By the time she was one year old, Helen Baddour was already immersed in the world of law, attending the annual NCAJ Convention with her father, Phil Baddour, a former NCAJ president and longtime member.

In this episode of Voices of NCAJ, host Amber Nimocks welcomes Helen, a personal injury lawyer at Johnson & Groninger PLLC, and the immediate past chair of the Women’s Caucus. They discuss this year’s upcoming NCAJ Convention and how Helen found her passion advocating for people. Helen also shares her excitement about the NCAJ NEXT Leadership Program, which is tackling big subjects like diversity and inclusion, as well as advocating for young lawyers to learn more about what it means to lead. 

Helen credits the 2010 NCAJ Convention with inspiring her career trajectory. “I just remember listening so intently to the speeches,” she says. “And I had a real moment where I said to myself, I do want to be a lawyer. And not just any type of lawyer; I want to be a trial lawyer. It was right in front of me all along. These people, this career, the fight for justice, being the voice for people who have been wronged, all of that — I had been around it my whole life. And, obviously, I was drawn to the community. But I never really understood why, until I was sitting there that night and thinking about what I was going to do with my life and my career, and it just all came together for me.”

🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️

Name: Helen Baddour

What she does: As a personal injury lawyer at Johnson & Groninger PLLC, Helen represents people who have been wrongfully injured, with a special focus on the victims of bicycle crashes. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Helen is an active member of the NCAJ, belongs to the Women’s Caucus, and has been nominated for election to the NCAJ Board of Governors for a term beginning this year. 

Company: Johnson & Groninger PLLC

Words of wisdom: “[The NCAJ Convention] is a chance to be with all these people across the state that I care so much about. We're all in this together. And I think that's what makes the organization special is because we all want to see each other succeed.”

Connect: LinkedIn  

🗝️ Key Points 🗝️

Top takeaways from this episode 

• Finding community in law is good for practicing lawyers and the pursuit of justice. NCAJ’s Annual Convention is a wonderful place for lawyers to both celebrate one another and victories for justice. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with fellow attorneys, learn from colleagues, and form lifelong relationships. 
• This year’s convention is in a new location, and will feature plenty of awards, celebrations, and speakers. This is the organization’s first in-person convention since 2019 and its first time being held in Charlotte, NC. With keynote speakers on Friday, an awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon, and a gala on Saturday night, there will be plenty for attendees to do.
• Now in its first year, The NCAJ NEXT Leadership Program is giving young lawyers opportunities to work with mentors and state legislatures. Helen is part of NEXT’s first cohort, and she raves about the program’s diversity and inclusion initiatives and its mentoring program. 

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