Twenty-five years ago, North Carolina was the first state to create a database of traffic stops to track possible racial profiling. Today, that database has 36 million traffic stops. Next month, criminal defense attorneys are invited to learn about it during a CLE sponsored by the NCAJ. Ian Mance, who has worked for almost 20 years on criminal and racial justice policy and litigation in North Carolina, will offer a hands-on presentation about the database and its use in the courts. Click here to learn more and register.

Learn more about the CLE at ncaj.com/events.

🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️

Name: Ian Mance at Emancipate NC

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Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it means to be a trial lawyer, what it takes to be great at the practice of law and how being a part of NCAJ enriches their lives and their careers.

Members of NCAJ belong to a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of legal professionals dedicated to empowering a strong community of trial lawyers to protect people, prevent injustice and promote fairness. Membership affords many benefits and we’re proud to offer discounts and opportunities thanks to our tremendous community of sponsors and partners. Join today!

Artemis Malekpour, a partner at Malekpour & Ball who specializes in strategic jury selection and solutions to case problems, previews the session she will lead at NCAJ’s November 7 CLE. The program will focus on evidence and pretrial motions, and attendees will participate in an interactive exercise on voir dire.

In addition to laying out her CLE, Artemis joins host Amber Nimocks to share her insights on the importance of understanding jurors' perspectives and crafting trial themes based on their values. She highlights the need for attorneys to listen actively during voir dire, respect jurors' opinions, and create a connection with them.

Learn more about the CLE at ncaj.com/events.

Name: Artemis Malekpour at Malekpour & Ball

Connect: Email | LinkedIn | Trial Guides

[02:06] Jury Selection in North Carolina: Lawyers have more time here than in other states. Artemis suggests using that time to establish rapport, credibility, and connection.

[08:57] “Weird Path”: She thought she wanted to go into psychology. Then psychiatry. In grad school, Artemis became fascinated by a “guilty but mentally ill” bill related to a psychiatrist who was sued by UNC.

[22:07] Showing Respect: Like all of us, jurors want to feel important, valued, and that they matter. Voir dire is the time to show that, Artemis believes.

[25:20] Politics: You don’t want to bring politics into voir dire, but Artemis thinks it’s important to understand how it informs trial.

[28:47] No Sitting Back and Watching: Attendees at Artemis’s interactive session during the November 7 CLE will be encouraged to participate as they deconstruct a voir dire.

☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it means to be a trial lawyer, what it takes to be great at the practice of law and how being a part of NCAJ enriches their lives and their careers.

Members of NCAJ belong to a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of legal professionals dedicated to empowering a strong community of trial lawyers to protect people, prevent injustice and promote fairness. Membership affords many benefits and we’re proud to offer discounts and opportunities thanks to our tremendous community of sponsors and partners.

Emily Beeson didn’t know that she would pursue a legal career when she got her first position as a bilingual case manager, and then as a paralegal. But after she was in that role for a while, she realized “this is a great opportunity for growth.”

Law school followed. Now with a decade of experience, she is the lead workers’ compensation lawyer for Ward Black Law. She’s also a 2023 graduate of the NCAJ Next Leadership Program. On October 18, she’ll share the wisdom she gained from being a paralegal at NCAJ’s Fall Conference for Paralegals. Register here.

Joining host Amber Nimocks, Emily previews her presentation, including her thoughts about the role that empathy plays in interacting with the client.

Name: Emily Beeson | LinkedIn

Connect: Ward Black Law | Facebook | Instagram | X | LinkedIn | YouTube

[02:16] Point of Contact:: From three years of paralegal experience, Emily knows how paralegals support a client: fielding questions, answering phone calls, and interpreting legalese.

[03:45] Client Misconceptions: Clients often think their lawyer has more power than they really do. Lawyers, of course, do have some power – but it’s in the confines of the court.

[06:13] Hallmarks of a Great Paralegal: The ability to anticipate the needs of the case right from the start is one quality that separates a great paralegal from the rest.

[09:55] From Jargon to the Layman: As a mentor once told Emily: “If you are trying to explain a difficult concept to a client, explain it as if you were talking to a third-grader.”

[12:24] Empathy for the Client: To succeed for their client, legal professionals need to remember that this is the first time, and hopefully the only time, that the client is going through a traumatic experience.

[16:02] Delivering Bad News: It starts with setting the client’s expectations early and offering fallback plans if that time comes.

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