NCLAWYERSWEEKLY.COM VOLUME 34 NUMBER 22 ■
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A SHIFT IN STRATEGY
N.C. Bar Center hosts Justice Fund, Liberty Garden dedication ceremony
the pandemic, we learned out of necessity that different employees thrive in different work environments,” James S. Farrin, president and CEO, said in the release. “While some employees fully embrace an office environment surrounded by colleagues, others do their best work when they are in the comfort of their own home office. We want to ensure our clients are always receiving the absolute best from each of our employees so we are adopting a model of choice.” While there may be variations in office locations, two things remain constant for the firm: a commitment
The North Carolina Bar Foundation (NCBF) celebrated the establishment of four new NCBF Endowment Justice Funds in a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, October 19, at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary. The NCBF also dedicated two new Liberty Garden Benches and 10 new Liberty Garden Stone Pavers. Justice Funds were dedicated in honor of Joseph B. Cheshire V, George B. Mast and the late Rudy L. Ogburn. The NCBF Endowment’s first Anonymous Justice Fund was also dedicated. A Liberty Garden Bench was also dedicated in memory of Rudy L. Ogburn, with an additional new bench dedicated in memory of Chief Justice Emery Denny and Wallace Ashley Jr. “The funds that we are dedicating today enhance the Foundation’s ability to mobilize members of the North Carolina Bar Association to serve the people of North Carolina through legal services, pro bono, civic education, and professionalism-focused programs,” said NCBA/NCBF Executive Director Jason Hensley. “These Funds bolster the Foundation’s Endowment, allowing us to award more annual grants to legal organizations and programs across the state whose work furthers the Foundation’s mission, vision and values.” “In 1960, the North Carolina Bar Foundation was established as the philanthropic arm of the Association,” added NCBA/NCBF President Clayton Morgan. “Today, the work of the Foundation is driven by its mission to unite the talent and generosity of the profession to be a power of
See Strategy Page 6 ►
S e e Ce r e m o ny P a g e 1 ►
The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has developed a new strategy to increase productivity and recruitment efforts. (Photo/Provided)
Law Offices of James Scott Farrin moves HQ, realigns One of the state’s largest plaintiff’s firms, The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, is moving its Durham headquarters — 1,500 feet east. JSF is departing the American Tobacco Campus’ Diamond View II where, since 2009, it occupied approximately 56,306 square feet, to the newly constructed 555 Mangum St. on the other side of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, according to a news release from the firm. In addition to a fresh space on the 8th floor of the 2021 Triangle Business Journal SPACE Awards winner for Top Office Development, JSF is also deploying a well-researched and strategically implemented strategy in their office design and
layout to increase productivity, as well as client and employee recruitment and satisfaction, the release stated. Notably, the firm’s new office square footage (24,190 sf) represents an intentional reduction of 57%. The firm is allowing employees the opportunity to curate their own office strategy with a mix of all work from home, all office, or a hybrid of the two. The firm is also planning to expand its footprint in Raleigh from its current 6,203 sf to 16,336 sf (163% increase). This will give Triangle-based employees another office option. “Like many companies during
INSIDE: Paralegal News and Unsung Heroes
We have lots of special content for you inside today’s North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. In the November edition of Carolina Paralegal News, you’ll meet Khovaja Samir Seddiqi, who knows what hope and resilience feel like when your life is suddenly defined by grief and uncertainty. He lost everything when the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government amidst the United States military withdrawal in August of 2021. Today, he is a paralegal in the Greensboro office of Church World Service, a global organization that helps meet the The close-knit staff at Church World Service in Greens- immediate needs of refugees from dangerous zones boro gathers at the end of the workday. From left: Said seeking asylum in the United States. Teri Saylor has this inspiring story. Zeyar, Jelena Milisav, Iva Panayotova, Samir Seddiqi, NoYou’ll also meet Jasmine Williams, senior paraleman Farid, and Elizabeth DeFrance. Photo by Teri Saylor
gal at Jeffries Law Firm in Orangeburg, and Traci B. Wolfe, a paralegal at Burnette Shutt and McDaniel, and is in her second year as president of the Legal Staff Professionals of the Midlands. Also inside this edition of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly is the return of Unsung Heroes, a celebration of champions who do the behind-the-scenes work that makes law firms thrive. As always, thanks for reading. Got a story idea for North Carolina Lawyers Weekly? Know an attorney doing innovative things? Send along an email. Contact info is below. Jason Thomas is the interim editor of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Email him at jthomas@scbiznews.com.
INSIDE NEWS
VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS
VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS
Landmark settlement issued for Medicaid beneficiaries
Autistic girl, family awarded $4.9M after abuse at center
Family receives $19M settlement after car crash
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