Brooks Pierce partner Adam Tarleton gave the May 2017 commencement address to the English department at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
In his remarks, Tarleton spoke of the impact books can have, from helping you to confront the big questions of life, to developing a true appreciation for the power of words, to finding a way to connect with other people. He advised the graduates: “When you leave here, when you start adulting, look for the readers. Go to your local bookstore. Join a book club. Start a book club. Talk to the people at the coffee shop reading the novels you love. Because those are your people, and whatever your job turns out to be, you need to have your people.”
“Adam Tarleton represents the excellence UNCG English and creative writing students have to offer the state of North Carolina,” said Anthony Cuda, the associate head of the UNCG Department of English. “Not only is Adam a successful attorney, he also continues to give back to the greater Greensboro community by serving on the board of directors for the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art and the United Way of Greater Greensboro, among other nonprofits. Despite his work and volunteer obligations, Adam also continues to a play a role within Greensboro's creative writing community. In short, Adam is the kind of person we hope our future graduates will aspire to be.”
Tarleton focuses his practice on various matters of tax law for nonprofits, corporations and personal estates. He is a volunteer for the Greensboro Women’s Resource Center attorney hotline and a member of Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art’s board of directors. Tarleton has been recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers every year since 2014 as a “Rising Star” in estate and probate law as well as Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” every year since 2014. Earlier this year, he was named one of the Triad Business Journal’s “40 Leaders Under 40.”
