Mecklenburg Bar Association/26th Judicial District Bar

The 2026 Hon. James B. McMillan Fellows convened with volunteers and mentoring attorneys at the annual Fellows Luncheon. This event introduces these talented law students to the Charlotte legal community and to one another. Attendees reflected on the legacy of Judge McMillan for whom the program is named and shared pearls of wisdom from practicing attorneys.

We're excited to see how these bright legal minds grow over the summer.

Thank you to Robinson Bradshaw for hosting this event for the fourth consecutive year and for your continued support of the program.

Starts Next Week!

Summer School CLE: A District Court Primer for Current & Future Trial Lawyers

Head back to the classroom this summer with this practical CLE series designed to prepare attorneys for the realities of District Court practice in Mecklenburg County. Each session will focus on a different area of the court.

Register for each individual session at MeckBar.org/calendar.

6/9: Criminal Court with Judge Rex Marvel and Judge Keith Smith

6/10: Juvenile Court with Judge Shante Burke-Hayer, Esq., Judge Aretha Blake, Judge Faith Fickling-Alvarez and Judge Elizabeth Trosch

6/11: Family Court with Judge Jena Culler, Judge Rhonda L. Patterson-Wrighten and Judge Christy Mann

6/16: Civil Court with Judge Jennifer L. Fleet

6/18: Practicing before the Clerk, presented by Judicial Hearing Officers from the Mecklenburg County Clerk's Office

6/30: Domestic Violence Court with Judge Alyssa Levine, Judge C. Renee Little and Retired Judge Ty Hands

7/1: Child Support Court with Judge Gary Henderson and Judge Samantha Mobley

On Saturday, May 30, the Mecklenburg Bar Association partnered with the North Carolina Bar Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, and Common Wealth Charlotte (CWCLT) to host the Charlotte Wills for Heroes Clinic at the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library.

Volunteer attorneys provided free estate planning documents including simple wills, healthcare powers of attorney, advance directives, and financial powers of attorney to first responders and local residents. The clinic helped participants take an important step toward protecting their families, planning for the future, and building generational wealth.

Thank you to all of the attorneys, volunteers, and community partners who made this meaningful day of service possible. Thank you also to Acorn Estate Solutions and Elon University School of Law for sponsoring the refreshments for our volunteers.

Following last week's reception, the Charlotte Legal Clerkship Program Class of 2026 gathered at Sixty Vines with CLCP Subcommittee Co-Chairs, Patrick Spaugh & Siri Swayampu, for an introductory luncheon. The clerks spent time getting to know each other while discussing what to expect as a summer associate and beyond. They exchanged schedules, phone numbers, and tips for surviving the full summer of work and events while enjoying all that Charlotte has to offer. Stay tuned for more recaps of their summer outings.

Register today for the YLD Annual Meeting!

Enjoy networking, drinks and food with fellow YLD members. Meet YLD leadership and share ideas for the upcoming year.

Vote on the YLD Council Slate for 2026-27 and help to honor the YLD Young Lawyer of the Year, JoLisa Drayton Rouse.

Thursday, June 18 at 6 p.m.
Noble Smoke, Freedom Drive, Charlotte
FREE for YLD members; $30/person for non-YLD members

Register by June 9 at 5 p.m. at MeckBar.org/YLD-AnnualMeeting-2026

2026-27 YLD Council Slate:

Michael Peretz - Chair (Already approved by MBA Board)
Maya Davis - Vice Chair
Charles Melcombe - Secretary/Treasurer

Community Service & Legal Assistance Committee:
Chair: McKenna Fono
Vice Chair: Amber Creft

Education Committee:
Chair: Clare Magee
Vice Chair: Maddy Strohm

Membership Committee:
Chair: Brian Daza
Vice Chair: Ke'Aria Morgan

Social Committee:
Chair: William Crotty
Vice Chair: Ana Delgado

We want to thank Lee Robertson of Robertson & Associates for once again sponsoring the Law & Society Gala at the Foundation Sponsorship level!

We want to thank Harrison Lord and Trey Lindley of Lord & Lindley, PLLC for their Foundation level sponsorship of the 2026 Law & Society Gala!

On May 19th, leadership from the MBA Business Law Section and Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses (CLIMB) presented "The Law and Your Small Business". This presentation at the South County Regional Library provided free guidance to local entrepreneurs looking to set their small business up for success. Presenters Casey Burke (CLIMB), Shawn Garrett (Garrett, PLLC) and Andrew Vining (Practus, LLP) offered practical tips to get local businesses started on the right foot and when a lawyer's advice might be needed. Thank you to our volunteers and our hosts at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for their continued support. Stay tuned for a recording of this presentation.

The MeckBar office is closed today, Monday, May 25, in honor of Memorial Day.

Last Saturday, MBA Immigration & Nationality Section members cheered on the Carolina Ascent FC as they took on the Sporting Jax (and won!) in their last match of the season. Thank you to those who came out to support women’s soccer in Charlotte!