‘Twas the All-Nighter Before Christmas
by Will Graebe

‘Twas the night before Christmas, the office was dead

But visions of billables danced in my head;

My time sheets had all been submitted with care,

In hopes that a bonus soon would appear;

When Privilege Doesn’t Cover Plus-Ones

by Caroline P. Mackie and Clare Magee, Poyner Spruill LLP

We’ve all had clients who want their spouses or children involved in discussions about their legal matters. Often, this is because the family member helps manage finances, oversees a business, or simply “knows the details better.” While this impulse is understandable, the well-meaning inclusion of a client’s spouse or child in an attorney-client conversation can have unintended consequences.

The Importance of Securing a Probate Bond in Estate Administration

by Kim Edgar, Vice President – Surety Underwriting, The Bar Plan

In the administration of a decedent’s estate, few safeguards are as critical – yet sometimes underestimated – as the probate bond. Whether referred to as an executor’s bond, administrator’s bond, or fiduciary bond, this instrument functions as both a legal requirement and a practical protection mechanism. For attorneys advising fiduciaries or beneficiaries, understanding the role and importance of probate bonds is essential to ensuring sound estate administration and mitigating liability risks.

Navigating the eCourts Era: What Every Paralegal Should Know

by Camille Stell

The dawn of the fully digital courthouse in North Carolina is no longer on the horizon, it’s here. On October 13, 2025, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) announced that all 100 counties in the state had gone live on the ecourts platform, making North Carolina the first U.S. state to convert its entire trial-court system to the cloud.

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