FEMA appeals clinic with Cisco

Thank you to Cisco for organizing and hosting a pro bono FEMA appeals clinic for Hurricane Helene survivors at their Research Triangle Park offices on March 19.

Special thanks to Allison Hager, Principal Corporate Counsel, for spearheading the event. Allison is a member of our Gastonia Office's Local Advisory Council, a group of supporters that informs the office’s advocacy and raises awareness of its services among the client and legal communities.

Shout out to Carol Lahmann, Executive Assistant, for making sure the event ran smoothly.

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FEMA appeals clinic with Amazon, Greenberg Traurig

Attorneys from online-retail giant Amazon and global law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP partnered with us on February 27 for a virtual FEMA appeals clinic on behalf of Hurricane Helene survivors.

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Disaster relief clinics with Harvard Law, UNC Law

Students from Harvard Law and UNC Law forsook fun in the sun to spend their spring breaks in Western NC working with our Pro Bono Programs team and partner organizations to provide free legal help to Hurricane Helene survivors.

At the March 17 clinic with Harvard Law and Pisgah Legal Services and the March 11 and 12 clinics with UNC Law, students met with our clients and advised them on the full range of legal issues confronting survivors, including landlord-tenant problems, recovery programs and insurance.

Read coverage of the UNC Law clinics from WUNC

Related: ABA honors UNC Law Pro Bono Program

A plethora of pro bono events!

We've been busy! Check out this list of recent pro bono events for a glimpse at all the different ways we partner with the private bar to make a difference for North Carolinians in need.

• Mar 19: FEMA appeals clinic with Cisco. Lawyer on the Line with Wake Forest Law.
• Mar 17: Disaster relief clinic with Harvard Law
• Mar 14: Disaster relief clinic with the Disaster Legal Services partnership.
• Mar 12: Lawyer on the Line with KPMG and McGuireWoods. Disaster relief clinic with UNC Law.
• Mar 11: Disaster relief clinic with UNC Law
• Mar 6: Lawyer on the Line with Bank of America and Womble Bond Dickinson
• Feb 28: Charlotte Triage eviction courthouse clinic. Lawyer on the Line with Elon Law. Wills clinic with Orange County Habitat for Humanity and UNC Law.
• Feb 27: FEMA appeals clinic with Amazon and Greenberg Traurig. Lawyer on the Line with the Wake County Bar Association
• Feb 26: Charlotte Triage eviction courthouse clinic
• Feb 24: Disaster relief clinic in Bat Cave.
• Feb 21: Wills clinic with Campbell Law. Disaster relief clinic with Disaster Legal Services partnership.

Don't forget to report your pro bono hours!

The NC State Bar's voluntary pro bono reporting period is still open! NC attorneys and paralegals can report their 2024 pro bono hours as part of the bar's annual CLE reporting process. Those who report at least 50 hours will gain induction to the 2024 class of the NC Pro Bono Honor Society. Need to know how many hours you reported to us? Send us an email.

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The basics and ethics of estate planning and probate law

Fri, Apr 11, 11 AM - 1 PM · Credits: 1 hr General, 1 hr Ethics

Learn the basics of estate planning and probate law and the ethical implications at each step of the process. The program will highlight the importance of estate planning regardless of a person’s income. John R. Cella Jr. of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, a board-certified specialist in estate planning and probate law, will present the program.

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Volunteers sign up free w/ code LANCVolunteer (case sensitive)

Thank you, BofA and Womble Bond Dickinson!

Huge thanks to Bank of America and Womble Bond Dickinson for organizing the Lawyer on the Line clinic on March 6. Volunteers from the organizations provided pro bono legal advice over the phone to Legal Aid NC clients struggling with dangerous and unsanitary housing conditions.

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Upcoming events

Child custody workshops for DV survivors

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• Wed, April 16

Courthouse Clinics (eviction)

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• Wed, Mar 26
• Fri, Mar 28
• Tue, Apr 22
• Thu, Apr 24
• Wed, May 7
• Fri, May 9

Lawyer on the Line (housing conditions)

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• Wed, Apr 9
• Wed, May 28

Immigration Pathways for Victims (IMMPAV)

Our Immigration Pathways for Victims project provides free immigration assistance to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The project recruits pro bono volunteers to take U Visa adjustment cases, which involve U Visa holders seeking green cards. U Visas provide immigration relief to victims of qualifying crimes who have helped law enforcement investigate or prosecute criminal activity.

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Kristin D. Mitcham · Ward & Smith

Raleigh

Kristin Mitcham, a real-estate attorney in the Raleigh office of Ward and Smith, P.A., recently put her skills to use on behalf of a Clay County nonprofit seeking to provide temporary housing for Hurricane Helene survivors.

A few weeks after the storm, the head of the nonprofit contacted Joseph Chilton, supervising attorney in our Smoky Mountain Offices, for help. The organization wanted to provide temporary housing for survivors, but it needed its space for another purpose by a certain date. The group wanted help creating occupancy agreements that wouldn't inadvertently turn them into long-term landlords.

Since our staff primarily represent tenants, Joseph reached out to our Pro Bono Programs team to see if a pro bono volunteer could help. Kristin jumped at the opportunity, drafting agreements to establish a clear and limited relationship between the organization and storm survivors.

"The clients expressed a deep appreciation and satisfaction for all that Kristin did for them," said Allison Constance, our Director of Pro Bono Programs, "and we are equally appreciative of her service. Thank you, Kristin!"

Learn more about Kristin