Episodes

“I think you can fight very hard and still get along.” In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during the NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of our 60th anniversary celebration, host Anna Kalarites speaks with Don Beskind about his illustrious career as a trial lawyer, educator, and mediator in North Carolina. Don is a professor at Duke University School of Law and Shareholder at Donald H. Beskind, P.A.. A longtime member and supporter of NCAJ, Don discusses the changes he’s seen in the legal field...

“Don't let anybody kid you. In the practice of law, luck has a lot to do with it.” In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during the NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of our 60th anniversary celebration, host Philip Miller engages David Kirby in a candid discussion. David is a Founding Partner at Edwards Kirby, LLP who is consistently recognized as one of the most outstanding and accomplished trial lawyers in the United States. David reflects on his legal career, highlighting the role of luck and...

It takes a certain type of attorney to be able to critique judges’ rulings. But to be able to do it at a yearly convention where lawyers and those judges are present, and do it well enough that judges are practically disappointed when they aren’t included…that’s next level. In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during the NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of our 60th anniversary celebration, host Anna Pishko Kalarites engages in a thought-provoking discussion with her father David Pishko, NCAJ Pa...

In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during the NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of its 60th anniversary celebration, host John McCabe interviews Doug Abrams, NCAJ Past President and a partner in the firm of Abrams & Abrams, P.A. in Raleigh, North Carolina. Doug highlights NCAJ's commitment to protecting the ‘ordinary people’ and implementing a fair system. We learn of Doug’s competitive spirit and love for his work, driven by a genuine concern for his clients' well-being. Doug recounts stories...

In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during the NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of its 60th anniversary celebration, host Vernon Sumwalt interviews Janet Ward Black, NCAJ Past President of NCAJ and Principal Owner of Ward Black Law. Janet Ward shares her journey to becoming a lawyer, explains how she overcame the challenges of being a female trial lawyer, and encourages others to pursue their goals even if they are afraid. She also emphasizes the importance of getting out of one's comfort zone...

In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during the NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of its 60th anniversary celebration, host Isaac Thorp interviews Wade Byrd, attorney and founder of the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd, P.A. Wade joined NCAJ, or what the older generation still affectionately calls The Academy, after realizing he needed to put more effort into the professional side of his life. As an active community member in Fayetteville with a leadership role at church, chairman of the board at his...

Valerie Johnson can pinpoint the day that her life changed forever. When she was in junior high, the library was her second home. That is, until the day the librarian called her a racial slur. As she was leaving the library, Valerie saw a crowd of people outside the courthouse across the street. She followed them inside, where she watched a Black man stand trial for stealing a can of beans. The injustice and mistreatment she experienced and witnessed that day drove Valerie to pursue a job in law...

A lot has changed since Margaret “Peggy” Abrams first joined the North Carolina Advocates for Justice over four decades ago — especially when it comes to being a woman trial lawyer. “When I was a young female lawyer in this organization, and just practicing in general, there were so many fewer,” says Peggy. “And it was important to me to be seen not as a woman lawyer, but just as a lawyer.” Back then, she and many other women would have opposed the idea of a separate women’s sub-organization w...

In this NCAJ Legends interview, recorded during NCAJ Convention 2022 as part of its 60th anniversary celebration, host Helen Baddour interviews her father, Philip A. Baddour, Jr. Phil joined NCAJ around 1970 and has attended 31 NCAJ conventions over his career. “NCAJ meant, to me, professional development,” said Phil. “First and foremost, the reason I became a member was to learn our craft. It's just a wonderful group of people who are willing to share what they know with other people who are d...

Following a record-breakingly expensive primary season, North Carolina can expect big political races this fall. With much of the focus falling on the state Supreme Court and congressional races, political advisors have their work cut out for them possibly now more than ever. In this episode of Voices of NCAJ, host Amber Nimocks welcomes Morgan Jackson, co-founder of Nexus Strategies, and Paul Shumaker, founder and president of Capitol Communications, to talk about North Carolina politics. The...

By the time she was one year old, Helen Baddour was already immersed in the world of law, attending the annual NCAJ Convention with her father, Phil Baddour, a former NCAJ president and longtime member. In this episode of Voices of NCAJ, host Amber Nimocks welcomes Helen, a personal injury lawyer at Johnson & Groninger PLLC, and the immediate past chair of the Women’s Caucus. They discuss this year’s upcoming NCAJ Convention and how Helen found her passion advocating for people. Helen also shar...

NCAJ Executive Director Kim Crouch says there are three words that capture the spirit of women in law today: confidence, competence and resilience. In this episode, recorded during the Fourth Annual NCAJ Women's Caucus Retreat, host Amber Nimocks leads a powerful discussion about the past, present, and hopeful future for women attorneys. Her guests, Judge Linda McGee and Kim Crouch, have both held leadership roles for NCAJ. Kim says the biggest challenges now facing women attorneys are work-li...

In the first season of Voices of NCAJ, join host Amber Nimocks as she spotlights the people who make NCAJ great. Starting with NCAJ President and Principal Attorney of the Law Offices of John McCabe, P.A., John McCabe. Becoming a lawyer was something John has wanted since he was just eight years old. However, his journey to where he is today didn’t start as a slam dunk. His initial introduction to the legal profession as a defense attorney didn’t resonate. It wasn’t until John began working as ...

Since the beginning, members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice have been raising their voices. Speaking out on behalf of those who go unheard, joining their voices to oppose injustice and support fair treatment for everyone under the law. With this podcast, Voices of NCAJ, we’ll listen to those members – lawyers and legal professionals – who founded the organization, whose dedication and energy kept it going and guided it through growth, change and challenges. Each conversation will i...