Carolina Paralegal News

By Annette Church, Special to CPN

Church

Editor’s Note: This column is part two of a two-part series that began in our September issue. In that column, Church describes returning to work to find a gas leak in the office – and suspicious behavior by her attorney.

Even though it was confirmed that someone had purposefully created a natural gas leak in the attorney’s office where I worked for Mr. Craig*, we still had to continue working at the rapid-fire rate required to meet filing deadlines and keep clients from growing upset. Yet, there was now a definitive schism between me and the attorney whom I had grown to respect. He showed genius abilities in the courtroom, and I also respected his concern for his clients’ individual circumstances.

Mr. Craig and his wife frequently invited my son and me to their home for meals. I often cared for his two young children during and after working hours. Yet now, there was an awkwardness between us, unspoken yet growing by the hour. I could not rationalize his behavior on the day of the gas leak. And the myriad of alternatives whirling in my mind gave me migraines.

One morning soon after the gas fiasco, Mr. Craig instructed me to bring one of my father’s handguns to the office; when I did so, he wanted me to place it within easy access of my desk. I felt a stabbing pain starting behind my right eyeball, the typical origin of my migraines. Before my jaw had time to drop, he proceeded into a gloriously sound explanation (at least, in his view) for why arming myself at work was mandatory.

“I really did not want to have to tell you this. I really didn’t. But you and I have been receiving death threats,” he said.

Once or twice a week, Mr. Craig worked through the night, and he was always at work by 6 a.m. or earlier if he did not pull an all-nighter. That’s how he had been able to protect me from discovering the notes someone had been dropping through the mail slot in the front door of the office. When I asked him where he was keeping the notes or if he had already given them to the police, he had a gentle look of concern on his face. Then he said, “Oh, no. I flushed them. They’re gone, flushed down the toilet. I couldn’t risk you discovering them.”

I could not believe he destroyed evidence.

Mr. Craig continued with his reasoning on why I should arm myself at work. He told me to take time to look around my office that day and come up with a good place to keep the gun within “easy reach.”

The remainder of the week swept by without any additional mention of me becoming the office’s armed security force. Mr. Craig was out of the office more than he was in it. Thankfully, he had nothing scheduled for court, although he had client appointments each day. Uncharacteristically, when he called me from his cell phone, the connection was very poor and we were often disconnected. I had no idea where he was, though I thought I heard him say something about Wake County. He insisted I not call his wife under any circumstances.

I was on the phone often that week, trying to reach clients and reschedule for the following week. Not that Mr. Craig had expressed concern about his appointments. After one call, I glanced up and looked out the window less than 2 feet from my desk, where a strange man was staring at me. I froze. After a quick thaw I ran to the restroom.

Smart move, I thought to myself – there was no telephone back there. I comforted myself knowing the office doors were locked because I was working alone. Just how long was I going to be willing to hide out?

It turned out I was willing to spend about 35 minutes in the restroom before venturing back to the front of the office. Whoever had been outside was gone and I felt ridiculous.

Before the day was over, the same fellow made a few more uncanny appearances. I was hesitant to call the police because he wasn’t breaking the law. The man just walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the office a few times and once stopped across the street to stare at the front of the office for several minutes. I never saw him again.

In another strange request, nearly four weeks after the gas leak, Mr. Craig told me I needed to go to a particular warehouse and look for “paperwork that could have been left behind after the owners left it.” I had been to this site on one occasion with Mr. Craig. It was several miles away from anyone or anything, a cavernous, mostly empty warehouse with a small front office. He and I had looked in the office when he took me there on an unexplained field trip of sorts. There were no files, papers, not even a paper clip.

Why on this earth did he want me to venture out there? It was 4:45 p.m. and would be dark by the time I arrived. The entry door was encrusted in rust, Mr. Craig himself had struggled with the padlock and now he wanted me to see if any papers were left behind? The particular case related to the warehouse involved a multimillion-dollar scientific intellectual property law suit and countersuit.

Mr. Craig represented the plaintiffs and his description of the defendants had me thinking Mafia. I knew in my heart I would be in danger going there. It was more than fear or fancy; I knew it. The more he insisted, the redder his face became.

By now the sun was fading. I knew nothing had ever been resolved about the threats Mr. Craig said we had received. His months of unusual behavior, including avoiding his clients, instructing me to not speak to his wife and having me arm myself at work, were pushing me to reevaluate this warehouse request in earnest.

“I am not going to go out there. I don’t think it’s safe.”

Mr. Craig dropped the subject and never asked me to go there again.

The majority of the two years I was employed by Mr. Craig, a brilliant litigator, was an educational journey into intellectual property and First Amendment law. Unfortunately, as page by page of his story continued to unfold, it became known he was involved in practices that caused him heartache professionally and personally.

Mr. Craig no longer practices law as a result of charges brought against him by the North Carolina State Bar resulting from inappropriate handling of his trust account prior to my employment, among other activities.

Attorneys with the bar’s Disciplinary Committee of course questioned me at great length, and at 7:15 a.m. on the day before the story hit our local paper, one of the attorneys telephoned me at home. He wanted me to give me a heads-up that Mr. Craig was going to be in the news, and he acknowledged the difficulty I had experienced with the entire fiasco.

In the following days, when I encountered acquaintances at the grocery store, church and other public places, inevitably, the most frequent comment I heard was, “I’m so sorry you worked for him.” To this day, my response is the same: I regret what happened with Mr. Craig and his clients. I have no regrets about working for him. It was a fantastic education I could never have received anywhere else.

Annette G. Church is a North Carolina State Bar-certified paralegal in Charlotte.

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By Annette Church, Special to CPN

It was a typically muggy August afternoon, indistinguishable from countless other lingering days of summer, trying to hold on before the autumn leaves began to fall. I found myself and Mr. Craig*, the attorney I worked for, walking up the front steps to his office. We had met at the courthouse earlier that morning and this was the first time either of us had made it to the office that day.

The place had once been a charming home. Now it was living its new life by way of restoration and its transformation into a law office for a sole practitioner allowed the place to reign with dignity. Two massive oak trees, parted by a gently cracked sidewalk, greeted visitors. The wide porch provided a picture book setting for a welcoming doorway. Entering the front door, you walked into the former parlor, now a client lobby. A room where undoubtedly generations had greeted family, friends and neighbors long before the thoughts of a client coming through the door ever occurred.

Mr. Craig unlocked the door and I reached to punch in the alarm code.

“Hey, the alarm is not on,” I said, almost as a question to Mr. Craig.

“Guess I was too sleepy when I left here last night.”

Straightaway my senses were overwhelmed with an odor I recognized, yet could not put my finger on. By the time I whirled around to ask Mr. Craig if he knew what the smell could be, I realized it was a gas leak.

“We have to get out of here, now!” I hurriedly told him.

“Oh, no, no. I need you to get to the computer and…”

I was halfway out the front door, pleading with Mr. Craig to leave with me. “Sir, I’m certain there’s a gas leak here and it’s been leaking for some time. It’s too dangerous. We’ve got to get out!”

His calm reply was to ask me to turn on the lights, which I did not do. I told him I was going outside and would place a call to the gas company. My heart was racing. As Mr. Craig walked farther back into the office, I was running out of it.

The gas company repairman appeared within minutes and as he entered the office, I noticed Mr. Craig had not turned on any lights. The only computer was at my desk and it sat dark as well. Initially, I had walked in with the repairman from the gas company; however, he wasted no time instructing me to leave. I heard the verbal banter between him and Mr. Craig. Regardless of the repairman’s warnings, Mr. Craig refused to leave his office. He remained stubbornly steadfast behind his desk.

As I was taking a breather against one of the oak trees, the repairman caught me by surprise. He walked up and asked me to follow him inside. He said there was something he wanted to show me. As we approached Mr. Craig’s office, the repairman looked at him and told him to join us in the kitchen. Tucked away in one of the kitchen’s unassuming corners was the gas water heater.

I was still exasperated with Mr. Craig’s response to the entire episode. The flash of anger I saw in his eyes when I disobeyed his instruction to switch on the office lights was unfamiliar and unnerving. Now he was delaying any response to the repairman’s direction to come into the kitchen. The repairman and I stood in the kitchen awaiting my boss. After several awkward minutes, Mr. Craig appeared and left no doubt he didn’t have time to waste looking at whatever was in the kitchen. In the two years I had worked for Mr. Craig, my respect for him had grown for numerous reasons; his patient and jolly disposition among them. I was unaccustomed to this display of indignant behavior.

Now there were three of us in the kitchen, with Mr. Craig sulking and gazing out the window. The repairman bent down and started into his perplexing explanation for the cause of the gas leak. I stood there uncharacteristically silent.

“Notice how these two pipes are laying. They are precisely placed end to end. If they had become accidently dislodged, one of them would be sticking up and one would be on the floor. However, here you have a situation where it is obvious someone has pulled them apart and carefully placed them on the floor side by side. This was done by someone intentionally. If either one of you had turned on the lights or touched one key on the computer keyboard, with the amount of gas that was in this place, you and it would have gone flying.”

Mr. Craig quickly snapped, “That’s nonsense.” Without another word, he turned and walked back to his office.

My eyes met the repairman’s. I felt empathy for this man who seemed more concerned for our welfare than my employer. He stood and said, “Lady, I’m sure glad neither one of you switched on the lights.”

My heart was pounding. As troubled as I was over the purposeful gas leak, my knees were trembling over Mr. Craig’s distressing behavior. Something was flawed with all that had unfolded since our return from the courthouse. It would be just a few days shy of six weeks before I would learn the beginning of the end of the story…

This story will be continued in the November issue of Carolina Paralegal News.

Annette G. Church is an N.C. State Bar-certified paralegal with Ted A. Greve and Associates of Charlotte, N.C.

achurch COLUMNS, You Are The Link!

By Annette Church

Special to CPN

I had only been working in the legal profession for a few months when our client Mrs. Jones (her name has been changed to protect her privacy) came into the office with a man, who sat down with her in the chairs next to my desk. I was in a new job and eager to provide quality work.

As I greeted Mrs. Jones, I asked if the gentleman with her was her son. She confirmed that he was, although she did not provide his name. I had been expecting Mrs. Jones that morning. I also knew that she did not drive and one of her sons lived next to her. Having read her file, I was aware the son who lived beside Mrs. Jones was to be a witness for her, the defendant in the case.

I asked Mrs. Jones if she was ready for me to ask her the questions the attorney had prepared. She assured me she was. I launched right into the first question, regarding her current relationship with the plaintiff. Then to my utter despair, her son announced he was the plaintiff — whom I had just questioned his mother about, in his presence.

Mortified does not begin to describe how I felt at that moment. I knew instantly I had failed to obtain the identity of Mrs. Jones’ son. I should have taken the client into the conference room to present the questions to her privately.

The matter at hand involved an effort by another son to claim his right to property which was in his mother’s name. I never thought the son making suit against his mother would bring her to her attorney’s office. The blunder was a difficult lesson; however, I did learn how essential it is not to presume. I also learned that privacy is as necessary for the client as oxygen.

We gain knowledge and strength from successes and failures. After a controversial episode, we may emerge with a red face. Do not allow yourself to become stymied. Learn from the experience. Increasing our ethical foundation and striving to improve is consistently the right decision to make. Even so, we do not always make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. Let us encourage one another when we have such an opportunity.

Professionally, you and I cannot dismiss ethical decisions as paralegals.

Webster’s Legal Dictionary defines ethics as “Standards of honesty and fairness in the conduct of business or profession; moral principles.” Further exploration of reference sources reveals that ethics involves guidelines and responsibilities including conduct, morality, decency, integrity, honor, principles, honesty, goodness and acting in a manner of doing what is right instead of wrong. “A set of principles of right conduct” is the definition of ethics provided by thefreedictionary.com.

The North Carolina State Bar website, regarding North Carolina Certified Paralegals, says: “Paralegals, like lawyers, should be held to the highest ethical and professional standards.”

The North Carolina State Bar established The Rules of Professional Conduct in which the specifications for the supervision of paralegals and non-lawyer assistants are detailed. Rules 5.3 and 5.5 of The Rules of Professional Conduct are plainly stated and available online at www.nccertifiedparalegal.
gov/guidelines.asp.

Be proactive to sustain your ethical standards. Listen. Ask appropriate questions and be attentive to the responses.

Has a client asked you to provide them with information you do not have? At best, you could only guess at an answer, and from experience you know that providing such a response is wrong. If the client is insistent, perhaps forceful in expressing her desire for an answer, guard yourself from reflecting any irritation.

There are likely a few ethically appropriate ways to handle such a scenario. It is crucial to avoid accusatory remarks and to maintain a tone of voice that never shows arrogance or condescension. Tell the client you do not have the answer to her question. Do not fear being honest. If it is a matter you can speak with an attorney about or make a telephone call to try and obtain the information, tell her you will do so.

Should it be a situation where you believe you have no access to finding a solution or answer for the client, remain calm in your speech and consistent in your response. Do not give in to the pressure being placed upon you. You can ask her if she would like to speak with an attorney or have the attorney call her at a later time, whichever is called for at that time.

In a legal environment, to accomplish your customary responsibilities day in and day out, one must perform in an ethical manner.  Anyone who has worked in a law office acknowledges there are incidents which are trying. Therefore, it is sensible to be conscientious.

Other paralegals have shared with me ethical incidents they have encountered. For example, another law firm called to inquire about a client the paralegal’s employer represented. Before the paralegal realized it, she had provided information to them without written or oral consent from the client.

In another situation, a paralegal received flowers and other expressions of gratitude from a client during an active case. She knew she could not accept gifts from a client and as awkward as it was to explain, her explanation did not stop the gifts. Eventually the matter was resolved; however, it was an unsettling experience for all parties involved.

Work done in haste, inadequately, without review or without quality control results in damage control. No one is perfect and each of us is allowed mistakes. We all know the difference between making a mistake and slipshod effort. I have recognized the repulsive odor of wasted time or an error I should have foreseen. I must put forth increased determination to guard myself from what I know to be my weaknesses.

The work of paralegals is a service and we meet the needs of one individual at a time. As we turn on our computers, answer the e-mails and voice mails, and review today’s checklist, once again we are striving to accomplish work reflective of a foundation of ethics. It is an ongoing exercise of which we must be continuously sensitive. As we are doing so, let us endeavor to lift one another up. Every one of us will benefit.

Annette Church is a North Carolina certified paralegal with Ted A. Greve and Associates, PA, in Charlotte.

achurch COLUMNS, You Are The Link!

By ANNETTE CHURCH, Special to CPN

My spine suddenly felt as if someone had plugged it into a high-voltage outlet. The sensation was a combination of chills and heightened sensitivity throughout my body. With another stare at my computer monitor, there was no denying it. The document on my computer screen was inconsistent with what I held in my hands.

I had been doing work for a client on a government website. At the close of the assignment, I was required to enter my first and last name. Protocol required me to print the final page, which showed my name and details about when I completed the work.

I was holding the printed confirm-ation page. I expected it to mirror the image of what I was viewing on the computer screen.

This was a familiar site for me. What appeared on the monitor looked the same as it had in the preceding times I had worked there. I entered my first and last name. There was no space or area anywhere for me to provide my middle initial or middle name. There never had been one during my use of this site and there was not one on this particular occasion.

Reflected on the confirmation page were my first name and last name. However, there was also my maiden name on the printed document – something I had never provided to this website. It was appropriately placed.

But I had not entered my maiden name or initial that evening. Moreover, there had never been a time when I provided my maiden name or initial while using that site.

And wouldn’t you know it? This was an evening I was the last one left in the office. It was late. Was I seeing things?

Abruptly, I recalled a state-ment an old friend made 12 years ago: “Those computers are just the eyes of someone staring at you!”

The remark was part of a conversation regarding our government’s ability to have access to any person’s computer use – past or present. This was before identity theft or someone accessing an online shopper’s credit card account information was so prolific.

Back then, I thought he was the one on the silly side. Guess who’s laughing now?

I cannot claim to have expertise in computer technology. Nonetheless, I am aware some employers are able to shadow employees’ computer monitors and have a real-time view of the screen the employee is seeing. There are assorted spyware products available and digital forensics can show a computer user’s Internet search history.

Certainly a case can be made for an employer’s justification to ascertain the work of the employee. At this point in time, the computer-using public is generally aware of the need to safeguard private information such as bank account numbers.

Since 9/11, the topic of invasion of personal privacy is an issue discussed every day. I accept the fact that when I am accessing a federal government site, my activity there could be scrutinized. However, the incident I experienced still startled me.

Again, the only personal information I provided to this particular site was my first and last name, along with my employer’s name and contact information. I am aware there are numerous other individuals with whom I share the same first and last name. Yet in the computer universe, someone or something recognized it was me, not another person with the same name.

The direct connection made to me was surprising and left me with a feeling of uncomfortable vulnerability.

I never doubted our government’s ability to know my online history. My amazement was in experiencing the direct link made to me regardless of the limited amount of information given. And I still find it strange that what I printed out was not reflected on the screen. Even a few computer-savvy individuals noted surprise in what occurred.

This experience served as a caution flag. For a period of time I avoided online purchases.

Then I contemplated the multiple places I have made myself open to such vulnerability. I have provided personal information over time to Facebook, LinkedIn and other professional and community organizations by way of the Internet.

Grasping my own accountability was another surprise. It has taken place over time, as I became more comfortable using sites and sharing. I have contributed to the placement of some quantity to the information floating through the Internet about myself. I am responsible for the material I have elected to make available. I am now much more selective with what I share and with whom.

Discovering we are vastly and intimately more connected through our computer use than I had ever considered can still bring me hesitation at times. I continue to be a frequent user of the same website because it is necessary professionally. Yet I have a tiny bit of personal rebellion that brings a bit of solace.

I still do not provide my middle, maiden name or initial, even though the site now provides a place to do so. They know it is me again anyway.

Editor’s note: Annette G. Church is an N.C. State Bar-certified paralegal with Ted A. Greve and Associates of Charlotte.

achurch COLUMNS, You Are The Link! Annette Church, You Are The Link!

By Annette Church, Special to CPN

It was the first time that I needed to go to the office supply closet at my new job. I was startled the moment I opened the door.

A handgun lay next to a box of envelopes. There it was, in plain view for anyone to see. Still taken aback, I quickly retrieved the paper clips I needed and returned to my desk.

Nearly a year passed before I mentioned the gun in the supply closet to the attorney I worked for.

His response was casual. He assured me it was not loaded and belonged to a client who asked him to “hold onto it” for him. By now, the gun was just part of the office scenery.

This was my first job in the legal field and I looked forward to going to work each morning. I was the only employee of a sole practitioner and I had developed respect and trust for my attorney. Working in his office provided me the opportunity to learn about trial preparation and to follow it through to assisting in the courtroom.

The job was a wonderful learning experience and a madcap adventure all rolled into one. This attorney was always teaching me the “why” behind our work, which often involved the spectacular aspects of First Amendment law.

About two years passed. Then one morning, my employer called me into his office.

The gun from the supply closet was in his hands.

He instructed me to take the weapon from his right hand.

When I inquired as to why I needed to do so, his response was pointed: “To get the feel of the gun.”

Initially, I did not think his absurd request was serious. He had a history of being an elaborate practical jokester. If this was his idea of pulling me into one, I was going to bow out right from the start.

Our dialogue continued back and forth until I reached a point of exasperation. My attorney would not let it go.

What was I going to do? Countless uncertainties flooded my mind.

I had to make a quick decision. Either way, if he intended this as some sort of bizarre joke, it was too creepy for me.

The other point – which I hadn’t processed yet – was that the door to a myriad of ethical issues had just been blown wide open.

As uncomfortable as the circumstances were, I had only one option and did what I had not done prior to that moment: I refused to do something my employer requested me to do.

Mockingly, he chuckled at my response.

Trembling in silence, I exited his office and returned to my desk.

I was angry. He had not been joking, and he meant for me to take the weapon from him. Only when I refused did he attempt to lighten the situation. His effort to convince me he was merely having fun at my expense was in vain.

Regretfully, this attorney’s law career later unraveled for his involvement in activities prior to the date he hired me.

Within a few days after I resigned from my job, the North Carolina State Bar took the situation into their hands. The erratic behavior I witnessed in the last months of my employment bewildered and confused me. Coming to terms with the reality that my employer was not the person I had believed him to be was difficult.

For many months following the chaos, people would often comment about how sorry they were I had worked for this particular attorney. Knowing they meant well, I understood the kindness intended by the remarks.

Yet as much as I was dismayed by the attorney’s dishonorable activities, I had no regrets I worked for him. I received hands-on education as we prepared for federal court cases and the experiences of the cases themselves are irreplaceable.

During the subsequent State Bar investigation, I was told I was going to be interviewed. Having no idea what to expect, I was fearful.

Was I going to be implicated by association?  Did I need to have an attorney?

I called a lawyer who was a family friend. He was with me at the interview.

Ironically, he asked me a question that shocked me more than any of those asked by the State Bar attorneys: “Is there anything you need to tell me, Annette?”

“No,” I replied.

He said he just had to make certain.

“As difficult as this may be, you must answer all of their questions. If you find yourself struggling, look at me. You have to tell them the truth, even if you think there is a possibility it may implicate your prior employer. You simply must,” he instructed.

My attorney-friend was wise. He knew I was still conflicted. I still was not convinced the attorney I had worked for was as wicked as the rumors around town were indicating.

However, I also knew that somewhere, something had gone very wrong.

A few weeks later, at 7:10 a.m. on a weekday, my telephone rang.

When I answered, one of the Bar investigators told me that the news regarding my prior employer had been leaked to the local press. He said he had done his best to keep my name out of it. However, he wanted to let me know ahead of time to be prepared, just in case.

I appreciated his professionalism, both as an attorney and investigator. He had a diligent work ethic and the qualities of someone I would be proud to call my boss. As I set out to look for my next job, I used him as my standard.

Editor’s note: Annette G. Church is an N.C. State Bar-certified paralegal with Ted A. Greve and Associates of Charlotte.

achurch You Are The Link!

By Annette Church, Special to CPN

Enjoying lunch with my co-workers, I have often silently contemplated the diversities we all represent. My lunch time companions are receptionists, paralegals, investigators, attorneys and negotiators. They are individuals born in North Carolina, Georgia, Mexico, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, New York and Nicaragua.

There are those in the group that were actively involved in the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. Others supported Hillary Clinton. Currently one person is involved in a campaign for a candidate seeking a state office on the Republican ticket.

There are sports enthusiasts, karaoke singers, a talented stage actress, a dancer, a literacy teacher and crisis volunteers.

In our group are some that have worked together for 10 years or more, and others that fall anywhere in between. Our ages and heritages, the number of languages spoken, places we have traveled and dreams are wide-ranging.

As we sit and munch our lunch, some of our differences are obvious, and others we share.  There are opposing viewpoints on any given subject. We are not the same and we accept it, move on and respect one another. The Obama presidential campaign worker and the Republican campaign supporter carpool together.

We are not perfect – or even near it. And it has not always been smooth. Yet it has always been worth it.

As July 4 came and went, I was keenly aware of the multiplicity around our firm’s lunch table. It is symbolic of much of America.

We were born in different places and have a variety of jobs. You may enjoy Shakespeare or the Twilight book and film series. Others cannot wait for the first day of football season. Even with my rose-colored glasses tossed aside, I am persuaded we have more which unites than divides us.

From California down to the Gulf region and up into North Carolina, people are feeding their neighbors, volunteering their labor to upgrade homes to code, giving new clothes to children, washing oil from the bodies of pelicans and donating their old cars to charities. There are mechanics, doctors, plumbers, paralegals, nurses and attorneys working to help those who will never be able to pay for their services. These are people who will not have a wing of a building named after them. They see a need and meet it with kindness.

Everyone is not going to vote the way I do or the same way you do. That is how it is supposed to be.

Agreeing with one another is not mandatory. It is also not mandatory to be rude or disrespectful when you do disagree. Kindness is a great gift to give your country and your co-workers.

Editor’s note: Annette G. Church is an N.C. State Bar certified paralegal with Ted A. Greve and Associates of Charlotte.

achurch COLUMNS, You Are The Link!

By Annette Church, Special to CPN

The North Carolina Attorney’s/ Paralegal’s/Secretary’s Handbook is an essential resource for each group listed in its title. I know attorneys and paralegals who treasure their copies. Now in its 16th edition, this reference book remains a key ingredient within law offices across the Tar Heel State.

Updated annually in May, it is full of information. This book is one of those rare items in which once you get your hands on it, you will wonder how you ever worked without it.

I am not receiving any type of benefit for this optimistic review. The books are shipped in June and when I saw them arrive at our office this month, it triggered a memory. I recalled the two years I worked in a law office without knowing of this resource. My objective is to share the existence of this book with anyone who is unaware of it.

If you have an opportunity to get a copy, do it. Familiarize yourself with it. If you do not know the wealth of goodies inside it, it is research and money wasted, just gathering dust.

Designed for trouble-free use, there is a table of contents as well as generously proportioned tabs. For example, the features under the “Judges” tab include an alphabetical listing of all of North Carolina’s judges. Each judge is identified according to which court they serve and, when applicable, which district. Also provided are the judges’ telephone numbers.

There is also contact information for all North Carolina attorneys, either by the alphabetical listing or the by county of practice.

Want to send a letter of opinion to a United States Supreme Court justice? Turn to the “Federal Information” tab and find address information, telephone numbers and contact names for the highest court in the country.

Also included in that tab is contact information for a given district’s courtroom deputy and a complete listing of federal judges and related information within the state.

The North Carolina appellate courts have a separate section and tab as well. Also, each of North Carolina’s 100 counties’ superior and district court contact information is available.  Included are the judges, county offices and an abundance of other source material.

You can also find federal, state and county court fees and the secretary of state’s fees in the manual.

Need the name of the mayor of Apex or Laurinburg? Perhaps you need the website address for the City of Kings Mountain. Check out the Municipal Information tab and you will find that information and the name of fire chief, city manager and much more.

There is a subscription-based internet site for an eBook version of the handbook. The cost of the hard copy books vary with the quantity ordered.

For one to three copies, the cost is $58 without a binder and $68 with a binder. You need purchase a hard-wearing binder only once, as they are sturdy and the annual updates are designed to fit right inside them.

The North Carolina Attorney’s/Paralegal’s/Secretary’s Handbook is a publication of Mariposa Publishing, St. Paul, Minn., 800.442.1419, www.mariposapublishing.com

Editor’s note: Annette G. Church is an N.C. State Bar-certified paralegal with Ted A. Greve and Associates of Charlotte.

achurch COLUMNS, You Are The Link!