March 2020 Newsletter
Maintaining State Bar and Specialization Communication while Working Remotely
During these uncertain times, please know that the State Bar staff is dedicated to providing support and open lines of communication for all North Carolina lawyers as you continue to provide essential services to our community members. As our entire staff is working remotely, it will be necessary to initiate communication through email. Relevant staff email addresses are listed below, and for any other needs please see the State Bar staff list.
Lanice Heidbrink, Certified Paralegal and Executive Assistant
Denise Mullen, Assistant Director of Legal Specialization
Brian Oten, Director of Special Programs and Ethics Counsel
Sheila Saucier, Certification Coordinator
2020 Certification Process Update
If you are planning to apply for initial certification this year, please email your completed application form to Lanice Heidbrink. You will then only need to mail the signature page and payment when you are able. At this time, we do not anticipate disruption of the specialty certification exams scheduled in October. Specialization staff will be working diligently over the next few weeks to provide updated exam preparation materials for the 2020 exam administration. Please reach out if you have any questions.
New Flexibility for Online CLE
Specialists and those interested in becoming board certified now have more options for meeting the requirements for continuing legal education. Beginning in 2020, State Bar members may take all of their CLE hours online. For members trying to satisfy a deficit prior to 2020, they may take up to six hours of credit for each prior year towards their CLE requirements. Search available courses online.