NCSB Journal Spring 2026

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Excellence and Accountability B Y K A T H E R I N E F R Y E

“The legal profession is a learned profes sion—one that exists not merely for itself, but for the public it serves.” Serving as president of the North Carolina State Bar affords me a vantage point few of us experience fully while im mersed in day-to-day prac tice. From this perspective, I have the privilege—and re sponsibility—of seeing our profession at both its highest and most challenging mo ments. As we move through the early months of 2026, I find myself reflecting on the full spectrum of who we are as lawyers: the very best of us, and the difficult realities we must confront to maintain the public’s trust. Few moments this year have been as af firming as recognizing the recipients of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award. These lawyers embody what our pro fession aspires to be. Their service reflects sustained commitment, quiet leadership, and a deep understanding that professionalism is not a slogan but a daily practice. In honoring them, we celebrate more than individual ac complishment—we hold up exemplars of a profession grounded in integrity, the ethical obligation to give back to the community, and a desire to help people. What strikes me most about these hon orees is not simply what they have done, but how they have done it. Their careers remind us that professionalism shows up in the unglamorous moments: returning the diffi cult call, mentoring without expectation of credit, missing family moments to make sure the needs of clients are met, placing fairness above expediency, and remember ing that our words and actions shape public

confidence in the legal system. In a time when cynicism toward institutions can feel pervasive, these lawyers demonstrate that individual conduct still matters, and matters profoundly. At the same time, my role as president

The same profession that produces extraor dinary service and leadership must also be willing to examine its shortcomings. Professionalism is not defined solely by excellence; it is defined by our willingness to hold ourselves—and each other—to the standards we have pledged to uphold. These two realities of the inspiring service recognized by the John B. McMillan Award and the difficult cases addressed through our disciplinary system are not contradictions. They are complementary. Together, they de fine a profession that understands its duty to the public and takes that duty seriously. They remind us that being a lawyer is not simply about competence, but about character. As we continue through this year, I encourage each of us to reflect on how we contribute to the culture of our profession. Professionalism is not imposed by rules alone; it is sustained by everyday choices. Each interaction with a client, colleague, court, or opposing party is an opportunity to reinforce the values that justify the trust placed in us. Finally, start this year with a balanced perspective. We all know that most everyone flips straight to the discipline section of the Journal and scours the list to see who they may know. Just be sure to balance that information out by flipping to the section about the recipients of the Distinguished Service Award as well! n Katherine Frye is a founding attorney of Oak City Family Law in Raleigh, where she blends practical strategy with genuine compassion to guide clients through separation, divorce, cus tody, support, and alimony matters. A Campbell Law graduate, she opened her own practice straight out of law school and is now a North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

requires me to spend signifi cant time with the work of the Ethics Committee and the Grievance Committee. This is where we confront the most challenging aspects of our profession. These committees engage daily with allegations that test our standards and, at times, reveal conduct that falls short of our obligations as lawyers. The work of those volunteer committee mem

bers is demanding, sobering, and essential. It would be easier to look away from this side of our professional life, but we cannot. The disciplinary process is not about punishment for its own sake; it is about protection of the public and preser vation of trust in the legal system. When lawyers fail to meet their ethical duties, the consequences extend beyond individual clients as they affect how the public views all of us. The careful, principled work of these committees reflects our collective commitment to accountability and fair ness, even when the process is uncomfort able. Our holding our profession account able (often publicly) is how we protect the trust granted to us by our having the privi lege of self-regulation. Seeing both ends of this spectrum has reinforced for me an important truth: the strength of our profession lies not in pre tending that problems do not exist by hid ing them away from public view, but in addressing them openly and responsibly.

5

THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL