Apply Now For 2017 Leadership Academy

2017 NCBA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS

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 Background

 Lawyers are called to be leaders – by the best traditions of the legal profession, by standards of professional responsibility, and by the expectations of the communities in which they work and live. And yet, until recently, there has been little attention given to leadership training for lawyers as they enter the profession and begin to develop the skills necessary for their success.

In an effort to prepare young lawyers for this calling, the NCBA is providing a leadership training program in cooperation with Level Up Leadership. The North Carolina Bar Association Leadership Academy provides leadership training to approximately 16 young lawyers each year, which began with the inaugural class in 2011.

Mission

The mission of the Leadership Academy is to help young lawyers become effective leaders in their communities, including the legal profession, their firms, legal departments or other workplaces, other organizations with which they are associated, their local, state, national or even international communities, and any other environments where lawyers regularly have calls or opportunities for leadership.

General Program Description

The Leadership Academy provides an intensely interactive and participatory leadership training program. The 16-lawyer class size is designed to facilitate interaction and an intimate learning environment. Unlike some other bar-sponsored leadership programs, this program will not emphasize substantive information about the profession or the justice system. Instead, the goals of  the program are to help young lawyers to:

  • Increase personal self-awareness, including strengths and areas for development;
  • Develop and refine leadership skills, including inspiring confidence, creating a clear and compelling vision, building trust, communicating effectively, and enhancing team performance;
  • Improve their ability to influence others; and
  • Use the leadership skills they learn in order to “make a difference.”

It is expected that graduates of the program not only will have become better leaders, but also will have become better lawyers.

Eligibility for Participation

To be eligible to participate in the 2017 Leadership Academy, you must:

  • Be a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division  (Note:  All NCBA members age 36 or under, or in practice for less than three years, are automatically YLD members);
  • Have been admitted to the practice of law for not less than two nor more than 10 years;
  • Provide a letter of recommendation from another member of the Bar who knows you well and can vouch for your aptitude and potential for leadership (such as a mentor, supervisor, partner, coworker, colleague, friend, etc.);
  • Commit to attend ALL sessions (see schedule below), and obtain the commitment of your employer, if any, to support your participation and attendance (graduation from the program will require attendance at ALL sessions, subject to no more than one excused absence for unanticipated circumstances); and
  • Submit your application with all accompanying documents to the NCBA no later than January 13, 2017.

Selection Process

Participants will be selected from the eligible applicants, taking into account degree of interest and commitment, aptitude for leadership, and diversity of the class (including diversity in geography, practice environments, personal backgrounds, and experience). Because of the small class size and the anticipated large volume of applications, many well-qualified applicants will not be selected for a given class, but it is hoped that many of them will reapply for subsequent classes in future years. Selection of the 2017 class is expected to be completed by the end of January 2017.

Dates, Times and Locations

The course of training will be in five sessions as follows, with some activities between sessions that will not involve travel or specific scheduling commitments (times are subject to change):

 

March 3-4

9:00 a.m. on Friday through 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, at the Bar Center in Cary (including meals, overnight accommodations and participation in 4All Statewide Service Day as part of the Friday session)

 

April 6

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bar Center

 

May 5

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bar Center

 

June 1

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (various locations in downtown Raleigh)

 

June 22-25

NCBA Annual Meeting in Asheville, NC (Friday night accommodations to be provided)

President’s Luncheon on Friday at 12:30 pm

Recognition Ceremony on Saturday morning during the General Session

 

Tuition and Expenses

Tuition is $680, which is payable prior to the first session and is nonrefundable. Note that the tuition covers only a small portion of the costs of the program; tuition for similar programs typically costs significantly more. Financial aid up to 50% will be available to young lawyers practicing in the legal aid, nonprofit or public sectors upon appropriate documentation showing that the lawyer otherwise would be unable to participate.

Tuition includes all program materials, meals during program sessions, dinner and overnight accommodations after the first session, and overnight accommodations for the NCBA Annual Meeting. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from sessions and any meals and overnight accommodations other than those specifically covered.

Application Deadline

January 13, 2017. Application forms can be downloaded from the NCBA website, and may be submitted by email, mail, overnight courier or in person, so long as they and accompanying materials are actually RECEIVED by the deadline.

Further Information

For further information, please contact Kim Vaughan, executive assistant, ([email protected], phone 919-677-0561 or 1-800-662-7407). You may also find further information about the Leadership Academy on the NCBA website at www.ncbar.org.