividend/): We are pleased to announce that Lawyers Mutual has once again declared a policyholder dividend - for the 14th consecutive year. This year’s dividend – approximately $1.5 million, or 8.1% of the final premium on your 2024 policy – will be paid in 2025 as your 2024 policy expires.  With this dividend, Lawyers Mutual will have returned over $15.24 million to policyholders since 2011.
- [FinCEN and Treasury Department Suspend Enforcement of Corporate Transparency Act](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/fincen-and-treasury-department-suspend-enforcement-of-corporate-transparency-act/): On Feb. 27, FinCEN announced that all reporting and enforcement of the CTA would be suspended until a new reporting rule was finalized. Then, on March 2, the Treasury Department issued a press release in which it announced the indefinite suspension of CTA reporting requirements. The Treasury Department said that it would “not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners” even after the new regulations were issued, and that the new CTA regulations and compliance requirements would apply to “foreign reporting companies only.” 
- [Corporate Transparency Act Filing Requirements Reinstated: Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reports Now Due by March 21, 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/corporate-transparency-act-filing-requirements-reinstated-beneficial-ownership-information-boi-reports-now-due-by-march-21-2025/): In a notice published on February 18, 2025, FinCEN has issued a new deadline for reporting companies to file beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The new deadline for filing BOI reports is March 21, 2025. The new deadline comes as a result of a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which lifted a previous nationwide injunction that had prevented FinCEN from requiring reporting companies to file BOI reports. 
- [Put into Practice, February 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-february-2025/): Read Lawyers Mutual's newest Innovation Center for Practice Management newsletter. Articles include The One That Got Away, by Will Graebe; An Efficient System for Hiring Junior Attorneys and Support Staff in a Small Law Firm, by Erik Mazzone; Paralegal Pointer The Benefit of a Wind-Down Routine by Camille Stell; LM Updates and more!
- [Put into Practice, January 2025](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-january-2025/): Crabcakes, by Will Graebe; Help! The North Carolina State Bar Opened a Grievance Against Me, by Joshua Walthall; Paralegal Pointers, by Camille Stell; LM News; and more!
- [Put into Practice, December 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-december-2024/): Chewing on Thermometers, by Will Graeme; Practice Management Tips, by Erik Mazzone; Paralegal Pointers, by Camille Stell; Lawyers Mutual News; and more!
- [Put Into Practice: Risk Management Tips for Your Firm 2024 – 2025 Series](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-risk-management-tips-for-your-firm-2024-2025-series/): Don’t Let the Jokers Drive You Batty! What We Can Learn from Batman about Maintaining our Sanity (and Ethics) in the Practice of Law. Created and presented by ReelTime. 
- [Put into Practice, November 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-november-2024/): From the Wild West to the Courtroom: Guarding Truth in the Age of Misinformation, by Will Graebe; Mastering Outlook Tools to Organize Your Inbox, by Erik Mazzone; Paralegal Pointers - Harnessing Artificial Intelligence: A Beginners Guide for Paralegals, by Camille Stell; Lawyers Mutual Updates; and more…
- [Seller Fraud Risks Are High Especially Before the Holidays – Stay Vigilant](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/seller-fraud-risks-are-high-especially-before-the-holidays-stay-vigilant/): For lawyers handling real estate closings, it’s important to know that seller fraud continues to rise, especially with the upcoming holiday season when distractions are high, and fraudsters are active. 
- [Put into Practice, October 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-october-2024/): Mountains of Grief, by Will Graebe; Consistency and 9 Other Things that Help Firms Retain Clients for the Long Haul, by Erik Mazzone; Paralegal Pointers - Paralegal Credentials Explained: Certificate Programs vs. State Certification, by Camille Stell; Lawyers Mutual News; and more! 
- [Put into Practice, September 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-september-2024/): Practicing Law From 5,000 Miles Away: An Interview with Attorney Jeff Austin, by Will Graebe; Unlocking OneNote's Hidden Potential: 20 Productivity Tips You've Likely Overlooked, by Erik Mazzone; North Carolina News Roundup, LM News; and more!
- [Put into Practice, August 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-august-2024/): ‘Tis Better to Give Than Receive Advice, by Will Graebe; Do I Have a Case? Let's Talk About It, by Marc Gustafson; Let's Get Practical: Keys to Help Lawyers Avoid Malpractice, by Imani Henderson; Law FIrm Websites - The Good Enough Website, by Erik Mazzone; North Carolina News Roundup; LM News; and more!
- [Lawyers Mutual NC Announces Changes to Its Board of Directors](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-nc-announces-changes-to-its-board-of-directors/): Lawyers Mutual, North Carolina’s leading provider of professional liability insurance for lawyers, is pleased to announce the appointment of J.D. DuPuy and E. Stewart Poisson to its Board of Directors, effective Friday, July 26, 2024. J.D. and Stewart replace long-serving board members Gray Wilson and Bill Pappas. Gray transitions to Emeritus status on the Board. Bill recently retired from law practice.
- [Put into Practice, July 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-july-2024/): Febreze Life, by Will Graebe; Changes to Nortary Act and Rules that Affect Attorneys Now, by Ann Wall; Law Practice Management Update - Creating an Effective Client Feedback Loop for Law Firms: A Comprehensive Guide, by Erik Mazzone, North Carolina News Roundup; Lawyers Mutual News, and more! 
- [Put into Practice, June 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-june-2024/): The Smoking Purse by Will Graebe; Quitting by Erik Mazzone; North Carolina News Roundup; Lawyers Mutual News, and more!
- [Put into Practice, May 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-may-2024/): Corporate Transparency Act: Further Clarification by Will Graebe; Local Counsel in NC Federal Court: Additional Obligations by Susan Olive; High Value vs Low Value, Law Practice Management Tips by Erik Mazzone; NC News Roundup; and Lawyers Mutual News.       
- [Lawyers Mutual NC Welcomes Summer Law Intern, Imani Henderson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-nc-welcomes-summer-law-intern-imani-henderson/): Lawyers Mutual is pleased to welcome summer law intern, Imani Henderson, a rising 2L at Campbell Law School. Imani earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Spanish from Elon University in 2020. She also studied at the Universidad of Seville in Spain.
- [Lawyers Mutual Annual Report 2023](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-annual-report-2023/): Investing in Our Community.
- [Put into Practice, April 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-april-2024/): Listen Up by Will Graebe, Mommy, how do you make a . . . Bar Grievance? by Joshua Walthall, Know Your Role Before Agreeing to Serve as Local Counsel in Federal District Court in NC by Claire Modlin, To Do or Not To Do by Erik Mazzone, NC News and more.
- [Put into Practice, March 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-march-2024/): Leaning Into Change: Career Pivots to Meet Your Evolving Strengths and Interest by Will Graebe, Do I Belong Here? by Jennifer Murray, Step for Effective Hiring by Erik Mazzone, and more.
- [Put Into Practice, February 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/put-into-practice-february-2024/): The Chicken Fax by Will Graebe, Legal Aid of NC Innovation Lab, Lawyers Mutual Declares a Dividend, LM Law Practice Management Advice, NC News, and More!
- [Lawyers Mutual NC Declares Dividend](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/lawyers-mutual-nc-declares-dividend/): For the thirteenth consecutive year, Lawyers Mutual’s Board of Directors has declared a policyholder dividend. This year’s dividend – approximately 8.1% of the final premium on your 2023 policy – will be paid in 2024 at policy expiration. Including this approximate $1.5 million dividend, which represents a 50% increase over the dividend declared in 2022, by the end of 2024, Lawyers Mutual will have returned $13.7 million to policyholders since 2011.  
- [The Corporate Transparency Act: What North Carolina Law Firms Need to Know](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/the-corporate-transparency-act-what-north-carolina-law-firms-need-to-know/): Lawyers Mutual has published previous alerts regarding the new filing requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) that went into effect January 1, 2024. After reviewing additional resources, we want to emphasize concerns that we have about the risks and increased potential liability for lawyers undertaking the reporting requirements. This is especially true for the continuing reporting requirements after entity formation and initial reporting. 
- [eCourts Expansion Announced for 2024](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/ecourts-expansion-announced-for-2024/): The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) recently announced additional go-live plans for counties transitioning from paper files to Enterprise Justice (Odyssey), which currently serves Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Mecklenburg and Wake counties. Twelve northeastern counties comprising Track 3, as previously announced, will go live on February 5, and 10 counties comprising Track 4 (Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Vance and Warren) will go live on April 29.  

## Pages
- [Existing Policyholders](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/existing-policyholders/): Pay your bill, make changes to your policy
- [Terms Of Service](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/terms-of-service/): Last updated June 25, 2026
- [Newsletters](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/member-benefits/newsletters/): May 26, 2026
- [The Modern Solo/Small Firm Conference 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/solo-small-firm-conference-2026/): The Modern Solo/Small Firm Conference September 18, 2026 | Durham, NC SAVE THE DATE September 18, 2026
Apella by Alexandria
Durham, NC
 
- [Minority Outreach Conference – Materials](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/minority-outreach-conference-materials/): Download Attorney Certificate of Attendance
- [Copy of Minority Outreach Conference – Speakers](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/minority-outreach-conference-speakers/): HON. ALLYSON K. DUNCAN (RET.)
- [Minority Outreach Conference – Agenda](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/minority-outreach-conference-agenda/): 9:45-10:00:    Welcoming Remarks by our Moderator Dayatra (Day) Matthews
- [Minority Outreach Conference – Sponsors](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/minority-outreach-conference-sponsors/): Minority Outreach Conference
Presented by NC Association of Black Lawyers and Lawyers Mutual
February 13, 2026 Minority Outreach Conference
Navigating Transitions in Law and Leadership
February 13, 2026  |  Raleigh Thank you to our Sponsors   REGISTER NOW
- [Minority Outreach Conference 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/minority-outreach-conference/): Join us for a day designed to inspire, connect, and uplift North Carolina's community of minority lawyers and judges. The Minority Outreach Conference has long served as a trusted gathering place - a safe, supportive space where Black legal professionals can share their experiences, strengthen their well-being, and build meaningful connections. Rooted in the Lawyer Assistance Program's mission to destigmatize mental health support within the Black legal community, the conference continues to honor that legacy while embracing a forward-looking vision for leadership and excellence.
- [Minority Outreach Conference](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/minority-outreach-conference-2026/): Please join us in-person for our 2025 Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) Minority Outreach Conference "Prioritizing Personal Well-Being" on Friday, February 13, 2026 at the McKimmon Conference Center - 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC 27606. Parking is FREE.
- [Speakers – Modern Solo/Small Firm Conference](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/solo-small-firm-conference-2025-speakers/): KEYNOTE SPEAKER
- [Nicholas Bakatsias ](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/our-board-community-boards/nicholas-bakatsias/): Nicholas J. Bakatsias joined the Board of Directors of Lawyers Mutual in 2025.  As a partner with Carruthers & Roth, P.A. in Greensboro, Nick has a broad-based business and corporate transactional practice which includes assisting businesses and individuals with capital formation matters, complex joint venture transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, private equity ventures, and private placement offerings.
- [Hotels and Parking – The Modern Solo/Small Firm Conference ](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/hotels-parking-solo-small-firm-conference-2025-copy/): The closest parking deck is the Durham Centre Garage. It is credit card only and charges $2.25/hr./$24.75 daily. The garage features two entrances, the first level entrance is on the right side of W Morgan St. The other entrance is on Foster St.
- [Agenda – The Modern Solo/Small Firm Conference ](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/agenda-solo-small-firm-conference-2025/): 8:00-8:45:   Continental Breakfast
- [Podcasts](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/member-benefits/podcasts/): Brenda Barnes and Camille Stell, authors of "RESPECT - an Insight to Attorney Compensation Plans", join us today for Personal Injury Marketing Minute #82
- [The Modern Solo/Small Firm Conference ](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/solo-small-firm-conference-2025/): Solo/small firm practice isn't what it used to be-and that's a good thing. Today's modern lawyer entrepreneur can build a flexible, client-centered, and tech-forward practice without burning out. This conference will show you how. With sessions on practice design, digital marketing, client experience, and money management, you'll leave with new ideas, fresh energy, and concrete next steps for your firm.
- [ADA Compliance](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/ada-compliance/): Lawyers Mutual Of North Carolina makes available the UserWay Website Accessibility Widget that is powered by a dedicated accessibility server. The software allows lawyersmutualnc.com to improve its compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1).  The accessibility menu can be enabled by clicking the accessibility menu icon that appears on the side of the page. After triggering the accessibility menu, please wait a moment for the accessibility menu to load in its entirety.
- [Certificates of Attendance](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/cle/certificates-of-attendance/): Please note: Attorney Certificates of Attendance are for your records only. We submit all attorney CLE credit documentation to the NC State Bar.
- [Privacy](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/privacy/): The short and sweet:
- [Byte of Prevention Blog](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/member-benefits/byte-of-prevention-blog/): Popular guides
- [Disaster Response](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/community-initiatives/community-outreach-copy/): In times of crisis, the legal community consistently unites to support those in need. Lawyers Mutual remains steadfast in our commitment of assisting our insureds and their communities in Western North Carolina with disaster recovery. We have compiled a list of resources for individuals seeking legal assistance and other critical forms of support.
- [The Mutual Factor](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-underwriting-philosophy/the-mutual-factor/): Here are 10 reasons why lawyers should consider purchasing malpractice insurance from Lawyers Mutual, a mutual-owned company that is reliable and ethically aligned.
- [Enterprise & Operational Risk Management Team](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/client-services-team-copy-2/): Our Company Malpractice Insurance Patrick Brown
Vice President, Enterprise and
Operational Risk Management Linh Schladweiler
IT Systems Manager
title
- [Risk & Practice Management ](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/client-services-team-copy/): Our Company Malpractice Insurance Camille Stell
Vice President, Risk and
Law Practice Magement Sharon Sparrow
Learning Engagement Manager
spacer
- [Stewart Poisson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/our-board-community-boards/katherine-h-davis-copy-copy/): E. Stewart Poisson joined the Board of Directors of Lawyers Mutual in July 2024.  Ms. Poisson represents plaintiffs in injury and death claims.  She is board-certified in Workers' Compensation law and has also handled numerous jury trials in multiple counties throughout North Carolina.  Ms. Poisson routinely appears before the Court of Appeals of North Carolina and North Carolina Supreme Court.  She has authored numerous amicus briefs on behalf of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and is active in the leadership of that organization.  She regularly presents at Continuing Legal Education seminars at the invitation of NCAJ and the North Carolina Industrial Commission, as well as various other organizations.  Ms. Poisson graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2001 and UNC Law in 2004 with honors.  She has two children, Alexander and Cutlar, and she practices law with her father Fred and her brother Davis.  She is a fifth-generation attorney serving the citizens of North Carolina.
- [J.D. DuPuy](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/our-board-community-boards/katherine-h-davis-copy/): J.D. currently concentrates his practice on property tax foreclosures, commercial real estate matters (including title search and review), and estate administration. He has been licensed in North Carolina since 1999 and has spent his entire 25-plus year career with Ruff, Bond, Cobb, Wade & Bethune, LLP. Over the course of his practice, J.D. has engaged in general litigation matters, estate planning and administration, various aspects of municipal law, residential real estate, and several other fields.   He is a graduate of Davidson College (B.A., 1996) and the University of North Carolina School of Law (J.D., 1999). J.D. serves on the Advisory Board of The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Accion, Inc. (supporting Accion Ministries), was Treasurer of the Mecklenburg Optimist Club for over a decade, and is an active congregant and Elder of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. J.D. joined the Board of Directors of Lawyers Mutual in July 2024.
- [Alert Signup](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/alert-signup/): Alert Sign Up Register for important risk management alerts and monthly news! Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Privacy(Required) By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from Lawyers Mutual NC. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. CAPTCHANameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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- [Will Batten](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/will-batten/): Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
- [Camille Stell](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/camille-stell/): VP, Risk and Practice Management
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- [Upcoming Events](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/member-benefits/upcoming-events/): Popular guides
- [Blog](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/member-benefits/blog/): Read More about Managing Velcro and Teflon
- [Will Graebe](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/will-graebe/): Senior Claims Counsel
- [Ula Zacharias](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/ula-zacharias/): Senior Claims Counsel
- [Wayne Stephenson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/wayne-stephenson/): Claims Counsel
- [Mark Scruggs](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/mark-scruggs/): Senior Claims Counsel
- [Warren T. Savage](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/warren-t-savage/): Senior Claims Counsel
- [Laura M. Loyek](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/laura-m-loyek/): Claims Counsel
- [Policy Team](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/policy-team/): Underwriter
- [Client Services Team](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/client-services-team/): Our Company Malpractice Insurance Will Graebe
Relationship Manager &
Claims Counsel
- [Administrative](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/administrative/): President and CEO
- [Accounting](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/accounting/): Senior Accountant
- [Executive Team](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/executive/): President and CEO
- [Patrick Brown](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-company/meet-the-team/patrick-brown/): Vice President, Enterprise and Operational Risk Management

## Products
- [Successful Time Management Strategies for Legal Support Staff](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/successful-time-management-strategies-for-legal-support-staf/): Shows your staff how to control their schedules in face of tight deadlines, large volumes of work, and conflicting priorities. Issues covered include accepting delegated work, setting priorities, controlling intentions, and managing large projects.
- [Real Estate Paralegals and the Rules of Professional Conduct. (2006. 57 MIN.)](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/real-estate-paralegals-and-the-rules-of-professional-conduct/): Nichole McLaughlin, State Bar Ethics Counsel, presents an overview of the ethical duties lawyers and paralegals have when handling a real estate transaction. From the 2006-2007 “Risk Management for the Real Estate Paralegal” seminar series. DVD.
- [Real Estate Closing Traps. (2006. 64 MIN.)](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/real-estate-closing-traps/): Jim Pendergrass, Esq., presents a discussion of the most common closing traps and how they can be avoided. From the 2006-2007 “Risk Management for the Real Estate Paralegal” seminar series. DVD.
- [‘I Married An Attorney’ – Trust Account Basics. (2005. 55 MIN.)](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/i-married-an-attorney-trust-account-basics/): Produced by Lawyers Mutual with assistance from the North Carolina State Bar, this DVD explores the basic elements of trust accounting through a humorous dramatization.
- [Model Rules of Professional Conduct 2010 Edition by American Bar Association](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/model-rules-of-professional-conduct-2010-edition-by-american-bar-association/)
- [Model Rules of Professional Conduct 2012 Edition by American Bar Association](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/model-rules-of-professional-conduct-2012-edition-by-american-bar-association/): The 2010 Edition of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct will provide you with a resource for information on lawyer ethics.
- [Online Marketing for Dummies by John Arnold](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/online-marketing-for-dummies-by-john-arnold/):  Federal, state, and local courts in all jurisdictions look to The 2012 Edition of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct for guidance in resolving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions, and much more.
- [Championship Selling: A Blueprint for Winning with Today’s Customers by Tom Blake](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/championship-selling-a-blueprint-for-winning-with-todays-customers-by-tom-blake/): The internet has made it possible to spread your marketing message faster and further than ever. This book provides the know-how for creating a solid plan for marketing on the web.
- [Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/influence-the-psychology-of-persuasion-by-robert-b-cialdini/): In Championship Selling, three of North America’s most respected sales leaders offer a powerful, yet remarkably simple, vision of what it means to sell, as well as innovative techniques and tools for establishing mutually productive relationships with customers.
- [Twitter in One Hour for Lawyers by Jared Correia](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/twitter-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-jared-correia/): Influence, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say "yes"—and how to apply these understandings. You'll learn the six universal principles, how to use them to become a skilled persuader—and how to defend yourself against them. 
- [Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success by Keith Ferrazzi](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/never-eat-alone-and-other-secrets-to-success-by-keith-ferrazzi/): Twitter in One Hour for Lawyers will demystify one of the most important social-media platforms of our time and teach you to tweet like an expert.
- [How to Start and Build a Law Practice by Jay G Foonberg](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/how-to-start-and-build-a-law-practice-by-jay-g-foonberg/): Chock full of specific advice on handling rejection, getting past gatekeepers, becoming a “conference commando,” and more, Never Eat Alone is destined to take its place alongside How to Win Friends and Influence People as an inspirational classic.
- [The Millennial Lawyer by Ursala Furi-Perry](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-millennial-lawyer-by-ursala-furi-perry/): This book is packed with over 600 pages of guidance on identifying the right location, finding clients, setting fees, managing your office, maintaining an ethical and responsible practice, maximizing available resources, upholding your standards, and much more.
- [The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-checklist-manifesto-by-atul-gawande/): The Millennial Lawyer is a dual guidebook--meant for both senior lawyers on effectively using this next generation, and for the young lawyer on adjusting to law practice and life in a firm--with side-by-side prescriptive sections for the Millennial lawyer and the attorney managing them. 
- [The E-Myth Attorney by Michael E Gerber](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-e-myth-attorney-by-michael-e-gerber/): In riveting stories, Atul Gawande reveals what checklists can do, what they can’t, and how they could bring about striking improvements in a variety of fields, from medicine and disaster recovery to professions and businesses of all kinds. 
- [Flying Solo by K. William Gibson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/flying-solo-by-k-william-gibson/): Michael Gerber’s The E-Myth Attorney gives you powerful advice on everything you need to run your practice as a successful business, allowing you to achieve your goals and grow your practice.
- [The Personal Efficiency Program by Kerry Gleeson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-personal-efficiency-program-by-kerry-gleeson/): Whether you're thinking of going solo, new to the solo life, or a seasoned practitioner, Flying Solo provides time-tested answers to real-life questions.
- [Bridging the Generation Gap by Linda Gravett](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/bridging-the-generation-gap-by-linda-gravett/): The Personal Efficiency Program continues to help overwhelmed professionals get their work lives organized to become more effective and efficient. Readers will learn how to stop procrastinating, stop feeling overwhelmed, and start feeling good about their work lives.
- [Taming the Paper Tiger by Barbara Hemphill](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/taming-the-paper-tiger-by-barbara-hemphill/): Bridging the Generation Gap is filled with strategies and solutions you can implement immediately to help build your own bridge between the five generations in the workplace.
- [Practicing Law in Small Town America by Richard L. Hermann](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/practicing-law-in-small-town-america-by-richard-l-hermann/): This book offers solutions to the paper-piling problems that inhibit productivity.
- [Facebook in One Hour for Lawyers by Dennis Kennedy & Allison C. Shields](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/facebook-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-dennis-kennedy-allison-c-shields/): Practicing Law in Small-Town America paints a picture of what small-town practice is like in its rich diversity, examines how local practitioners got to where they are, and details what an aspiring small-town lawyer needs to know and do in order to locate in--or relocate to--a small community.
- [LinkedIn in One Hour for Lawyers by Dennis Kennedy & Allison C. Shields](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/linkedin-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-dennis-kennedy-allison-c-shields/): Facebook® in One Hour for Lawyers will show any attorney--from Facebook® novices to advanced users--how to use Facebook® for both professional and personal purposes.
- [Virtual Law Practice by Stephanie L Kimbro](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/virtual-law-practice-by-stephanie-l-kimbro/): LinkedIn® in One Hour for Lawyers provides an introduction to this professional networking tool in terms that any attorney can understand.
- [Limited Scope Legal Services by Stephanie L Kimbro](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/limited-scope-legal-services-by-stephanie-l-kimbro/): Stephanie Kimbro's practical guide provides case studies of individual virtual law practices along with client scenarios to show how web-based technology may be used by legal professionals to work with online clients and avoid malpractice risks.
- [Google for Lawyers by Carole A Levitt & Mark E Rosch](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/google-for-lawyers-by-carole-a-levitt-mark-e-rosch/): Limited Scope Legal Services provides lawyers of all types--from solo to big law--with practical, tested solutions for setting up unbundling practices in their firms.
- [When Generations Collide by Lynne C Lancaster](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/when-generations-collide-by-lynne-c-lancaster/): Google for Lawyers: Essential Search Tips and Productivity Tools introduces novice Internet searchers to the diverse collection of information locatable through Google. 
- [Power Speak by Dorothy Leeds](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/power-speak-by-dorothy-leeds/): This insightful book provides hands-on methods to close the generation gaps. 
- [Silos](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/silos/): PowerSpeak shows you how to engage, stimulate, and maintain an audience's attention. This book focuses on the elements of speaking effectively from a design and a delivery perspective.
- [iPad in One Hour for Lawyers by Tom Mighell](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/ipad-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-tom-mighell/): This book addresses the costly and maddening issue of silos, the barriers that create organizational politics. Silos devastate organizations, kill productivity, push good people out the door, and jeopardize the achievement of corporate goals.
- [iPad Apps in One Hour for Lawyers by Tom Mighell](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/ipad-apps-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-tom-mighell/): iPad in One Hour for Lawyers has helped thousands of attorneys learn to use the iPad in their law practices. Ideal for lawyers who want to get up to speed fast, this acclaimed book presents the essentials so you don't get bogged down in technical jargon and extraneous features and apps.
- [Unbundling Legal Services by Forrest S Mosten](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/unbundling-legal-services-by-forrest-s-mosten/):  iPad Apps in One Hour for Lawyers provides the "best of the best" apps that are essential for any law practice. In just one hour, you will learn about the apps most worthy of your time and attention.
- [101 Ways to Promote Yourself by Raleigh Pinskey](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/101-ways-to-promote-yourself-by-raleigh-pinskey/): This book explores the factors that have fueled the unbundling movement, the barriers that face it, and the case study successes that suggest unbundling may significantly change the shape of law practice.
- [Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/strengths-finder-2-0-by-tom-rath/): 101 Ways to Promote Yourself reveals the insider secrets learned from years of experience and how these low-cost, high-powered techniques can carry you to the top of your market and beyond.
- [How to Work a Room by Susan Roane](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/how-to-work-a-room-by-susan-roane/): All too often, our natural talents go untapped. StrengthsFinder 2.0, unveils the new and improved version of its popular assessment, language of 34 themes, and much more. 
- [Winning Alternatives to the Billable Hour by Mark Robertson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/winning-alternatives-to-the-billable-hour-by-mark-robertson/): How To Work A Room lays down the fundamentals for savvy socializing, whether at a party, a conference, or even communicating online. Know when to use humor––and when not to; and follow simple rules of etiquette. 
- [Customer Service: New Rules for a Social Media World by Peter Shankman](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/customer-service-new-rules-for-a-social-media-world-by-peter-shankman/): This book provides you with tools you can use in your practice to implement and evaluate alternative billing methods, including real case studies of lawyers and firms successfully using alternative billing to deliver value to both the client and the lawyer.
- [The Voice That Means Business by Linda Shields](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-voice-that-means-business-by-linda-shields/): Using social media, you can deliver amazing customer service–and generate an army of fans who’ll promote you in good times, and rescue you from disaster. 
- [Women Rainmakers? Best Marketing Tips by Theda C Snyder](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/women-rainmakers-best-marketing-tips-by-theda-c-snyder/): Filled with exercises, tip sheets, and real-life examples, this book shows professional people how to break the "sound barrier" so they can develop the voice that means business, gets business, and keeps business.
- [The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and EB White](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-elements-of-style-by-william-strunk-jr-and-eb-white/): The book contains well over 150 tips you can put to use right away to positively impact your marketing strategy.
- [Blogging in One Hour for Lawyers by Ernie Svenson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/blogging-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-ernie-svenson/): This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.
- [Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams by Kimm Alayne Walton](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/guerrilla-tactics-for-getting-the-legal-job-of-your-dreams-by-kimm-alayne-walton/): Blogging in One Hour for Lawyers will show you how to create, maintain, and improve a legal blog--and gain new business opportunities along the way.
- [North Carolina Small Law Office Resource Manual Fifth Edition (2011) by The North Carolina Bar Association](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/north-carolina-small-law-office-resource-manual-fifth-edition-2011-by-the-north-carolina-bar-association/):  This book leads you step-by-step through everything you need to do to nail down that perfect job. You'll learn hundreds of simple-to-use strategies that will get you exactly where you want to go.
- [The Essential Little Book of Great Lawyering by James A Durham](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-essential-little-book-of-great-lawyering-by-james-a-durham/): The totally revised and updated 2011 N.C. Small Law Office Resource Manual and Forms CD is designed to provide practical and concise answers to many everyday law practice management questions.
- [The Lawyer?s Guide to Records Management and Retention by George C Cunningham & John C Montana](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/the-lawyers-guide-to-records-management-and-retention-by-george-c-cunningham-john-c-montana/): Good things do indeed come in small packages. A veteran marketer, Durham's core thesis is simple: Being a great lawyer IS the best business development plan. This will be music to the ears of many lawyers, who are reluctant to enter the pedestrian traffic of marketing.
- [Lawyers at Midlife by Michael Long](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/lawyers-at-midlife-by-michael-long/): This book addresses the issues arising from the need to manage records and information in a law office.
- [Google Gmail and Calendar in One Hour for Lawyers by Carole A. Levitt and Mark E. Rosch](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/google-gmail-and-calendar-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-carole-a-levitt-and-mark-e-rosch/): This book is designed as a step by step guide for lawyers to learn what features and functions are available in Gmail and Google Calendar, as well as related services such as Google Chat, Google Talk, Google Hangout and Call Phone.
- [Android Apps in One Hour for Lawyers by Daniel J. Siegel](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/android-apps-in-one-hour-for-lawyers-by-daniel-j-siegel/): Android Apps in One Hour for Lawyers highlights the "best of the best" apps that will allow you to practice law from your mobile device.
- [Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work  by Chip Heath & Dan Heath](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/decisive-how-to-make-better-choices-in-life-and-work-by-chip-heath-dan-heath/): Chip and Dan Heath, the bestselling authors of Switch and Made to Stick, tackle one of the most critical topics in our work and personal lives: how to make better decisions.
- [Partner Departures and Lateral Moves: A Legal and Ethical Guide by Geri S. Krauss](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/partner-departures-and-lateral-moves-a-legal-and-ethical-guide-by-geri-s-krauss/): Once it was the exception for a partner to leave a firm. Now the revolving door of partner departures has been deemed a modern-day law firm fixture. What steps can a departing partner or an acquiring firm take to minimize risks and reduce potential liabilities? This essential guide answers those questions.
- [Through the Client’s Eyes: New Approaches to Get Clients to Hire You Again and Again by Henry W. Ewalt and Andrew W. Ewalt](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/product/through-the-clients-eyes-new-approaches-to-get-clients-to-hire-you-again-and-again-by-henry-w-ewalt-and-andrew-w-ewalt/): This book will help lawyers build better, stronger, and smarter relationships with their clients. From educating the client about the law to eliciting quantifiable feedback by using surveys, this updated edition covers legal marketing in an easy-to-read, well-organized and practical manner.

## Articles/Blog
- [Recharge Close to Home: Ten North Carolina Adventures to Try This Summer](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/recharge-close-to-home-ten-north-carolina-adventures-to-try-this-summer/): If you need a break from billable hours this summer but don't have time for a major vacation, consider exploring one of North Carolina's hidden gems. Here are ten adventures that might help you recharge without ever leaving the state.
- [Resilience Is a Team Sport](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/resilience-is-a-team-sport/): But there has been something missing from the discussions about mindset and resilience. We tend to focus almost exclusively on the individual lawyer’s mindset. We tell lawyers to become more resilient by adopting a more positive mindset. We teach them techniques for managing stress and recovering from adversity. All of that is valuable. Yet it overlooks an important question: What role does the law firm itself play in helping lawyers develop resilience?
- [Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better…and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/anything-you-can-do-i-can-do-betterand-other-lies-we-tell-ourselves/): Instead of looking for something valuable that I can take away and use in my own work, I sometimes focus only on what is wrong with the other person’s work. When we encounter another person’s work, we can view it as an opportunity to learn something, or we can see it as a threat. When we see it as a threat, this often elicits feelings of jealousy.
- [From the AI-Assisted Client to the AI-Assisted Pro Se Litigant](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/from-the-ai-assisted-client-to-the-ai-assisted-pro-se-litigant/): Not long ago, I wrote about the rise of the AI-assisted client. These are clients who use generative AI tools to draft contracts, analyze legal issues, develop litigation strategies, and even prepare pleadings before ever speaking with a lawyer. Now we may be witnessing the emergence of a closely related phenomenon: the AI-assisted pro se litigant.
- [The Gift of Confidence](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-gift-of-confidence/): When I entered private practice, I assumed that confidence would come naturally with experience. It didn't. I practiced law for seven years before coming to Lawyers Mutual. During those years, I worked hard, handled a variety of client matters, and did all the things lawyers are supposed to do. Yet I never really developed confidence in my legal abilities. Like many lawyers, I struggled with imposter syndrome. No matter what I accomplished, there was always a nagging voice in the back of my mind suggesting that I wasn't as capable as other lawyers seemed to be.
- [John McCabe Receives NCAJ Founder’s Award](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/john-mccabe-receives-ncaj-founders-award/): Lawyers Mutual congratulates John McCabe on receiving the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Founder's Award.
- [The Lost Art of the Handwritten Thank You Note](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-lost-art-of-the-handwritten-thank-you-note/): Lawyers spend a great deal of time communicating with clients throughout a representation. We send engagement letters, status updates, invoices, and closing letters. But when the matter concludes, how often do we simply say thank you?
- [The Value of Belonging](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-value-of-belonging/): While participation in legal organizations requires an investment of both time and money, the return on that investment is often far greater than lawyers realize. One of the greatest benefits of becoming involved in a legal organization is the opportunity to build relationships. While technology has made it easier than ever to communicate electronically, there is still tremendous value in face-to-face interaction. Attending meetings, conferences, and events allows lawyers to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and develop relationships that often last throughout an entire career.
- [Look at Me When I’m Talking to You: Our Mothers Were Right](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/look-at-me-when-im-talking-to-you-our-mothers-were-right/): To be clear, a lack of eye contact should not be taken as evidence that something is wrong with the other person. People avoid eye contact for many reasons, including shyness, anxiety, cultural norms, or neurodiversity. Yet there is a reason we instinctively react to it. Human beings have evolved to use eye contact as an important social signal. We often associate it with confidence, attentiveness, sincerity, and trustworthiness.
- [Words Are Not Enough: Juneteenth and the Fight for Justice](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/words-are-not-enough-juneteenth-and-the-fight-for-justice/): In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” Yet for nearly a century, millions of Black Americans remained enslaved under a system that denied them those very truths. It wasn’t until January 1, 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for enslaved people in the Confederate states. Still, many enslaved people remained in bondage until the Civil War’s end in April 1865—and some not until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Many enslaved Black people did not taste freedom until Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, several months after the Civil War had ended and more than 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That date—now known as Juneteenth—marks a delayed but momentous declaration of freedom.
- [Courts Are Losing Patience with AI Hallucinations](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/courts-are-losing-patience-with-ai-hallucinations/): We have all seen the headlines about lawyers who are being sanctioned for citing cases that do not exist. For a while, those stories felt like cautionary tales of isolated mistakes that resulted in modest penalties. However, a recent decision out of Oregon might be a precursor to more serious sanctions and penalties for lawyers who submit hallucinated pleadings.
- [The Search for the Perfect Water Bulb](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-search-for-the-perfect-water-bulb/): Simon challenged the traditional notion that people carefully evaluate every possible option and choose the best one. He posited that real-world decision-makers often settle on solutions that are satisfactory rather than optimal because they lack unlimited time, information, and cognitive resources. He called this approach "satisficing," a portmanteau that combines the words “satisfy” and “suffice.” Simply put, satisficing means choosing an option that is good enough to meet your needs rather than continuing an endless search for the perfect option.
- [One Race at a Time: Laura Loyek’s 50-State Running Goal](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/one-race-at-a-time-laura-loyeks-50-state-running-goal/): As a claims attorney at Lawyers Mutual, Laura Loyek helps attorneys navigate some of the most difficult moments in their professional lives - offering guidance, perspective, and solutions when mistakes happen.
- [Attorney-Paralegal Relationships – A Winning Team that Makes a Practice Thrive](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/attorney-paralegal-relationships-a-winning-team-that-makes-a-practice-thrive/): The Carolina Hurricanes brought home the Stanley Cup because they excel at working together and being a team. Similarly, the attorney, paralegal, and other law office staff form a team that must work together effectively for the firm to reach its full potential.
- [ERISA Bonds: A Practical Compliance Requirement for Law Firm Leadership](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/erisa-bonds-a-practical-compliance-requirement-for-law-firm-leadership/): ERISA bonds are not just a compliance checkbox—they are a core component of responsible plan oversight.
- [Basics of Client Communications](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/basics-of-client-communications/): 2. Write like a human.Lawyers are trained to be precise, but clients are trying to understand. If your explanation requires a law degree to follow, it is not doing its job. Use short sentences, plain language, and a clear structure. If the client cannot explain it back to someone else, it is not clear yet. You might even ask AI to rewrite your client communications in a more relatable tone.
- [AI in the Courtroom: The Limits of Virtual Advocacy](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/ai-in-the-courtroom-the-limits-of-virtual-advocacy/): At first glance, the 2025 case of Dewald v. MassMutual feels more like satire than a real appellate decision. A pro se litigant attempted to present oral argument through an AI-generated avatar video instead of addressing the court himself. But beneath the awkward spectacle was a serious lesson about generative AI and the limits of trying to outsource human judgment.
- [The Hidden Cost of Pessimism](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-hidden-cost-of-pessimism/): Two long-term studies from the Mayo Clinic suggest that pessimism may affect much more than mood. It may influence quality of life, physical functioning, mental health, and even longevity.
- [Getting Catfished by AI](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/getting-catfished-by-ai/): Lawyers are increasingly turning to generative AI tools to brainstorm arguments, draft documents, summarize cases, and analyze strategy. But there is a growing concern that many AI systems are designed not simply to answer questions, but to keep users engaged and satisfied. In some cases, that may mean giving users the answer they want to hear rather than the answer they need to hear. That creates a serious risk for lawyers.
- [Texas Federal Court Vacates FinCEN Real Estate Reporting Rule](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/texas-federal-court-vacates-fincen-real-estate-reporting-rule/): A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has temporarily upended FinCEN’s new residential real estate reporting regime. In Flowers Title Companies, LLC v. Bessent, the court granted summary judgment in favor of a Texas title company and vacated FinCEN’s “Residential Real Estate Rule” nationwide.
- [Scorched Earth, Burned Bridges](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/scorched-earth-burned-bridges/): I was recently assisting one of our insured lawyers who found herself in a difficult situation. Opposing counsel, a relatively young lawyer, believed that her production of documents in a litigation matter was incomplete. Rather than picking up the phone to discuss his concerns or attempting to resolve the issue informally, he immediately sought sanctions. Throughout the dispute, he repeatedly communicated with our insured lawyer in a demeaning and condescending manner, both in correspondence and in conversations.
- [Not Every Hallucination Comes From AI](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/not-every-hallucination-comes-from-ai/): Not long ago, much of the legal profession’s attention turned to a series of cases in which lawyers were sanctioned for filing briefs that cited cases that did not exist. The culprit, we were told, was generative AI. The term “hallucination” entered the legal lexicon, and the cautionary tales came flooding in.
- [The Rise of Predictive Discrimination](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-rise-of-predictive-discrimination/): As we move through 2026, one of the more unsettling shifts in technology is not just what AI can do, but how it understands and models us. For decades, the law has approached discrimination and privacy through identifiable groups and categories like race, sex, age, religion, disability, and other protected classifications. Many AI systems, however, do not rely on those categories in any explicit way. They are often less focused on who we are in traditional legal terms and more focused on what patterns in our data suggest we are likely to do.
- [May Opposing Counsel Be Happy](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/may-opposing-counsel-be-happy/): Clients depend on lawyers to think critically, anticipate problems, and advocate aggressively. But living in a constant state of conflict and mental combat can take a toll on our mental health. I want to suggest a way of coping with this stress that may initially sound completely ridiculous and counterintuitive. It is a practice called loving-kindness meditation. As strange as it may sound, intentionally practicing thoughts of compassion and goodwill toward yourself and others, including your enemies, may help counter some of the stress, cynicism, and exhaustion that come from spending so much of our lives preparing for battle.
- [Comfortably Numb](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/comfortably-numb/): For most of my life, I had a pretty good sense of direction. I could get in the car, head to a new city, and somehow manage to find my way around without a woman with a British accent calmly telling me when to turn, where to exit, or how to reroute around traffic. I remembered landmarks. I paid attention to exits. I built mental maps in my head. If you told me to turn at the old gas station or take the second road past the church, I could usually figure it out.
- [The Hypervigilant Lawyer](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-hypervigilant-lawyer/): Perhaps, like me, you live with someone who repeatedly questions whether your level of hypervigilance is strictly necessary for a stroll through a very safe town. My wife and I participate in what I can only describe as the Walking of the Spouses. This ritual often includes an intermission known as the Sitting of the Spouses, somewhere in downtown Apex, where we observe the community in its natural habitat.
- [The Balanced Lawyer: Will Graebe on Wellness, Burnout, and Finding Your Way Back](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-balanced-lawyer-will-graebe-on-wellness-burnout-and-finding-your-way-back/): When he came back to Lawyers Mutual as claims counsel and relationship manager, he brought something new with him - a serious commitment to wellness in his work life that he hadn't fully embraced before his sabbatical. These days, Will isn't just focused on his own well-being. He's passionate about helping the lawyers we serve think differently about how they take care of themselves.
- [Well-Being for the Legal Support Professional: Taking Care of the Whole You](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/well-being-for-the-legal-support-professional-taking-care-of-the-whole-you/): Working as a legal support professional can take a toll on your well-being due to stress, deadlines, and pressure to work long hours to manage your workload. The resulting burnout leaves us with mental fatigue, physical illness, and poor job satisfaction.
- [The Rise of the AI-Assisted Client](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-rise-of-the-ai-assisted-client/): Whether it is ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or some other generative AI platform, clients are increasingly using these AI assistants to draft contracts, wills, corporate documents, pleadings, and virtually any kind of legal document you can imagine. They then show up at your office with what appear to be polished legal documents or strategies. They explain to you that they have saved you an enormous amount of time and saved them the cost of all those hours you would have billed to complete the same work. It is a win-win, right?
- [Five of the Hottest New Wellness Trends to Elevate Your Mind and Body in 2026](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/five-of-the-hottest-new-wellness-trends-to-elevate-your-mind-and-body-in-2026/): For many people, wellness means a regular exercise practice, healthy eating, and sound sleep. These are all important for good mental and physical health. But some people are bored by this routine and want to explore alternative practices. Here are five of the top wellness trends reshaping how many people are engaging in self-care.
- [Tired of the Same Old Wellness Strategies: Try One of These Unconventional Tools](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/tired-of-the-same-old-wellness-strategies-try-one-of-these-unconventional-tools/): Are you tired of the same old suggestions to improve your well-being and resilience? By now, we have all been to seminars and read articles telling us how mindfulness, gratitude practices, physical exercise, good sleep, a healthy diet, and relational connection will improve our mental health and make us more resilient to the stress of practicing law. These are all great tools, but some of you might want to try something a little less traditional. If you are one of those people, consider one of the following practices:
- [The Quiet Cost of Distraction](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-quiet-cost-of-distraction/): We have grown so accustomed to living within a constant field of alerts, updates, and low-grade distraction that we barely notice what it costs us. But the cost is real. It shows up in half-finished thoughts, missed cues, and the subtle but unmistakable feeling that no one is fully there.
- [The Danger of Familiar Cases](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-danger-of-familiar-cases/): Do not assume. Verify facts. That does not mean you abandon efficiency. It means you build a habit of pausing long enough to make sure the familiar case is actually what it appears to be. The cases that feel the most routine are often the ones that deserve a second look.
- [Think First, Prompt Later](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/think-first-prompt-later/): It is no longer a question of whether lawyers are using AI. They are. Adoption has moved quickly from curiosity to everyday workflow, and many lawyers are now turning to these tools not just for editing or summarizing, but to help generate arguments, outline positions, and frame legal analysis. In some cases, the first draft of a brief or email is no longer coming from the lawyer. It is coming from a prompt.
- [Press Play for Mental Health: Music as a Tool for Lawyer Wellness](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/press-play-for-mental-health-music-as-a-tool-for-lawyer-wellness/): Shortly after we returned to in-person events after COVID, I was giving a well-being presentation where I discussed a variety of tools and practices that can make us more resilient to the stresses of practicing law. I asked the audience what other practices they relied on to get through COVID. I recall one person telling me that it was music that helped him to keep his head above water during quarantine. I had never thought of music in that way and wasn’t sure whether there was some scientific evidence to support the idea that music can have a positive effect on our mental health. Turns out, there is.
- [This Will Only Take a Minute](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/this-will-only-take-a-minute/): North Carolina courts have made clear that an attorney-client relationship can be formed without the payment of a fee or the execution of an agreement. Instead, the question is what a reasonable person would have understood based on the lawyer’s conduct and statements. In other words, if your email reads like legal advice and sounds like legal advice, a court may very well treat it as legal advice, regardless of how informal or brief you intended it to be.
- [What a Reality Dating Show Taught Me About Legal Marketing](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/what-a-reality-dating-show-taught-me-about-legal-marketing/): My wife and I recently found ourselves watching a reality dating show, which is not our usual lane. We typically make fun of these kinds of shows, but we had run out of streaming options and, apparently, good judgment. The show is called Age of Attraction and features singles who range in age from 22 to 60 years old. They are looking for a love connection without knowing each other’s age. The show had just enough likable people and just enough drama to keep us coming back, even as we skipped an episode here and there like people trying not to get too invested.
- [Friday Night Lights (and Monday Morning Reality)](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/friday-night-lights-and-monday-morning-reality/): My wife and I recently watched a short video that has been making the rounds online. A Texas high school football team was heading to the playoffs, and as their bus pulled out of town, a group of dads, uncles, and neighbors showed up on horseback and rode alongside the bus at full speed with dust flying and flags waving. The whole scene looked like something out of a movie.
- [The Scenic Route to Confusion](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/the-scenic-route-to-confusion/): If you ask me for directions, you might want to block out some time on your calendar. I don’t just give directions. I walk you through landmarks, traffic patterns, and at least one optional alternate route “just in case.”  By the time I am finished, you might wish you had never asked. My wife has suggested that I could star in one of those Progressive Insurance commercials about becoming your parents. And she did not mean that as a compliment.
- [From Law School to Law Practice: The AI Gap](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/from-law-school-to-law-practice-the-ai-gap/): For a profession that tends to move cautiously, the early response to artificial intelligence was predictably slow. Lawyers debated it. Law schools studied it. Many treated it as something on the horizon rather than something already at the door. But that hesitation has given way to rapid adoption. In a relatively short period of time, AI has moved from curiosity to a basic part of legal practice, both in the classroom and in the day-to-day work of lawyers.
- [Same Story, Different File: Common Paths to Malpractice Claims](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/common-paths-to-malpractice-claims/): After 25 years of handling legal malpractice claims, I have started to notice common patterns and scenarios that often lead to errors and claims. The details and facts may vary slightly, but the underlying story shows up again and again.
- [“ChatGPT Said ….”](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/chatgpt-said-legal-clients-ai-research/): “ChatGPT said…” has quietly replaced “I read online…” And, in some ways, it is harder to deal with. When people use AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, the answer shows up fully formed, well written, and delivered with a kind of confidence that makes it sound settled.
- [Claims, Concerts, and Metallica: Getting to Know Wayne Stephenson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/claims-concerts-and-metallica-getting-to-know-wayne-stephenson/): With over three decades at Lawyers Mutual, Wayne Stephenson has built a career helping lawyers navigate some of their most challenging moments — while shaping how real estate claims are resolved. Outside the office, his passion for Metallica has become a meaningful part of his life.
- [Wrongful Death Claims Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Who Gets the Money?](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/wrongful-death-claims-under-the-camp-lejeune-justice-act-who-gets-the-money/): The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (“CLJA”) created a rare and unusual window for filing claims that would otherwise be long barred. For wrongful death claims, that window carries consequences that North Carolina lawyers need to think through carefully.
- [North Carolina Enacts Electronically Stored Wills](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/north-carolina-enacts-electronically-stored-wills/): Reprinted with permission of the NC Bar Association – originally published in the Estate Planning Section newsletter in February 2026. The Will and The Way - Estate Planning Section
- [When Practicing Law Feels Like a Drag](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/when-practicing-law-feels-like-a-drag/): For the uninitiated, Punch is a baby rhesus macaque at a Japanese zoo who became an internet sensation for a heartbreaking reason. Born into a rigid, unforgiving social hierarchy known as "Monkey Mountain," Punch was rejected by his mother shortly after birth. In the wild, this is often a death sentence. In the zoo, it meant he had to be hand-raised by keepers before being reintroduced to a troop that didn't know him and didn't necessarily want him.
- [Why Lawyers Still Matter in the Age of AI](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/why-lawyers-still-matter-in-the-age-of-ai/): Lawyers have always occupied a slightly awkward place in the public imagination. Gallup’s annual honesty and ethics survey routinely places lawyers near the bottom of the list, with only about 20% of Americans rating our profession highly for ethical standards. Apparently, we are widely viewed as the masters of technicalities and the architects of expensive delay.
- [Mind the Gap: How Lawyers Drift Away from the Reasons They Entered the Profession](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/mind-the-gap-how-lawyers-drift-away-from-the-reasons-they-entered-the-profession/): If you ask lawyers why they chose this profession, you still hear the same answers you would have heard twenty years ago: fairness, justice, and helping others reach their goals and solve difficult problems. Recent data confirms that this instinct has not disappeared. Nearly half of incoming law students say they chose law because they want to help others. That may sound idealistic, but it is also deeply human.
- [Clowning Around in the Courtroom](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/clowning-around-in-the-courtroom/): In the increasingly theatrical world of modern tech litigation, it may come as no surprise that one of the lawyers involved in a high-profile artificial intelligence lawsuit has a background in performance. What issurprising is the specific kind of performance: clowning.
- [Say What You Need to Say: The Power of the Written Word](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/article/say-what-you-need-to-say-the-power-of-the-written-word/): If you had asked me in school whether I thought of myself as a writer, the answer would have been an easy no. I could handle technical writing well enough where the rules were clear and the goal was precision. But creative writing always felt harder. Finding a voice on the page was not something that came naturally to me.

## Our Authors
- [](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/12470-2/)
- [Zeb Barnhardt](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/zeb-barnhardt/): Zeb (Barney) Barnhardt, Jr., is a mediator, an arbitrator, a solo practitioner and an independent consultant. Zeb was a founding member on the Board of Directors of BarCARES of North Carolina, Inc. He served a three-year term on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs.  He is a volunteer in the NC State Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program.  Since 2014, he has served as President of LAP Foundation of North Carolina, Inc.
- [Zachary Gorelick](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/zachary-gorelick/): Zachary Gorelick is a UNC Law 3L (Media Law JD/MA Candidate) and can be reached at zacharyg@live.unc.edu.
- [Woody Connette, Norris Adams, and Natalie Porter](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/woody-connette-norris-adams-and-natalie-porter/): On December 16, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accid. Ins. Co., __ U.S. __, 2013 WL 6569594, 2013 U.S. LEXIS 9026 (S. Ct. Dec. 16, 2013), which could drastically shorten the statute of limitations period for the filing of ERISA civil actions in cases involving benefit denials under Section 503 of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.  The Heimeshoff opinion not only applies to future ERISA cases, but could impact current ERISA matters you are now handling.   As a result of this ruling, attorneys representing claimants in ERISA benefit matters should review their cases immediately to determine the applicable statute of limitations for filing suit. In many cases, attorneys likely will need to consider filing suit immediately. 
- [Woody Connette](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/woody-connette/): Edward G. “Woody” Connette practices with Essex Richards, P.A. in Charlotte. He has over thirty years of experience in personal injury and class action litigation. Woody has been recognized as one of the NC Legal Elite, the Best Lawyers in America, and NC Super Lawyers. Woody is a Lawyers Mutual insured and member of the inaugural class of Lawyers Mutual’s Charlotte Area Community Board.
- [William T. Belcher](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/william-t-belcher/): (Updated January 28, 2013)
- [William Stroud](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/william-stroud/): William Stroud is President of Lawyers Insurance and has managed the NC Bar Association Health Benefit Trust since its inception in 2002. Contact William at wstroud@lawyersmutualnc.com or 800-662-8843.
- [William Cherry III](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/william-cherry-iii/): The Internet, networked applications, and cloud computing have created a more equitable competitive environment for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses to expand their organizations and improve customer experiences while controlling costs. But with the rapid growth of cyber commerce and unprecedented levels of capturing, storing, and sharing of electronic data, comes an equally rapid increase in security threats. From Internet attacks (malicious content, authentication, and privilege issues) to physical system attacks and theft, cyber threats and privacy breaches are on the rise. Private industry has answered the call with an increasingly sophisticated $30 billion cyber security and privacy industry that is helping government agencies, companies, and individuals contend with the growing array of threats and concerns.
- [William Belcher](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/william-belcher/): As a general rule, it is a mistake to name an estate or trust as beneficiary of a Qualified Retirement Plan (“QRP”) that includes an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”).  Naming an estate or trust of a QRP generally results in adverse tax and other consequences and eliminates favorable payout options.  
- [Will Graebe](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/will-graebe/): Will Graebe came to Lawyers Mutual in 1998 as claims counsel. In 2009, Will became the Vice President of the Claims Department and served in that role until 2019. After a two-year sabbatical, Will returned to Lawyers Mutual as claims counsel and relationship manager. In his role as claims counsel, Will focuses primarily on claims related to estates and trusts, business transactions and real estate matters. Will received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Stetson University. Prior to joining Lawyers Mutual, will worked in private practice with the law firm of Pinna, Johnston & Burwell.  
- [Wayne Stephenson as told to Jay Reeves](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/wayne-stephenson-as-told-to-jay-reeves/): You might think handling legal malpractice claims is dry and tedious work.
- [Wayne Stephenson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/wayne-stephenson/): Wayne Stephenson joined Lawyers Mutual in 1989. He has also worked with First Title and Investors Title as both an underwriting and claims attorney. He specializes in real estate matters. You can reach Wayne at 800.662.8843 or at wstephenson@lawyersmutualnc.com.
- [Warren Savage](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/warren-savage/): Warren Savage is a claims attorney with Lawyers Mutual. Warren spends his days counseling lawyers on litigation and appellate practice issues and advising on practice management and ethics conundrums. Contact Warren at 800.662.8843 or warren@lawyersmutualnc.com.
- [Valerie Johnson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/valerie-johnson/): Valerie Johnson has been a trial lawyer since she graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with honors in 1994. Her firm, Johnson & Groninger PLLC, with o!ces in Durham and Charlotte, practices statewide in the areas of workers’ compensation law, personal injury and bicycle crash law. She teaches trial advocacy at the University of North Carolina School of Law and has taught workers’ compensation law at the Wake Forest University School of Law. She is an editor of North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law: A Practical Guide to Success at Every Stage of a Claim, published by LexisNexis. Johnson is a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and a fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. She is the 2021 recipient of the Charles L. Becton Award for teaching from the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Johnson also serves as a director on the Board of Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company.
- [Uta Zacharias](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/uta-zacharias/)
- [Troy Crawford](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/troy-crawford/): 919.585.1186 | www.lmtitle.com
- [Tom Lenfestey](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/tom-lenfestey/):  www.TheLawPracticeExchange.com
- [Tom Boyle](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/tom-boyle/): tom@trustbooks.com www.trustbooks.com
- [Timothy Pavone](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/timothy-pavone/): Originally from New York, Timothy Pavone came to North Carolina with the goal of becoming a public servant and attorney.  After achieving this goal, Attorney Pavone knew that opening his own firm would be the best way to quickly earn a reputation in North Carolina as a dependable attorney who clients would enjoy using. He currently enjoys meeting and greeting new faces in Charlotte, NC where he lives, and also is proud to be on the North Carolina indigent attorney list in Mecklenburg County. 
- [Theresa Viera](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/theresa-viera/): Theresa Viera is an attorney at the McILveen Family Law Firm. She graduated from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., with a B.A. degree. She attended the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill, N.C., and graduated with her J.D. Theresa is an enthusiastic, dedicated, and hard-working attorney. She is committed to helping people across Gastonia, Charlotte, and the surrounding areas.
- [Tawanda Foster](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/tawanda-foster/): During the week of October 19-25, 2014, the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service launched its “National Celebrate Pro Bono Week.”  This important initiative was aimed at addressing the increasing need for pro bono services during these harsh economic times.  The week was designed to be an effective strategic tool for expanding local efforts to increase access to justice for all.
- [Tacker LeCarpentier](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/tacker-lecarpentier/): Tacker LeCarpentier is the Director, Annuities & Structured Products for Lawyers Insurance. Please contact Tacker by phone at (919) 247-9070 or by email at tacker@lawyersmutualnc.com.
- [Sylvia Novinsky](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/sylvia-novinsky/): sylvia@ncprobono.org | ncprobono.org
- [Suzanne Lever](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/suzanne-lever/): Suzanne Lever has been an assistant ethics counsel for the North Carolina State Bar since 2006. Prior to that, she clerked for Chief Justice Sarah Parker of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She graduated with a B.S. degree from Wake Forest University and earned her J.D. at University of North Carolina School of Law.
- [Susan Liebel](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/susan-liebel/): Susan Cartier Liebel is the Founder & CEO of Solo Practice University®, the only educational and professional networking community for lawyers and law students designed for those who want to create and grow their solo or small firm practices.   Contact Susan at susan@solopracticeuniversity.com.
- [Steven A. Rowe](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/steven-a-rowe/): Steve Rowe is a partner with Poyner Spruill LLP and is a member of the firm’s employment law section.  Steve advises and defends employers, before administrative agencies and in state and federal court, in a wide range of employment related issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge , Fair Labor Standards Act, and the WARN Act.  He also advises clients in regard to employment contracts, including restrictive covenants, employee handbooks and policies.  Steve is a frequent speaker on employment matters and can be reached at  252.972.7108 or srowe@poynerspruill.com.  
- [Stacey Phipps](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/stacey-phipps/): 919.219.1246 s1phipps@hotmail.com
- [Sonya Pfeiffer](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/sonya-pfeiffer/): Sonya Pfeiffer is a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer at the boutique law firm Rudolf Widenhouse.  She handles both state and federal criminal cases, and focuses her civil work on wrongful convictions and the violation of rights to a fair trial. She is also a devoted advocate who fights for individual rights through her leadership roles within the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, where she serves as Vice President of Membership and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
- [Sonja Ebron](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/sonja-ebron/): Sonja Ebron, a PhD electrical engineer and entrepreneur, is the co-founder of Courtroom5. Courtroom5 is a digital- and artificial intelligence-based platform that, for a small monthly fee, gives its members access to an entire litigator’s toolset, animated video courses, workshops, legal forms and documents, and community forums. Through artificial intelligence capabilities, Courtroom5 is able to stay up-to-date on a case from start to finish, providing specific and timely information and aid each step of the way.
- [Shereena Kamal](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/shereena-kamal/): Shereena Kamal, a 2L at Elon University School of Law, interned at Lawyers Mutual during the summer of 2023. Shereena earned her undergraduate degree from the North Carolina State University in 2022, graduating cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Business Administration.
- [Shawn Singleton](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/shawn-singleton-3/)
- [Shannon E. Hoff, Poyner Spruill](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/shannon-e-hoff-poyner-spruill/): The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692 et seq. (the “Act”) imposes civil liability on debt collectors for certain prohibited debt collection practices.  A debt collector who fails to comply with any provision of the Act will be liable for actual damages, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and certain statutory damages set forth in the Act.  However, if a debt collector shows that “the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error” then he will not be held liable in any action brought under the Act.  15 U.S.C. § 1692k(c).  The “bona fide error” defense is an absolute defense.
- [Sarah Levitt](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/sarah-levitt/): sarah@sarah-levitt.com www.sarah-levitt.com 
- [Samantha Cruff](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/samantha-cruff/): Samantha Cruff is the Marketing Communications Coordinator at Lawyers Mutual. Contact Samantha for information regarding our available risk management publications at 800.662.8843 or samantha@lawyersmutualnc.com.
- [Robynn Moraites](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/robynn-moraites/): Robynn Moraites is the Executive Director of the NC Lawyer Assistance Program.
- [Robert Jessup](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/robert-jessup/): Robert H Jessup practices in the areas of personal injury, condemnation, and first-party insurance claim disputes at the Raleigh office of Howard, Stallings, From & Hutson, P.A.
- [Renee Branson](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/renee-branson-2/): Renee Branson, MA, CReC, is a therapist, educator, and advisor to business leaders on building and sustaining well-being in the workforce. Combining 20 years in education, counseling, nonprofit leadership and as a Certified Resilience Coach (CReC), she provides clients with immediate usable tools to increase resilience, well-being and optimism in the workplace. She works with lawyers, legal marketers, business professionals, nonprofit leaders and others to help them incorporate resilience in their professional lives and in the team they lead. Learn more about RBConsulting and follow Renee @reslilientbounty.
- [Rachel Blunk](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/rachel-blunk/): Rachel Blunk is currently an associate at Sharpless & Stavola, PA in Greensboro, NC. She has a hybrid practice including civil litigation and business law. She has been named Rising Star in the area of Employment and Labor by North Carolina Super Lawyers in both 2014 and 2015. Rachel speaks and writes frequently on a variety of issues, and focuses her scholarship on legal issues facing the LGBT community in North Carolina.
- [Quay Wembley](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/quay-wembley/): qwembley4316@gmail.com | LinkedIn 
- [Peter Bolac](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/peter-bolac/): 919.828.4620 pbolac@ncbar.gov
- [Pegeen Turner](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/pegeen-turner/): pturner@legalcloudtechnology.com www.legalcloudtechnology.com Twitter: @pegeenturner
- [Paul Coates](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/paul-coates/): Paul D. Coates is a partner in the Greensboro, North Carolina law firm of Pinto Coates Kyre & Bowers, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of personal injury litigation, civil litigation, and insurance litigation and coverage. He is a member of various bar organizations, and is a frequent lecturer and writer in the areas of insurance law and coverage.
- [Patrick Brown](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/patrick-brown/): Patrick is the Vice President of Enterprise and Operational Risk Management at Lawyers Mutual as well as filling the roles of Corporate Secretary and Director of Information Security. He is an NCSB board certified specialist in Privacy & Information Security Law and has been designated a Fellow of Information Privacy and a Privacy Law Specialist by the IAPP.  He is always happy to talk about his collection of tinfoil hats or to discuss risk management advice and resources that you may find helpful - you may reach him at 800.662.8843 or patrick@lawyersmutualnc.com.
- [Patrice Walker](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/patrice-walker/): Just when you think you know everything you need to know in order to reduce your risk of being sued for malpractice, you learn something new.
- [Pat Murphy](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/pat-murphy/): Pat Murphy is an experienced insurance professional who has been with Lawyers Insurance since 2005. You can read more about her background on her LinkedIn profile. Contact Lawyers Insurance at 800.662.8843 for information regarding insurance quotes.
- [Nora Rock](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/nora-rock/): Nora Rock is a corporate writer and policy analyst at LAWPRO.
- [Nihad Mansour](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/nihad-mansour/): Nihad is a Pro Bono Staff Attorney at North Carolina Bar Foundation. You can contact Nihad at nmansour@ncbar.org. 
- [Nick Long](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/nick-long-2/): 919.585.5642 | nick@lmtitle.com
- [Natalie Porter](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/natalie-porter/)
- [Mysty Blagg](https://lawyersmutualnc.com/our-author/mysty-blagg/): Mysty is currently a FLEX student at Campbell Law School but will transition to full-time studies in Fall 2019. She currently works as a Healthcare Compliance Investigator while attending school part-time and serving as a mother to her three children. Mysty worked as a clinical dental hygienist for 13 years where she developed a passion for helping people. She is interested in a career involving the legal aspects of Healthcare Technology and Compliance.  Mysty Blagg, RDH, BSDH, J.D. Candidate