High Point Law’s Jurist-In-Residence, Bob Edmunds, was named “Attorney of the Month” in the January edition of Attorney At Law Magazine.
Justice Edmunds, a former Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court, currently teaches at High Point Law. He also serves as President of the Appellate Judges Education Institute (AJEI) at the National Judicial College, which provides continuing judicial education to US appellate judges and justices.
In the article entitled “Teach Your 1Ls Well,” Justice Edmunds provides his wisdom on effective legal analysis, the Golden Rule, and High Point Law’s real-world perspective.
To the first point, Justice Edmunds provides frank but caring advice to help equip students for the harsh reality that facts speak louder than feelings in the courtroom. “You will be graded on how well you defend your corner,” he exhorts, “not how you feel about the case.”
This advice that a new attorney would rather not learn the hard way pairs well with High Point Law’s real-world perspective. It’s a school where experiential learning is just as important as academic theory.
Innovations such as Professional Identify Formation courses and having 80 distinguished faculty and lawyers on the extended faculty, according to Justice Edmunds, “show students that a law degree opens many career doors beyond those students traditionally consider, such as joining a firm or opening their own office.”
In all these things, Justice Edmund’s emphasizes to first-year students the importance of the Golden Rule. “To thrive as a lawyer, the students need to treat everyone in the legal system with consideration and respect,” Justice Edmunds shared.
He then continued, “Opposing attorneys are not evil. Clerks can save you from your own mistakes. Courthouse janitors are working men and women. Everyone watches the lawyers and knows who the jerks are. And who the good ones are.”
Justice Edmunds practices what he preaches. He is a recent recipient of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award, which “honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar throughout the state who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession.”
High Point Law is excited to see such a great jurist, professor, and man—our very own Justice Edmunds—featured in such a widely circulated magazine. According to the article’s author, the story was “e-blasted to the 6,000 subscribers and 200 in-house attorneys.” That’s in addition to the hundreds of hard copies that are mailed out to firms across the state.
Founding Dean and Professor of Law, former Chief Justice Mark Martin—who was also featured in Attorney At Law not too long ago—offered the following about his former judicial colleague and long-time friend:
Justice Edmunds is one of the finest men I know. It warms my heart to see his career accomplishments and teaching prowess recognized by lawyers across the state.