North Carolina Professionalism for New Attorneys: Part 1

is a founding partner of Silva, Kiernan & Associates, PLLC, where he concentrates the majority of his practice on criminal defense, DWI and bankruptcy matters. Prior to joining Matthew Silva in private practice, Mr. Kiernan had been a successful prosecutor in North Carolina's Fourth Prosecutorial District, which is comprised of Onslow, Jones, Sampson and Duplin counties. He earned his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from North Carolina State University (NCSU) and his J.D. degree from Indiana University School of Law. While he completed his studies at NCSU, Mr. Kiernan worked as a Teaching Assistant in Computer Ethics and continued to work full-time as a software developer at CISYS LifeSciences, Inc., where he spent most of his time enhancing software specifically designed for the monitoring of the processes and outcomes of Diabetes care. While at Indiana University, Mr. Kiernan focused his studies on the legal aspects of technology and science, criminal law and trial advocacy. He participated in Moot Court competitions at IU and at Columbia University. Mr. Kiernan was also a member of the Trial Team, where part of his responsibilities were to assist in educating and mentoring newer students in the area of trial advocacy. He excelled in legal research and writing and ultimately earned the coveted "A*" (highest grade in class) in his Pre Trial Litigation course, which focused on thorough preparation, knowledge of the law and procedure, and negotiations with adverse parties. Mr. Kiernan has served as the State Bar Councilor for the Fifth District since 2019; is a local member of the attorney network for the United States Concealed Carry Association (U.S.C.C.A.); is a present member of the National College for DUI Defense; has successfully completed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognized DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST); has successfully completed NHTSA recognized Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE); has successfully completed NHTSA and International Association of Chiefs of Police recognized the DWI Detection and SFST Instructor Development Course, which now allows him to serve as an instructor for the NHTSA recognized DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing course; has twice been a guest lecturer at Campbell University's Norman A. Wiggins School of Law; has served as the President of the Sampson County Bar for 2014 and 2015; and was invited to be a presiding judge at the American Mock Trial Association's Regional Tournament at Furman University in 2015.

is a deputy county attorney with Guilford County, North Carolina. He is licensed in both Tennessee and North Carolina. Mr. Hicks is admitted to practice in the federal district courts of the Middle District of North Carolina and Tennessee, and the federal appellate courts of the fourth and sixth circuits. Over the course of his career, he has practiced family/divorce law, probate, and civil litigation, as well as elder law, juvenile law, and local government law. Mr. Hicks is a member of the Greensboro, District 24 (NC), Putnam County (TN), Tennessee, North Carolina, and American bar associations. He serves as a member of the board of directors, chair of the community involvement committee, and the fellows committee chairman for the Greensboro Bar Association. Mr. Hicks is currently the immediate past president of the North Carolina DSS Attorney's Association. He is past president of the Putnam County Bar Association and the Upper Cumberland Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Hicks is also the past vice president of the Tennessee Bar Association-Young Lawyers Division. With the North Carolina State Bar Association, he serves on the BarCARES Board of Directors, Council for the Local Government and Public Sector Section, and Council for the Juvenile Justice and Children's Rights Council. Mr. Hicks is a frequent speaker at legal education seminars having presented over eighty continuing legal education presentations. He is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity and chief legal advisor for the fraternity. Mr. Hicks is a master member and vice president of the Guilford Chapter, American Inn of Courts and chair for the Program Review Committee, American Inn of Courts. He earned his B.A. degree from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and his J.D. degree from Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Outside of the profession, Mr. Hicks is involved in the Masonic fraternity, United Methodist Church, and Scouting America (Boy Scouts). He is married to Dr. Megan Henley Hicks and they have two children, John Howard Hicks, II ("Jack") and Elizabeth Jane Hicks ("Libby").

is an attorney with Walker Allen. Her practice is primarily in general civil litigation, including automobile accident, premises liability and medical malpractice defense. Prior to joining Walker Allen, Ms. Johnson served as an assistant district attorney, where she quickly gained the nickname "Bull Dog" for her tenacious trial practice. She earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Virginia Commonwealth University and her J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.