North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

Nov 21, 2012

Nancy Norelli, Norelli Law

Nancy Norelli has had a long view of the law from both sides of the bench. A former judge, she brings 35 years of experience as an attorney and a mediator to her clients. Much of her job satisfaction comes from her volunteer service and pro bono work.

Nov 21, 2012

Melissa A. Essary, Professor of Law, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University

As dean of the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, Melissa Essary led the initiative to move the law school from the university’s main campus in Buies Creek to Raleigh in 2007, giving students better access to state and federal agencies and courts, as well as the General Assembly. That move has produced a clear benefit: More than 80 percent of the 2012 graduating class co[...]

Nov 21, 2012

Lisa Bell, Chief District Court Judge

It’s a safe bet that Lisa Bell is the only chief District Court judge in the state who dropped out of high school. But she was the overachieving type of dropout. Her SAT score and grades were so good that she didn’t need that diploma to get accepted to Wake Forest University.

Nov 21, 2012

Kimberly Miller, Owens & Miller

Kimberly Miller’s very first trial was a long hard battle against an insurance company that went all the way to the Court of Appeals. She prevailed in the end. For an encore, she started her own law firm. And she is just getting started.

Nov 21, 2012

Kristina Wolf, Wake Forest Law School

Kristina Wolf has learned, at a young age, how to juggle priorities. She balances her class work with an extensive pro bono schedule, all while training for her second marathon. And did we mention she speaks three languages?

Nov 21, 2012

Kathleen Quinn DuBois, Crumley Roberts

Kathleen DuBois, a worker’s compensation attorney, is just 10 years out of law school and already accumulating awards and honors, including one of the top 100 Most Influential Filipina-American Women for 2011. She challenges herself outside the courtroom as a triathlete.

Nov 21, 2012

Kaitlin Shimansky, Elon University School of Law

Kaitlin Shimansky works hard to achieve a high academic performance at Elon University School of Law. She plans to become a public defender and believes the clients she will serve in the future deserve to have the best representation possible.

Nov 21, 2012

Joycelyn ‘Jo’ Eason, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Jo Eason was a member of the Nifty-Fifty first responders, a small group of U.S. Air Force intelligence officers deployed to Afghanistan in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. As a civilian, she spearheaded her firm’s pro bono initiative to help veterans secure disability benefits.

Nov 21, 2012

Jill Wilson, Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey and Leonard

Jill Wilson believes public education is a great equalizer, giving all children the opportunity to succeed. That’s why she has spent more than 30 years consulting for school boards and today serves as general counsel to three boards of education.

Nov 21, 2012

Janet Ward Black, Ward Black Law

Janet Ward Black is the president of one of the largest women-owned law firms in North Carolina and has served in more than 50 business and civic organizations throughout the course of her career, including as president of the North Carolina Bar Association. She works hard to pave the way for other young women to follow in her footsteps.

Nov 21, 2012

Gwynett Hilburn, District Court Judge

Gwynett Hilburn always thought her career would be in music. But when she took a different path, she discovered a love for helping children and families. She has been a District Court judge for more than 25 years and loves what she does. And yes, she is still singing.

Nov 21, 2012

Elizabeth Trosch, District Court Judge

As the oldest of four children in a single-parent household, District Court Judge Elizabeth Trosch started working and saving money when she was 12 so she could be the first in her family to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. She is a devoted community servant and gives back through her work presiding over juvenile court cases.