Legal Aid of North Carolina

Recent News     

• May 20, 2013
  Legal Aid Unit Honored for Defending Families from Foreclosure
  Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Unit has been honored for saving more than 1,000 homes and securing millions of dollars in economic benefits for low-income North Carolinians facing foreclosure.
• May 7, 2013
  Youth Justice Advocates Reject Excessively Punitive Measures, Call for Research-Based Approach to Ensuring Safe and Fair Schools
  A new issue brief released today by youth justice advocates debunks common myths driving much of the school safety debate and provides a comprehensive, research-based approach to the issue.
• April 30, 2013
  State Funding Cuts Endanger Domestic Violence Victims,
  Deny Legal Help to Others in Need
  Thousands of domestic violence victims struggling to escape abuse and rebuild their lives, and others facing serious legal problems would have nowhere to turn for help due to $1.3 million in cuts to state funding for civil legal aid groups.
• April 18, 2013
  The Right to Counsel in Hard Times: Practical Civil Gideon
  George Hausen, LANC's executive director, authored an article on the need for Civil Gideon—a right to counsel in critical civil legal cases—for the April 2013 issue of Trial Briefs, the magazine of North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
• April 16, 2013
  Durham Public Schools Punish Black Students and Students
  With Disabilities at Higher Rates than Peers
  Civil rights groups decry race and disability disparities in suspensions and file federal complaint against Durham Public Schools alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• April 10, 2013
  Legal Aid of North Carolina Opens Branch Office
  In Richmond County
  Richmond County residents struggling with civil legal problems like domestic violence, eviction, or wrongful termination of public benefits have a new place to go for free legal help if they can’t afford a lawyer..
• March 27, 2013
  Remembering Julian Pierce: Legal Aid Lawyer, Lumbee Activist
  Twenty-five years ago this month, Julian T. Pierce, 42, a Lumbee Indian activist and legal aid lawyer who helped found Lumbee River Legal Services in Robeson County, was murdered on the eve of an election for a newly created judgeship for which he was a candidate. On March 26, our Pembroke office held a ceremony to mark the anniversary of Pierce's death and honor his life of service to his community. Learn more in The Fayetteville Observer and The Robesonian.
• March 13, 2013
  Language Assistance Plan Announced to Resolve Civil Rights Complaint, Advocacy Groups Urge Strict Adherence to Important Reforms
  The Wake County Public School System’s recently announced language assistance plan to resolve a civil rights complaint is an important step in protecting the rights of students and their families, but it must be diligently enforced to ensure success.
• February 28, 2013
  Sixth Annual 4ALL Service Day!
  For 12 hours March 1, lawyers all over the state will take a break from their usual routines to work the phones providing free legal help to the public as part of the sixth annual 4ALL Service Day, a program of the North Carolina Bar Association and the NCBA Foundation. Members of the public can call one of seven regional toll-free numbers to get help. A Spanish-language line is also available. Visit www.4allnc.org for more information.
• February 20, 2013
  Free Preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney for Low-Income and Elderly Residents Of Greene, Halifax, Pitt Counties
  Carolina Law students and LANC attorneys will prepare end-of-life legal documents—wills, living wills, powers of attorney and healthcare powers of attorney—for low-income and elderly residents of Greene, Halifax and Pitt counties during a series of free legal clinics March 11-13.
• February 13, 2013
  Check Out Our Job Openings!
  Want to join the fight for equal justice? Then join our team! We currently have job openings available in our Ahoskie, Durham, Morganton and Raleigh offices. Visit our Job Postings page to see what's available.
• February 6, 2013
  Upcoming CLEs on Family Law, Mediation,
  Consumer Law, and Public Benefits
  We are hosting a series of Continuing Legal Education sessions at our offices around the state this month. For more information, download the registration forms and agendas for the sessions below.
       -Feb. 8: Family Law Task Force Meeting and
                     The Art and Science of Good Lawyer Mental Health
       -Feb. 13: Effective Advocacy Using Mediation
       -Feb. 15: Consumer Law Task Force Meeting
       -Feb. 22: Public Benefits Task Force Meeting
• January 24, 2013
  Advocates for Children’s Services and the Wake County Public School System Reach Settlement Agreement to Improve Services For Students with Disabilities
  The Wake County Public School System and Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Advocates for Children’s Services project, joined by Durham attorney Mark Trustin, have entered into a settlement agreement detailing the school system’s plans for improving services for students with disabilities who receive lengthy suspensions.
• December 17, 2012
  LANC Releases 2011-2012 Annual Report
  Download our new annual report to learn more about who we are, the work we do, the people we serve and the difference we make. Make sure to read our client success stories and learn about the substantial support we receive from the private bar and other generous individuals.
• December 13, 2012
  Farmworkers Illegally Denied Access to Legal Aid, Other Services, Says Complaint to U.N.
  Our Farmworker Unit has signed on to a joint complaint submitted to the United Nations on behalf of migrant farmworkers whose employers illegally interfere with their ability to meet with legal aid and other social service providers.
• November 19, 2012
  LANC, Chatham County Bar Host Wills Clinic
  for Habitat for Humanity Homeowners
  Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Chatham County Bar Association held a free Wills and Advanced Directives Clinic for Habitat for Humanity homeowners on Nov. 3.
• October 22, 2012
  Celebrating Pro Bono
  Legal Aid of North Carolina paid tribute to its scores of steadfast pro bono volunteers during the National Pro Bono Celebration Oct. 21-27, sponsored by the American Bar Association. In recognition of the event, Gov. Bev Perdue issued a proclamation urging lawyers to commit to providing pro bono service to citizens in need.
• September 28, 2012
  Celia Pistolis Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from UNC Law
  Celia Pistolis, assistant director of advocacy and compliance for Legal Aid of North Carolina, received a Distinguished Alumni Award—the highest honor bestowed upon graduates—from the UNC Law Alumni Association at its annual awards dinner Sept. 27.
• September 17, 2012
  Legal Aid of North Carolina to Celebrate
  History of Service in Winston-Salem
  LANC is hosting a two-for-one anniversary celebration in Winston-Salem to mark its tenth anniversary and the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the state’s first legal aid program in Forsyth County.
  Coverage: The Chronicle (Winston-Salem)
• September 6, 2012
  Legal Aid Fellows to Tackle Rural Poverty in Richmond County
  Two newly minted lawyers with a deep dedication to public service are launching a two-year effort to aid poverty-stricken residents of rural Richmond County, one of the poorest in North Carolina.
  Coverage: Richmond County Daily Journal, Wake Forest University School of Law
• August 9, 2012
  Lawsuit Says State Illegally Denied Special Education Services
  To Children in Private Psychiatric Facilities
  Advocates for Children’s Services filed a lawsuit against state education officials for failing to provide special education services to a 13-year-old child with disabilities who has been confined to a psychiatric residential treatment facility since December 2011.
• July 19, 2012
  Complaint Reveals Wake County Schools Continue
  To Violate Rights of Students with Disabilities
  Advocates for Children’s Services and a local attorney have filed the latest in a series of formal complaints with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction alleging that the Wake County Public School System continues to violate federal and state law by failing to provide appropriate educational services to students with disabilities during long-term suspensions.
  Coverage: News & Observer, The Triangle Tribune, WRAL
• July 5, 2012
  U.S. Department of Education to Investigate Discrimination Against Latino Students in Wake County Public School System
  The U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has responded to a complaint by LANC's Advocates for Children’s Services and the Southern Poverty Law Center by announcing it will investigate the Wake County Public School System for discrimination against Latino students with Spanish-speaking parents.
  Coverage: Education Week, Latina.com, NBC Latino, News & Observer, WRAL
• June 12, 2012
  Advocacy Groups File Complaint Against Wake County Public School System to Stop Discrimination Against Latino Students
  LANC's Advocates for Children's Services and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal complaint against the Wake County Public School System for discriminating against students with Spanish-speaking parents.
  Coverage: Associated Press, CNN, Education Week, News 14 Carolina, News & Observer, WRAL
• May 8, 2012
  Womble Carlyle and Legal Aid Team Up to Assist Hurricane Irene Victims
  Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP and Legal Aid of North Carolina are working together to assess the legal needs of Hurricane Irene victims still struggling with insurance claims, construction scams, mortgage-related problems and other relief issues eight months after the storm made landfall last August.
• May 8, 2012
  Advocacy Groups Demand Wake County Public School System Stop Discrimination Against Latino Students
  Legal Aid's Advocates for Children's Services and the Southern Poverty Law Center are demanding that the Wake County Public School System stop discriminating against Latino students with Spanish-speaking parents or the groups will file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
• May 2, 2012
  Know Your Rights in North Carolina Public Schools
  Legal Aid's Advocates for Children's Services project has published a new know-your-rights handbook for parents, guardians and students in North Carolina public schools.
• May 1, 2012
  Large Law Firms Step Up to Support Legal Aid
  North Carolina's legal luminaries turn out to help Legal Aid of North Carolina thank large law firms for raising nearly $185,000 for legal aid.
• April 26, 2012
  New Guide for Parents on Developing Personalized Education Plans
  Legal Aid's Jason Langberg helped produce the new guide from N.C. Central School of Law, which explains the requirements of the state's Personal Education Plan Law.
• Feb. 16, 2012
  A Life-Saving Victory for a Legal Aid Client
  Legal Aid's Tashama Williams and Jennifer Simmons secured Medicaid coverage for a young woman's life-saving kidney transplant.
  
  

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Disclaimer

The materials contained on this website are for information and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.  Also please note that Legal Aid of North Carolina does not provide legal assistance by E-mail. Contact your Legal Aid of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to an attorney regarding your particular situation.
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Mission Statement

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.