The Western District of North Carolina (WDNC) Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) held its first CLE event at the Biltmore Park Hilton in Asheville, North Carolina on April 23, 2010.

Carleton Metcalf, President of the WDNC Chapter of the FBA, presided at the half-day program which included a judicial panel and segments on substantive and procedural aspects of federal civil practice in the Western District. Approximately 90 people attended the event, including attorneys from North and South Carolina, law clerks, and a distinguished group of judges. Persons interested in learning more about the District’s Chapter of the FBA are encouraged to visit the website at http://fedbar.org/WDNC.html

Carleton Metcalf is a principal with the firm. He has chaired the firm’s Litigation Practice Group since 2007.

Recognizing People Who Give Back to Our Community

On Friday, March 5, 2010, North Carolinians had the opportunity to call and talk, by phone, to a North Carolina lawyer at no charge. Attorneys from Van Winkle’s business group, including Allan Tarleton, Larry Harris, Anna Mills, Jeff Dunlop and Travis Smuckler, participated in 4All at the WLOS station in Asheville. Attorneys were available from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. To get more information, please contact the NC Bar Association at (800) 662-7407 or call WLOS at (828) 684-1340.

Click here to view Allan Tarleton’s interview with WLOS.

On Tuesday, March 16, Phil Smith was awarded Pisgah Legal Services’ Roy W. Davis, Jr. Award. The following is a reprint of the announcement in the event booklet from the evening, “Jazz for Justice.”

Phil embodies the professional ideal of service by attorneys to the community, particularly the responsibility of attorneys to serve people who cannot afford legal assistance. Phil has repeatedly donated his srvices to lead local Bar efforts to fulfill the promise of equal justice under law. Access to legal assistance underpins the goal of justice in our country.

In 1998, PLS was threatened by an effort to merge it as a local non-proft into a statewide legal aid program. PLS would have lost its local Board of Directors and local leadership of the program. Phil Smith worked zealously and successfully to represent PLS without compensation in a complex set of issues to preserve PLS as a local and independent non-profit agency.

A few years later, Phil joined the Pisgah Legal Services Board of Directors. He served two three-year terms, including two years as Vice President and two years as President. In this period and under Phil’s leadership, PLS programs expanded steadily, as did volunteer attorney participation in those programs.

While President, PLS was challeneged again by external forces, this time by a lawsuit in federal court by the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D..C. seeking to take the PLS office and parking lot on Montford Avenue in Asheville. A loss of this resource would have greatly impeded PLS. Phil led another successful and organized effort of local attorneys. Under his leadership, the lawsuit was favorably resolved, enabling PLS to retain ownership of its real estate.

Once that issue was resolved, Phil served with a special group of PLS leaders to find and finance large office space so that PLS can double the number of people it serves annually. This project involved many, many meetings and considerable vision, in addition to generous financial contributions.

As president of the Van Winkle Law Firm, Phil continues his long-standing support for the mission of PLS. The firm’s support for PLS has been crucial to PLS’ growth and stability over the years. Previous recipients of the Roy W. Davis, Jr. award are Roy Davis, Jr., Walter Allen, Larry McDevitt and Ward Hendon.