KIM MCELRATH- RAY
Asheville
Summary
20+ years of experience in providing general civil legal services to residents of North Carolina. Committed to serving underserved populations and working in government or public service sector.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy County Attorney
Office of the County Attorney for Henderson County, NC
05.2025 - Current
- Provide representation for the Henderson County Department of Social Services.
- Child Protective Services (juvenile law) litigation, including adjudications, dispositions, permanency planning hearings, permanency planning reviews, motions in the cause, termination of parental rights cases, and appeals.
- Adult Protective Services litigation, including Protective Services Orders pursuant to N.C.G.S. 108A and Guardianship hearings under Chapter 35A.
- Draft pleadings and orders.
- Work closely with Department of Social Services employees to coordinate plans for families.
Associate Attorney
Hill Law Offices, PLLC
11.2024 - 02.2025
- Family law litigation, including custody, equitable distribution, divorce, alimony, postseparation support, and domestic violence protective orders.
- Negotiating and drafting Separation Agreements.
- Participation in mediation.
- Client timekeeping and billing.
Attorney At Law
Selena A. King, PLLC
06.2024 - 09.2024
- Consults for many types of civil cases, including family, wills, advanced directives, landlord/tenant, employment, and probate.
- Litigation in District Court in multiple counties for family law cases (divorce and child custody). Counties covered included: Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, and Yancey Counties.
- Litigation in Small Claims Court and District Court for Landlord/Tenant summary ejectment cases.
- Court appearances for criminal pleas.
- Small law office management.
- Managed a large caseload of cases in litigation.
- Negotiation with other attorneys to attempt to settle cases or resolve issues arising within actively litigated cases.
- Drafted and executed wills and advanced directives.
Attorney at Law
Southern Law Group
04.2023 - 02.2024
- Real estate closings, including conducting closings and notarizing.
- Reviewing title and working on clearing title.
- Working closely with real estate agents and mortgage lenders to answer questions about upcoming listings and closings.
- Assisted with funding files after closing and ensuring accuracy in funds distribution.
- Drafting deeds, easements, & rights of way, as well as LLC formation.
Staff Attorney
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
10.2002 - 01.2023
- General civil legal practice, providing direct legal services to clients at or below the poverty level in all 100 counties of North Carolina.
- Litigated Domestic Violence and Custody cases from 2002-2006 in three eastern NC counties (Johnston, Harnett, and Sampson Counties).
- Central Helpline attorney from 2006-2018. Part of the initial team establishing a centralized form of intake (Helpline) at Legal Aid. Duties included: answering calls from potential clients, screening for eligibility, opening files, interviewing clients, assessing legal issues, providing advice and brief service, documenting service provided, and supervising new attorneys, paralegals, and interns during onboarding.
- Pro Bono Program mentor. Supervised and mentored over 80 private practice attorneys who volunteered with Legal Aid's Pro Bono Program, to provide support and guidance in pro bono cases the attorneys accepted.
- Helped develop and implement night/evening hours to make our services more accessible to clients.
- Joined Senior Law Project in 2018. Handled Helpline cases as well as drafted wills and advance directives for clients and conducted wills clinics at local senior centers.
- Managed a large caseload.
- Facilitated several yearly Work Plan meetings for other Legal Aid offices.
- Conducted senior center outreach and education events.
- Provided consultations to other staff on foreclosure, bankruptcy, and elder law cases.
- Oversaw the Campbell & Elon Law School clinics partnered with LANC.
- Presented on new and relevant topics in family law at statewide CLE events.
Education
Juris Doctor -
Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Communications (Corporate)
Queens University
Skills
- Detail-oriented and thorough
- Research
- Strong written communication
- Organized and efficient
- Family Law Litigation
- Landlord Tenant Litigation
- Strong pleading preparation
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and building and maintaining rapport with clients and prospective clients
Timeline
Deputy County Attorney
Office of the County Attorney for Henderson County, NC
05.2025 - Current
Associate Attorney
Hill Law Offices, PLLC
11.2024 - 02.2025
Attorney At Law
Selena A. King, PLLC
06.2024 - 09.2024
Attorney at Law
Southern Law Group
04.2023 - 02.2024
Staff Attorney
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
10.2002 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Communications (Corporate)
Queens University
Juris Doctor -
Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law