Administrative Law Honors Nichols

M. Jackson Nichols of Nichols, Choi & Lee, PLLC in Raleigh is the second recipient of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Administrative Law Award for Excellence. The award was presented on Friday, April 20, during the Administrative Law Section Annual Meeting and CLE at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary.

Law partner Anna Baird Choi nominated Nichols for the award, which was presented by Janet Thoren, section chair.

“Administrative law practice is such that your opposing counsel today, may be your co-counsel next month, and on an amicus brief the following month,” Nichols said. “We are blessed with professionalism and cordiality. Therefore, it is all the more of an honor to receive an award from my peers in our unique area of practice.

“Plus, having the award coming from a section of the Bar Association that I helped establish only deepens my longtime appreciation of our professional association. Of course, I also appreciate the support (and I suspect nominating role) of my partners in this award.”

In addition to being a founding member of the Administrative Law Section, Nichols served as section chair in 1994-95.

A native of Quantico, Va., Jack Nichols grew up in Charlotte and has lived in Raleigh since 1978. He is a graduate of Davidson College (B.S., 1973), Duke University (M.A. Public Policy, 1977) and Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D., 1977). He served as Deputy Legislative Liaison for Gov. Hunt from 1983-85, and worked in state government from 1978-85 as legal counsel to the Secretaries of Administration and Human Resources.

Throughout most of his career, Nichols has represented state occupational licensing boards. He presently represents 10 such boards and has also represented clients before the N.C. Utilities Commission, the N.C. Banking Commission, the N.C. Industrial Commission and the State Personnel Commission.

A former member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners (1990-94), Nichols has taught administrative law and constitutional law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell Law School.

The Administrative Law Award for Excellence is designed to honor an attorney who:

• has practiced administrative or regulatory law for at least ten years and who has continuous experience in this practice;
• is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Administrative Law Section;
• has an exemplary record and reputation in the legal community and follows the highest ethical standards; and
• has an exemplary record of active participation in the efforts to improve the administrative and regulatory process for regulators, the regulated public, the citizens of North Carolina and in the interests of justice.

Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison Jr. was the initial recipient of the award last year.