Save the Date!

Sunday, May 18

Bring your family (kids too!) for an afternoon of

food, fun, and BASEBALL!!!

Greensboro Grasshoppers vs. Rome Emperors

Lawyers often limit the kinds of matters that they handle in order to acquire expertise in a specific field of law. Board certification provides formal recognition of that concentration of knowledge and experience.

The minimum standards for certification include the following five key requirements:

1. Licensed in NC and in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar.
2. Substantial involvement in the practice area during the five calendar years prior to the year of application.
3. Completion of CLE credit hours in the practice area during the three calendar years prior to the year of application.
4. Satisfactory showing of qualification in the specialty area through peer review.
5. Passage of practice area specific examination modules, offered in October.

Learn more about Program Benefits HERE.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS from March 1 – May 1, 2025.
Apply in the State Bar Members Portal. 

Application fee: $250 (early application discount of $50 available through April 1).

For more information, please contact Sheila Saucier at ssaucier@ncbar.gov or Katie Seruset at kseruset@ncbar.gov, or call 919-828-4620.

To apply in a future year, file a Declaration of Intent.

Since 2022, the Greensboro Bar Association has awarded two scholarships for $2,500.00 each to current Elon Law students.  Students were invited to apply for consideration as one of the student scholarship recipients.

We are pleased to announce and recognize this year’s scholarship recipients.  Our recipients demonstrated a dedication to the Guilford County community and the value they place on their academic excellence. 

Frederick Hulse

Frederick Hulse

Frederick Hulse is a second-year law student at Elon University School of Law. He was born in the UK to two amazing English parents, and has had the privilege of living in New York, North Carolina, the UK, and the Netherlands. Moving so often has given him a unique perspective on different cultures and ways of life, which he carries into his legal studies and professional aspirations.

He has a strong passion for serving his community and has dedicated significant time to pro bono efforts. As the Community Service Chair of the Pro Bono Board, Treasurer of both the Innocence Project and People Not Property Board, and an active member of Phi Alpha Delta, he takes pride in contributing to meaningful causes. With over 100 hours of approved pro bono work, he plans to continue using his legal education to make a difference.

Real estate law has become a major interest of his, and he has gained valuable experience working at various firms in Greensboro. However, as a 2L, he remains open to exploring new areas of law and broadening his expertise. Law school is undoubtedly challenging, but he has fallen in love with the profession and is excited to see where this journey takes him.

Outside of law, he is a devoted Liverpool FC fan and a complete soccer nerd. He also loves spending time with his family and walking their two ancient Yorkies alongside their massive Irish Wolfhound.

With a passion for law, a commitment to service, and a global perspective, he looks forward to building a career where he can make a meaningful impact.

Tyler Sesker

Tyler Sesker

Tyler Sesker is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She attended Hollins University where she received her B.A., cum laude, in Gender and Women’s Studies. Her honors thesis topic focused on the intersections of race, class, gender and policy, giving her departmental honors. Tyler then earned
a Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia in 2024.

Prior to attending law school, Tyler worked in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Public Defenders Office as a Mitigation and Investigation Fellow where she researched and assisted with preparation of mitigation reports for sentencing and trials. 

At Elon Law, Tyler is continuing her academic pursuits to further shape her commitment to addressing systemic inequalities and uplifting marginalized communities. In addition to her schoolwork, she is deeply involved in several impactful organizations, including the Black Law Student Association. She also volunteers her time with the Greensboro Teen Court Program, the Center for Actual Innocence Project at Elon, as well as the Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Expungement Clinic.

This summer, Tyler will continue her civil rights work as an intern with the ACLU of Alabama, where she will assist in addressing pressing legal issues across the South, from criminal justice reform to voting rights. 

Drawing on her interdisciplinary background in gender studies, public policy, and law, Tyler is committed to a career that combines litigation, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Her long-term goal is to use her legal education to drive meaningful reform in the criminal justice system and advocate for the civil rights of historically underserved populations. 

Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Tyler enjoys reading and traveling, and is passionate about volleyball and women’s basketball. She believes in maintaining balance through yoga and staying active, all while staying dedicated to her mission of promoting justice and equity. 

Camille Stell is President and CEO of Lawyers Mutual Consulting & Services. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com 

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong in your legal career, despite your achievements? Do you worry that others will “find out” you aren’t as competent as they believe? If so, you may be experiencing imposter syndrome—a common yet challenging mindset that affects many young professionals, particularly in high-pressure fields like law.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome (IS) refers to a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a “fraud.” First identified by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, IS often affects high-achievers who struggle to internalize their success. 

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez invoked the term in a 2019 Ebony magazine interview where she described her initial feelings after being sworn in and her struggle to acclimate herself to her new position. “Every day. It still doesn’t feel real. When you come from a poor or working class background, if you’re a woman, if you’re a person of color, if you have an immigrant story, you’re a first generation, you’re always haunted by imposter’s syndrome, like this idea that you got here by accident.”

The five common types of imposter syndrome include:

1. The Perfectionist – Feels like they must always meet impossibly high standards.
2. The Expert – Believes they need to know everything before considering themselves competent.
3. The Natural Genius – Struggles when success doesn’t come effortlessly.
4. The Soloist – Hesitant to ask for help, thinking they must accomplish everything alone.
5. The Superhuman – Overworks to prove their worth.

Who Does It Affect?

While anyone can experience imposter syndrome, it is particularly prevalent among young professionals, including lawyers, with studies indicating that approximately 74% of lawyers experience it, and the rate rises to 83% among junior lawyers. Specific groups—such as women, ethnic minorities, lawyers with disabilities, and younger lawyers—report even lower mental well-being scores, suggesting these groups face unique and additional stressors that exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

Competitive law firms and high expectations from colleagues and clients can also exacerbate self-doubt.

Additional Societal and Professional Pressures

Underrepresentation: Women and minorities often find themselves underrepresented in senior legal positions. The 2021 ABA Report of Diversity in U.S. Law Firms shows law firm leaders are still mostly white and male. White attorneys make up 81% – 93% of equity partners, 70% – 90% of non-equity partners, and 70% – 79% of associates.

Of all law firm partners, 4% were women of color, with Black and Latinx women each representing less than 1% of all partners in U.S. law firms. This underrepresentation can lead to feelings of isolation and heightened self-doubt. 

Stereotype Threat: Female attorneys often confront the “stereotype threat,” worrying about conforming to societal expectations and stereotypes associated with their identity. This burden can amplify feelings of imposter syndrome.

Work-Life Balance: The demanding nature of the legal profession can clash with personal responsibilities, leading to feelings of inadequacy among female attorneys as they strive to balance these competing demands.

Implicit Bias and Exceptionalism: Implicit biases within the legal profession can lead to marginalized groups feeling the need to constantly prove their worth, fostering an environment conducive to imposter syndrome.

These factors contribute to a heightened prevalence of imposter syndrome among women and minorities in the legal field, underscoring the need for targeted support and systemic change to address these challenges.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Common signs of imposter syndrome include:

• Persistent self-doubt and fear of failure
• Attributing success to luck rather than skill
• Overpreparing or overworking to “prove” oneself
• Avoiding challenges due to fear of being exposed as incompetent
• Anxiety, stress, and burnout

Imposter Syndrome in the Legal Profession

The legal industry is notorious for its high stakes and intense scrutiny. Young attorneys often compare themselves to seasoned professionals, leading to feelings of inadequacy. Many law firms foster a culture where asking for help may feel like a weakness, reinforcing the soloist mindset. Additionally, lawyers who transition from law school to practice may struggle with the shift from academic success to real-world legal challenges.

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, admitted to her own feelings of inadequacy. Growing up in the Bronx, she admitted to often not fitting in and feeling like a fraud, and certainly never as a candidate for an esteemed school such as Princeton University. In a speech reported in a New York Times article, she said, “I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of the worlds I inhabit. I am always looking over my shoulder wondering if I measure up.” 

Years later, in a 2013 Wall Street Journal article, she says, “I’m not a classic imposter-syndrome person because I have that initial insecurity but I’m capable of stepping outside it and proving to myself it’s wrong.”

Strategies to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

If you recognize these feelings in yourself, there are strategies to manage and overcome imposter syndrome:

1. Acknowledge and Normalize It – Recognizing that IS is common, even among experienced lawyers, can help normalize the feelings and reduce their power over you.
2. Reframe Negative Thoughts – Instead of thinking, “I don’t deserve this position,” reframe it as, “I worked hard and earned this opportunity.”
3. Seek Mentorship and Support – Talking with mentors and peers can provide reassurance that you are not alone in these feelings.
4. – View challenges as learning opportunities rather than as threats to your competence.
5. Celebrate Your Achievements – Keep a record of positive feedback and accomplishments to remind yourself of your progress.
6. Practice Self-Compassion – Accept that you don’t have to know everything immediately; learning is part of professional growth.
7. Consider Professional Guidance – Therapy, coaching, or professional development programs can provide tools to combat imposter syndrome.

Louis Di Filippo
Ward Black Law
Endorser: Gabriel Snyder