Rebecca J. Britton ’92 receives John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award
Rebecca J. Britton ’92 of Fayetteville has been selected by the North Carolina State Bar as a recipient of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award.
The award was presented to Britton by another Campbell Law alumnus, N.C. State Bar President Darrin Jordan ’90 of Whitley Jordan & Inge PA, during the Cumberland County Bar Lunch on Oct. 27, 2021.
The award program honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar throughout the state who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession. Members of the Bar are encouraged to nominate colleagues who have demonstrated outstanding service to the profession.
A partner at Britton Law, Britton has nearly 30 years experience as a personal injury attorney, fighting and representing injured people and their families across North Carolina. Britton focuses on handling cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, hospital and nursing home negligence and wrongful death.
“She is well known for the respect and care she offers her clients and for her service to the Fayetteville community,” the NCSB press release states on the website. “Ms. Britton has shown commitment to the North Carolina Bar’s goal of furthering the public’s understanding of the justice system, from high school students, to law students, to practicing lawyers.”
Britton spearheaded the growth and development of the state’s only high school mock trial program. From 1995 to 2000 she served as a mock trial attorney advisor/coach at Westover High School in Fayetteville. With her mentoring and guidance, that school placed fifth at a national-level competition in 1998. In 2001, she began her service as the regional coordinator for the Fayetteville High School mock trial competition site, a role she still serves in 20 years later.
In 2006, Britton served as president of the N.C. Advocates for Justice. During her tenure as president, she was a strong advocate for the mock trial program. In 2009 she, with the support of other attorneys passionate about educating the public about the law, led the effort to set up the Carolina Center for Civic Education (now known as the N.C. Mock Trial Program) to run the state’s high school mock trial program. She has served on the executive committee of that organization for 12 years. She currently serves as the president of the program and devotes many hours each month to the organization’s management. Since 2010, her law firm has sponsored the Fayetteville Regional Competition site. She also served on the board of the National High School Mock Trial Championship and has been instrumental in hosting the national event twice in North Carolina. Britton also personally co-sponsored a scholarship program for high school seniors who show inspirational leadership skills during their time with the mock trial program.
Additionally, she has taught trial advocacy courses at Campbell Law School, presents regularly at NCAJ seminars, teaches CLE courses around the state and teaches with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In 2011 she received the NCAJ Charles L. Becton Teaching Award. Britton is also certified mediator in the Superior Court of North Carolina
She is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Bssociation (NCBA), the International Society of Barrister and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Britton was the recipient of the Kelly Crabtree Award in 2002 for her work in the Lesly Jean case (DNA exoneration).
“Ms. Britton has helped ensure generations of North Carolinians have confidence in—and an appreciation for—the legal system, and that those young leaders had the ability, life skills and interest to reform and support the legal profession during their careers,” the press release continued. “The impact of her work to educate practicing lawyers through her numerous publications and presentations is also impressive. She is a most deserving recipient of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award.”