The Capital City Lawyers Association
The Capital City Lawyers Association (“CCLA”) is a local, inclusive, voluntary bar association comprised primarily of attorneys, judges, and elected officials of color in Wake County, NC.
Established in 1991 in Wake County, NC, the Capital City Lawyers Association (CCLA) continues to make an impact in the legal community. The CCLA mission is to improve the quality of life for the local citizenry, most particularly in underprivileged or under-represented communities through service, scholarship, and education. The Capital City Lawyers Association has grown tremendously and continues to connect with the community at large. In addition, CCLA provides a unique platform for professional development, continuing legal education, and networking.
CCLA formally organized in July of 2014, emerging as Capital City Lawyers Association, Inc. The organization continues to grow and effectuate change in the community. To accomplish its mission CCLA sponsors community service projects including building ramps for handicapped citizens, offering free legal clinics, providing scholarships to law school students, and political action events.
The Capital City Lawyers Association is honorably known as the “Raleigh Black Lawyers Association”.
Founding Members
Capital City Lawyers Association was established in 1991 by a group of attorneys who wanted to provide an avenue for serving the local community:
Elwood Becton
The Honorable Stafford G. Bullock
Robert Burford
Nathaniel Currie
Spurgeon Fields, III
Professor Irving L. Joyner
Commissioner Lorinzo Joyner
Amos Link
Justice Michael R. Morgan
Yvonne Pugh
The Late Carlton Fellers
Geoffrey H. Simmons
Mohammed Shyllon
The Honorable Cressie Thigpen
Capital City Lawyers Former Presidents
| 1991 | Elwood Becton |
| 1992 | Lorinzo Joyner |
| 1993 | Robert Burford |
| 1994 | Justice Michael Morgan |
| 1995 | Patricia Montgomery |
| 1996 | Lemuel Hinton |
| 1997-1998 | Spurgeon Fields |
| 1999-2000 | Jessie Jeffers |
| 2001 | Keith Shackleford |
| 2002 | Spurgeon Fields |
| 2003 | Jessie Jeffers |
| 2004 | Stephanie Brown |
| 2005 | Ormond Harriott |
| 2006-2009 | Tonya Ford |
| 2010-2011 | Dayatra Matthews |
| 2012-2013 | Tawanda Foster Artis |
| 2014-2015 | Brian Beverly |
| 2016 | Judge Keith Gregory |
| 2017-2019 | Jocelyn Mitnaul-Mallette |
| 2020-2021 | Evin L. Grant |
| 2022-2023 | Ayeshinaye Smith |
| 2024-2025 | Taylor Scruggs-Smith |
| 2025-2028 | Taylor Scruggs-Smith |