.0105 Appointment of Members; When; Removal

(a) Appointment. The council shall appoint the members of the board, provided, however, after the appointment of the initial members of the board, each paralegal member appointed for an initial term shall be selected by the council from two nominees determined by a vote by mail or online of all active certified paralegals in an election conducted by the board.

(b) Procedure for Nomination of Candidates for Paralegal Members. 

(1) Composition of Nominating Committee. At least 60 days prior to a meeting of the council at which one or more paralegal members of the board are subject to appointment for a full three-year term, the board shall appoint a nominating committee comprised of seven certified paralegals as selected by the board. The nominating committee should consist of active certified paralegals, including but not limited to representatives from paralegal and legal assistant associations, organizations, or divisions of legal organizations, as well as independent paralegals (not employed by a law firm, government entity, or legal department).

(2) Selection of Candidates. The nominating committee shall meet within 30 days of its appointment to select at least two but no more than five certified paralegals as candidates for each paralegal member vacancy on the board for inclusion on the ballot to be sent to all active certified paralegals.

(3) Vote of Certified Paralegals. At least 30 days prior to the meeting of the council at which a paralegal member appointment to the board will be made, a vote on the list of candidates provided by the nominating committee shall be conducted of all active certified paralegals in a manner approved by the board. Notice of the vote shall be sent to all active certified paralegals using contact information on file with the North Carolina State Bar, shall contain instructions on how to participate in the vote, and shall state how many paralegal member positions on the board are subject to appointment and the names of the candidates selected by the nominating committee for each such position. The board shall maintain appropriate records respecting how many ballots or notices are sent to prospective voters in each election as well as how many ballots are returned. Votes cast or received after the deadline stated in the notice will not be counted. The names of the two candidates receiving the most votes for each open paralegal member position shall be the nominees submitted to the council.

(c) Time of Appointment. The first members of the board shall be appointed as of the quarterly meeting of the council following the creation of the board. Thereafter, members shall be appointed annually at the quarterly meeting of the council occurring on the anniversary of the appointment of the initial board.

(d) Vacancies. Vacancies occurring by reason of death, resignation, or removal shall be filled by appointment of the council, subject to the requirements of Rule .0105(a)1, at the next quarterly meeting following the event giving rise to the vacancy, and the person so appointed shall serve for the balance of the vacated term.

(e) Removal. Any member of the board may be removed at any time by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the council in session at a regularly called meeting.

History Note: Statutory Authority G.S. 84-23

Adopted by the Supreme Court October 6, 2004

Amendments Approved by the Supreme Court: March 8, 2007; March 11, 2010; August 25, 2011; March 6, 2014; November 2, 2022