Kara Gansmann - Wilmington, NC

Awards and Honors

Education

• Legal Education

  • University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 2007
    J.D.
    Honors: With Distinction
    Honors: Order of the Coif, Member
    Honors: National Order of the Barristers, Member
    Honors: Legal Writing, Teacher
    Honors: Full-Tuition Academic Scholarships
    Honors: United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Honorable Rodney S. Webb, Extern
    Honors: United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Chief Magistrate Judge Karen K. Klein, Extern
    Law Review: North Dakota Law Review, Editor in Chief

• Non Legal Education

  • University of North Dakota, 2005
    B.A.
  • University of North Carolina Wilmington, 1998
    B.A.

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Classes and Seminars

• Presenter, “Durable Powers of Attorney Insights” and “Advanced Directive Tips: making Healthcare Wishes Explicit,” for National Business Institute’s CLE “Estate Planning: Top 7 Tools to Know” (June 17, 2019, Wilmington, North Carolina)
  
• Presenter, “Medicaid: New Rules in Benefits, Eligibility, and More” for National Business Institute’s CLE (June 12, 2019, 90-minute, nation-wide webinar)
  
• Featured in NC Lawyer, “Renaissance Woman: World Traveler, Lawyer, Writer, Volunteer Kara Gansmann Can’t Be Stopped,” by Russel Rawlings (August 2018)
  
• Presenter, “Documenting Long-Term Care, Incapacity, and End-of-Life Decisions,” for National Business Institute’s CLE “Step-by-Step Guide to Drafting Wills and Trusts” (June 18, 2018, Wilmington, North Carolina)
  
• Presenter, The New North Carolina Power of Attorney Act, Cranfill Sumner Firm Seminar (November 9, 2017, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  
• Presenter, Liability Issues with Free-Speech Rights in the Workplace, Cranfill Sumner Firm Seminar (October 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina)

Pro Bono Activities

• Plantation Village, Board of Directors, 2022 - Present
• Pro Bono Volunteer, North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center, 2017
• New Hanover County Estate Planning Council, Member
• Coastal Women Attorneys, Treasurer, 2015 - 2017
• The Carousel Center, Inc., Board of Directors; Chair, 2016 - 2017
• The Carousel Center, Inc., Board of Directors, Vice Chair/Under Secretary, 2015
• North Carolina Bar Association Foundation | Law-Related Education; Attorney Advisor for Middle School Mock Trial Team, 2015
• Pleasure Island Soccer Association, Coach, 2014 - 2017
• UNCW Alumni Relations; Brazen mentor to alumni and students; Cape Fear Steering Committee, 2015 - 2017
• Peace Rose Montessori, Reading & Fundraising Volunteer, 2014 - 2016
• 1910 Harris County Courthouse, Docent, 2011 - 2013
• Houston Bar Association, Adopt an Angel, Court Liaison, 2008 - 2013
• Houston Bar Association, reading tutor in disadvantaged Houston schools, 2008 - 2009

Published Works

Articles

• Author of manuscripts, “Marshalling Assets: Key Complications,” and “Creditors’ Claims Frustrations,” presented by Andrew W. Olsen for the National Business Institute’s CLE, “Top Challenges in Estate Administration” (May 10, 2018, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  
• Author of manuscript, “Medicaid Planning Strategies,” presented by Andrew W. Olsen for the North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Basics CLE (October 27, 2017, Cary, North Carolina)
  
• Author of manuscript, “Medicaid Estate Recovery” presented by Andrew W. Olsen for National Business Institute’s CLE “Medicaid Update 2017” (November 7, 2017, Raleigh, North Carolina)
  
• Author, How Seniors Can Afford Long Term Care Without Spending Their Life Savings, Business North Carolina (August 2017)
  
• Author of manuscript for CLE “What are Trusts? Main Trust Principles” as presented by Andrew W. Olsen for National Business Institute’s CLE “Trusts from A to Z” (June 30, 2017, Wilmington, North Carolina)
  
• Author, A Retailer’s Guide to Use of Video Surveillance Evidence to Defend itself in Litigation, The Retailer magazine (2017)
• Author, The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Corporations to Opt Out of Contraceptive Mandate in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014)
• Author, Government Speech. It’s What’s for Dinner, 82 N.D. L. Rev. 519 (2006)

Bar Admissions

• U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 2015
• North Carolina, 2014
• Texas, 2007

Other Affiliations

• North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Law Section Council, 2022 - 2023 (Vice President)
• North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law & Special Needs Law Section Council, 2018 - 2021 (Voting Member)
• North Carolina Bar Association (Member)
• North Carolina Bar Association, 2017 (4All Statewide Service Day Site Co-Chair)
• North Carolina Bar Association, Elder Law & Special Needs Section, 2017 (Member and CLE Co-Chair)
• North Carolina Bar Association, 2017 (Liaison between Elder Law & Special Needs Section and Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section)
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), North Carolina Chapter (Member)
• State Bar of Texas (Inactive Member in Good Standing)