Chapman and Cutler LLP, Truist Bank, and Wells Fargo Kick Off Gavel Wills Drafting Tool with Legal Aid of NC!
When Chapman Cutler generously offered to customize a wills and advance directive automation tool for use by Legal Aid of North Carolina volunteers, Wells Fargo and Truist were excited to help with its launch.
Last week, a team of 15 volunteers tested it out, leaning on its guided interview format to draft estate documents for 8 of our clients. We're hoping this tool will make initial drafting easier for volunteers while preserving accuracy and thoughtful interviewing practices to ensure our clients are receiving much needed counsel and services.
Thanks to Sara Ghadiri, Amani Smathers, Scheree Gilchrist, Hannah Guerrier, Wake Forest University School of Law students Trevor Walsh and Hadley Ladue, and our enthusiastic tool testers at Legal Aid of NC for their help developing and bringing this tool to life.
We're excited to see how it may help broaden our client reach and enhance the volunteer experience for anyone interested in serving our seniors with their estate planning needs.
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Joint Crisis Response Workshop and Housing Conditions Clinic with NCBA Young Lawyers Division and State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division
On April 25, the Pro Bono team's own Lauren Ashley Wright helped lead a collaboration between the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division in a joint program aimed at exploring and navigating crisis responses and emergency preparedness.
In addition to insights from Asheville city leadership, the program incorporated a Lawyer on the Line housing conditions event as part of the programming. Lauren Ashley shares that events like these help clients "gain a clearer understanding of their rights" while volunteers "build confidence by working through real cases" with mentorship from the Legal Aid of North Carolina team. Cheers to this fantastic collaboration between pro bono leaders in North Carolina and Georgia!
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We were also lucky to host:
📍A Raleigh Pro Bono Collaborative Expunction session on May 13 with Kilpatrick
📍A Lawyer on the Line event with LPL Financial, in honor of Financial Institution Pro Bono Day, and more!
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Congratulations to our 2026 Law School Graduate Volunteers and Pro Bono Leaders!
As many of our volunteers graduated this past month, we were thrilled to see their work recognized by their peers and law schools:
Casey Buttke (JD '26, UNC Law) - Recipient of the Winston Crisp Award for Student Leadership (who assisted with 13 Legal Aid of NC cases, from expunction to landlord/tenant matters);
Avery Allen (JD '26, Duke Law), Neven Vrbetic (LLM '26, Duke Law), Caitlyn Leary (JD/MPP '26, Duke Law), Kacey Buercklin (LLM '26, Duke Law), Sened Teklay (LLM '26, Duke Law), Max Tinter (JD '26, Duke Law), Emily Bass (JD '26, Duke Law), Maame Adu (JD/LLM '26, Duke Law), Yuxi He (LLM '26, Duke Law), Seimi Chu JD '26, Duke Law) (assisted with a combined 7 Legal Aid of NC cases);
And read more about Wake Forest University School of Law's Pro Bono Honor Society Induction and Community Appreciation Event
And NCCU's graduating class's accomplishments and contributions to community service and pro bono
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2025 - 2026 was a wonderful academic year - special thanks to our law students and interns, who volunteered nearly 11,000 hours of pro bono service!
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Featured
Pro Bono Opportunities:
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With the start of the 2026 agricultural season, Legal Aid of North Carolina's Farmworker Unit is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteer attorneys and paralegals to help with visits to migrant farm worker labor camps as part of its Witness for Justice Volunteer Program.
We conduct most of our outreach to camps within 1.5 to 2 hours to the south and east of Raleigh, but we also have been known to do long distance outreach trips to the northeastern, northwestern, far west, and southernmost parts of the state.
Spanish speaking volunteers are welcome to apply.
There will be a volunteer training in June (date TBD).
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We're seeking assistance from a volunteer attorney and/or paralegal to assist a client with an heirs property matter in Robeson County, though this matter can be handled remotely.
The client needs assistance with conducting a title search and preparing a deed and other necessary documents to transfer ownership of her primary residence (including both land and a mobile home) into her name.
Legal Aid of NC will provide background materials and ongoing support as needed. Malpractice coverage provided.
💻 Remote opportunity
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We are seeking volunteers to assist clients with disabilities with preparing reasonable accommodation/modification request letters to submit to housing providers.
Volunteers may need to assist clients with obtaining letters from their medical professionals to verify disability and necessity of the accommodation/modification. Volunteers may select the volume of cases and the counties in which they are willing to serve.
💻 Remote opportunity
📣Open to paralegals and law students, too
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Help our senior client complete court forms for return of surplus funds after foreclosure
Our client recently lost his home to foreclosure in Guilford County. Thousands of dollars in surplus of his debts remain with the Clerk of Court, and he needs assistance with the court forms to get this surplus back.
Legal Aid of NC staff is available to support or mentor as needed.
📣Opportunity for attorneys only
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Help Survivors Get DV Protective Orders
We're looking for attorney volunteers to represent DV survivors:
📍in Winston-Salem
📍in Raleigh, and
📍statewide!
| | | Interested? Reach out to probono@legalaidnc.org | | Charlotte Triage is a task force comprised of law firm, corporation, and nonprofit pro bono leaders dedicated to serving the Charlotte community in its areas of highest need. Learn more | | |
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June 10 - Charlotte Triage Housing Lawyer on the Line
👉 Sign up
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June 16 - Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
👉 Sign up
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June 18 - Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
👉 Sign up
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June 23 - Charlotte Triage Child Custody Complaint Drafting Event
👉 Sign up
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June 23 - Raleigh Pro Bono Collaborative Expunction Session hosted by Parker Poe
👉 Email us at probono@legalaidnc.org to sign up!
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June 24 - Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
👉 Sign up
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June 26 - Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
👉 Sign up
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June 26 - Wills Clinic with Smith Anderson and Southeast Raleigh Promise
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Would your firm or organization like to host a Lawyer on the Line Housing Conditions Event this summer?
We have availability! Contact Allison Constance at allisonc@legalaidnc.org.
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John B.
Carrboro, NC
For years, John has been volunteering his time at the Central Carolina office, assisting the attorney and paralegal team with administrative tasks like case closings. In addition to these contributions - which help offload considerable work for our attorneys and staff - John is a welcoming presence at the office and frequent volunteer for other local organizations in the community, like Meals on Wheels.
Our staff attorneys share: "John is such a valued member of our office. He selflessly handles tasks that free up time and has been a dedicated LANC volunteer for years. We’re all so grateful to have his help!" Another staff member shares: "He is always ready to jump in and help however he can. When we have a week without him, we miss him so much until he comes back. I cannot thank him enough for everything that he does."
Thank you, John, for your commitment to serving North Carolinians, and for being an honorary member of the Central Carolina team.
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Mark Henriques,
Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
Charlotte
We have been so fortunate to have Mark Henriques as not only an ardent supporter of Legal Aid of North Carolina but also as a frequent volunteer. Mark has provided invaluable service to our clients post Tropical Storm Helene. Most recently, he negotiated a significant settlement after our client experienced a repair gone wrong and the HOA refused to replace the damage done, leaving the client with an unfinished floor in his home.
In his notes to close out the case, Mark wrote: “I can take another!” And, he already has -- responding in days to a request to assist another client with advice on the intersection of a problematic rent to own arrangement and the purported owner’s impending foreclosure. Mark represents the very best of our profession, as a supporter, as a sounding board, and as a boots-on-the-ground advocate for our clients in need. Thank you, Mark, for all that you do!
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Congratulations to Garfinkel Immigration!
Garfinkel has been recognized by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) as a recipient of the 2026 Pro Bono Champion award for their service to Legal Aid of NC clients. Please join us in celebrating our partner, and Anna Cushman, a former Legal Aid of NC attorney, on this well-deserved honor.
| | | | Ready to make an impact? Sign up to volunteer with us here! | |
Join Our Justice Legacy Circle - Make Justice Part of Your Legacy
Did you know you can include Legal Aid of North Carolina in your estate plans?
Planned gifts - including bequests, charitable trusts, and gifts of life insurance - create a legacy of justice that will continue to protect North Carolinians for generations to come.
By making a planned gift of any size, you become part of the Justice Legacy Circle, a community of supporters whose foresight ensures that Legal Aid's mission endures long into the future.
Together we can make justice not just a value we hold, but a legacy we leave.
Learn more or make your gift today:
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Veterans Benefits & Discharge Issues: A Practical Guide for Non-VA Attorneys
May 21st, 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Registration is free for pro bono volunteers! Use code “LANCVolunteer”
This CLE will cover:
✔️ An overview of VA benefits, character discharge issues, and military discharge upgrades
✔️Eligibility basics, common barriers, and practical pathways to help veterans access earned benefits
Approved for 1.0 hours of General CLE Credit
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Mediation 101: Fundamentals for Effective Advocacy & Resolution
June 8, 2026, 11 AM to 12 PM
Use code “LANCVolunteer”
This program provides an overview of mediation fundamentals, emphasizing practical strategies for effective advocacy, preparation, and resolution. Participants will examine the roles of the mediator and counsel, best practices for client and case preparation, and techniques for navigating the mediation process. The session also addresses negotiation strategy and common obstacles to settlement. Through real-world scenarios and applied guidance, attendees will be exposed to tools to enhance their effectiveness in mediation settings.
Approved for 1.0 hours of General CLE Credit
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North Carolina Child Support 101
June 17, 2026, 1 PM to 2:30 PM
Use code “LANCVolunteer”
This CLE will be an in-depth overview of child support law in North Carolina. The session will cover the statutes involved in child supports matters at both the initial and modification stages. The session will also discuss ancillary issues that arise in child custody disputes. Those issues include enforcement and contempt, foreign support orders, support for disabled children, retroactive support, and others.
Approved for 1.5hrs of General CLE Credit
| | | | Lead a virtual legal education presentation | | Topics: Child custody, simple divorce, and housing | | |
Only able to volunteer for a few hours?
We have a great opportunity for you! Sign up below to lead a virtual legal education presentation on the following topics: child custody, simple divorce, and/or tenant rights.
The ask: Present on a topic and answer general questions (no specific legal advice is given during the presentations). Volunteers receive training and all presentations are moderated.
When: Child custody presentations are held the second Tuesday of the month; simple divorce presentations are held the third Thursday of the month. All presentations run from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m.
We are also looking for presenters on tenant rights on 6/16.
Click below to sign up for Child Custody and/or Simple Divorce presentations.
To sign up for Tenant Rights presentations, please email probono@legalaidnc.org.
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Our volunteer opportunities are also posted on Pro Bono Go.
Find out more at probonogo.org.
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