A Lawyer's Depression
by Jenny B. Davis
It was a suicide no one saw coming. By every account south Texas lawyer Hermes Villarreal was a man at the top of his game. He had a beautiful, loving wife, three happy school-aged children, a successful personal-injury practice and an impressive track record of meaningful community involvement.

"If it causes one lawyer to look in the mirror and say, 'That's happening to me,' or, 'That's happening to one of my colleagues,' it will all have been worth it," says Thomas. "It's too bad it takes a tragedy like this for people to become self-aware, but perhaps this tragedy will prevent some others."

Prison advice: Don't whine
Matthew Eisley, Staff Writer
It was hard Wednesday to find a prominent ex-con willing to talk openly about what life in prison will be like for Jim Black.
Several declined and several more didn't return messages.

But former federal prosecutor and disbarred lawyer Jim Blackburn of Raleigh offered Black some public pointers:

Paralegal requirements are changing in North Carolina after June 30, 2007. Review the information at www.nccertifiedparalegal.org for details. Check out our courses

New course launching May 8, 2007
Using your feedback and inviting powerful new perspectives, Jim will launch his new Ethics course in Raleigh.

Case Never Ends for Jim Blackburn
by Jim Jenkins, Staff Writer for the News and Observer
I saw Jim Blackburn coming through the restaurant and rose to speak to him. A buddy was with me, and I introduced them. Blackburn's a most affable man, courtly, silver-haired and ready with a smile. Later, my friend said Blackburn somehow seemed familiar to him, as if he should have known him. "That's the fellow," I said, "who put Jeffrey MacDonald in prison."