The North Carolina State Bar is the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of law in North Carolina. This, along with the North Carolina State Bar Journal, is a place to:
- Learn more about the regulation of the legal profession in North Carolina
- Review proposed ethics opinions and proposed amendments to the rules and regulations of the State Bar
- Research the existing rules, regulations and ethics opinions of the State Bar
- Catch up on the latest news and information from the State Bar
State Bar Information for Non-Lawyers
Seeking Distinguished Service Award Nominations
The recently-created North Carolina State Bar Distinguished Service Award program honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar throughout the state who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession. Members of the Bar are encouraged to nominate colleagues who have demonstrated outstanding service to the profession. The nomination form is available here. Please direct questions to Carmen Hoyme Bannon at the State Bar office in Raleigh, (919) 828-4620.
FDIC Insurance and Your Trust Account
Read an update of FDIC Action as of September 1, 2009 by Sofia Ali-Khan.
Read November 21, 2008 Press Release RE: FDIC Coverage of IOLTA Accounts. Note: Some material in this press release supersedes information in the trust accounting article written by Bruno DeMolli (below). Read Bruno's trust accounting article which will answer your frequently asked questions.
Read information about FDIC insurance coverage on the FDIC's website.
Responsibilities when Sponsoring Pro Hac Vice Lawyer
G.S. 84-4.1 governs the limited practice of out-of-state lawyers (pro hac vice admission).
If you are the North Carolina lawyer sponsoring an out-of-state lawyer seeking admission pro hac vice, you must file a registration statement with the NC State Bar within 30 days of the entry of the order granting PHV admission. Additionally, as required on the registration statement, you must notify the NC State Bar upon conclusion of the case.
The registration form and other important information related to pro hac vice admission can be found on the FAQ page.
Supreme Court Issues Order to Establish Mandatory IOLTA
On October 11, 2007, the North Carolina Supreme Court ordered the North Carolina State Bar to implement a comprehensive (mandatory) IOLTA program for lawyers in North Carolina, effective January 1, 2008.
What this order means is that all active members of the North Carolina State Bar who maintain general client trust accounts in North Carolina must ensure that all of their general client trust accounts are established as interest-bearing IOLTA accounts. Lawyers must be in compliance with this requirement no later than June 30, 2008. Click here to learn how to comply with this requirement.
State Bar v. Michael Nifong
- Final Disciplinary Order
- Statement on Disciplinary Action against Michael Nifong
- Chairman Williamson's Concluding Remarks at Nifong Hearing
Getting Started
Not sure where to find the information you need? Start with our State Bar Staff Contacts page.
News and Information