CityView Magazine

58 | March/April • 2014 Luncheon & Cake Auction Wednesday, March 12 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Hilltop House 1240 Ft Bragg Rd Join FAHFH for a deliciously exciting event where you and your table will bid on your favorite desserts, all designed by local bakers $25 per person includes Lunch, Dessert, Champagne and Wine Spaces are limited Call (910) 483-0952 to reserve your seat or corporate table 100% of the proceeds will fund the construction of a habitat home shared that the reason she ended up staying in that area of law was that she loved the work and was able to make a dif- ference in the lives of children in our community. Further explaining that the court at that level touches more and can have a positive impact in the daily lives and decisions made. "It's an evolving thing," said Keever. "We've looked at dif- ferent areas and added different programs to make it better for those folks touched by the court system." For nearly 40 years, Keever, an ever so humble servant in the community, was quick to credit a comprehensive team approach when it comes to solving problems and forging ahead with solutions. "We are fortunate in this communi- ty because everybody tries to work together," she said. "It makes a tremendous difference when you can move for- ward with support." While some talk about giving back, these women let their actions speak for themselves, and they don't have much idle time on their hands, as a result. "Get involved in the com- munity and find something that you want to work with and become truly part of your community," advised Keever to young law school graduates. "It makes a difference not only to the quality of your life, but also to the quality of your work." ere have been many endeavors that Keever is proud of, but the Cumberland County Dispute Resolution, designed to mediate disputes between people with relationships to bring resolution to underlying issues is one that stands out for really making a difference in the lives of others. From e Child Advocacy Center, Safe Haven, to e Women's Center, Keever has been part of so many valiant efforts. As the original chair of the board for e Women's Center, Keever is proud to see how the organization has grown and the work that they've been able to do to help so many in her 10 years since its inception. In the legal realm, she has served with the Judges Association and also on the board at the National Center for State Courts. Not to worry. When Keever officially hangs up her robe, it is just to fulfill a bucket list cross-country road trip across the U.S. with her cousin. Professionally, Keever is asking the Governor to commission her as an emergency judge, to serve on conflict cases across that state or as needed to fill in locally. She also plans to continue her involvement at the Child Advocacy Center and plans to conduct remediation work in the family law courts pertaining to the financial obli- gation portion where she can continue to make a difference. Girl Power All three ladies agreed that getting into law school is very competitive and a hard work ethic is needed early on to thrive. Rebecca Britton dispensed some sage advice for young women: You must do your best at what you do eve- ryday and not limit yourself. "Kill them with confidence. Prove yourself!" is something she told many law students at Campbell. "As a young practitioner, I used to love being underestimated, it gave me an advantage!" Britton said that you must be able to take your lumps, learn from them and use them to your advantage. As part of a class of 200 students, Keever said she was one of 25 females and within 10 years of graduating law school it was almost half and half. "Women have become more and more aware of the belief that they can move into profession- al areas and there's not that barrier to go to law school that there once was." is community has been very responsive to female judges, though there is greater parody in govern- ment work than in the private sector." Rebecca Britton shared that she learned something dif- ferent at each of the big three firms she has worked at in her career. "As you grow professionally, opinions differ and the make up of firms change over the years and you find yourself in a place where you feel you need to move on." Holding fast to a specific ideal of how law should be prac- ticed as a profession, not as a business, was the catalyst in Britton's decision to launch her own firm aer gleaning dif-

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