Legal Aid of North Carolina

Legal Aid Unit Honored for Defending Families from Foreclosure

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:13:57 -0400

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.

Youth Justice Advocates Reject Excessively Punitive Measures, Call for Research-Based Approach to Ensuring Safe and Fair Schools

Tue, 7 May 2013 13:53:06 -0400

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. The brief is endorsed by 56 organizations in North Carolina and across the country.

State Funding Cuts Endanger Domestic Violence Victims, Deny Legal Help to Others in Need

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:16:27 -0400

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.

The Right to Counsel in Hard Times: Practical Civil Gideon

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:44:43 -0400

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.

Durham Public Schools punish Black students and students with disabilities at higher rates than peers

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:51:40 -0400

Civil rights groups decry race and disability disparities in suspensions and file complaint against Durham Public Schools with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Legal Aid of North Carolina Opens Branch Office in Richmond County

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:57:49 -0400

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.

Remembering Julian Pierce: Legal Aid Lawyer, Lumbee Activist

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:11:21 -0400

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.

Language Assistance Plan Announced to Resolve Civil Rights Complaint, Advocacy Groups Urge Strict Adherence to Important Reforms

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:51:41 -0400

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, according to the groups that filed the federal discrimination complaint against the school system.

Free Preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney for Low-Income and Elderly Residents Of Greene, Halifax, Pitt Counties

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:20:31 -0500

Students from UNC School of Law and attorneys from Legal Aid of North Carolina 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.

Check Out Our Recent Job Openings!

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:55:38 -0500

We've recently posted job openings for our Judge Samuel J. Ervin III Fellowship in our Morganton office, a staff attorney position in that office, and two staff attorney positions in our Ahoskie office. Take a look and apply if you'd like to join our team!

Upcoming CLEs on Family Law, Mediation, Consumer Law, and Public Benefits

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 12:26:31 -0500

We are hosting a series of Continuing Legal Education sessions around the state this month. For more information, go to our website and download the registration forms and agendas for the upcoming sessions.

Advocates for Children�s Services and the Wake County Public School System Reach Settlement Agreement to Improve Services for Students with Disabilities

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:29:04 -0500

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.

Check out our new annual report!

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:42:20 -0500

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.

Farmworkers Illegally Denied Access to Legal Aid, Other Services, Says Complaint to U.N.

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:04:15 -0500

The United States government has failed to protect farmworkers� legal right to access vital services and information by allowing employers to interfere with outreach workers meeting with farmworkers in labor camps, according to a joint complaint sent today to the United Nations by Legal Aid of North Carolina�s Farmworker Unit and other groups.

Job Opening: Staff Attorney, Raleigh Office

Fri, 9 Nov 2012 13:24:53 -0500

Legal Aid of North Carolina is seeking an attorney to work in its Raleigh Office, which provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income persons in Wake and Johnston counties of North Carolina. Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit 501(c)(3) law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to households whose income generally falls below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Celia Pistolis Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from UNC Law

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:54:10 -0400

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 here Sept. 27.

Legal Aid of North Carolina to Celebrate History of Service in Winston-Salem

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:03:15 -0400

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Legal Aid of North Carolina is hosting a two-for-one anniversary celebration here this month to mark its tenth anniversary and the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the state�s first legal aid program in Forsyth County.

WFU School of Law: Kaitlyn Girard (�12) to tackle rural poverty as N.C. Legal Aid Fellow

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:07:08 -0400

Kaitlyn Girard (�12) has been named a Clifton W. Everett Sr. Community Lawyer Fellow by Legal Aid of North Carolina.

Richmond County Daily Journal: Legal Aid Fellows to tackle rural poverty in Richmond County

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:06:03 -0400

Two newly minted lawyers with a deep dedication to public service are prepared to launch a yearlong effort to aid poverty-stricken residents of rural Richmond County.

Legal Aid Fellows to Tackle Rural Poverty in Richmond County

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:59:14 -0400

Two newly minted lawyers with a deep dedication to public service have been selected by Legal Aid of North Carolina to receive this year's Clifton W. Everett Sr. Community Lawyer Fellowships. The fellows will spend a year providing free legal help to poor residents of Richmond County, one of the state's poorest counties.

WRAL: Disability advocates file complaint against Wake schools

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:29:06 -0400

In the latest in a series of civil rights complaints against the Wake County Public School System, a group of advocates for students with disabilities charges that those students are not getting the education they deserve.

Complaint Reveals Wake County Schools Continue to Violate Rights of Students with Disabilities

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:28:21 -0400

Attorneys with Advocates for Children�s Services (ACS), a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Mark Trustin, a local children�s rights attorney, today filed the latest in a series of formal complaints with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) alleging that the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) continues to violate the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and state law by failing to provide appropriate educational services to students with disabilities during long-term suspensions.

News & Observer: Feds open new civil rights probe of Wake County schools

Thu, 5 Jul 2012 12:29:08 -0400

Two legal advocacy groups announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Education is launching a civil rights investigation into allegations that the Wake County school system is discriminating against some Latino students by not sending their parents important notices in Spanish.

U.S. Department of Education to Investigate Discrimination Against Latino Students in Wake County Public School System

Thu, 5 Jul 2012 12:28:05 -0400

The U.S. Department of Education�s Office for Civil Rights has responded to a complaint by 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.

Advocacy Groups File Complaint Against Wake County Public School System to Stop Discrimination Against Latino Students

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:04:14 -0400

Advocates for Children�s Services (ACS), a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina, and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a complaint today with the U.S. Department of Education�s Office for Civil Rights against the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) for discriminating against Latino students with Spanish-speaking parents.

CLE: Gaining a Greater Understanding of Domestic Violence

Fri, 1 Jun 2012 16:45:15 -0400

The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in collaboration with LANC and Elon University�s Center for Public Affairs, is sponsoring a continuing legal education program on domestic violence June 14.

Womble Carlyle and Legal Aid Team Up to Assist Hurricane Irene Victims

Tue, 8 May 2012 16:49:45 -0400

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.

Advocacy Groups Demand Wake County Public School System Stop Discrimination Against Latino Students

Tue, 8 May 2012 16:48:14 -0400

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.

Know Your Rights in North Carolina Public Schools

Wed, 2 May 2012 16:50:16 -0400

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.

Large Law Firms Step Up to Support Legal Aid

Tue, 1 May 2012 16:50:51 -0400

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.

New Guide for Parents on Developing Personalized Education Plans

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:51:45 -0400

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.

A Life-Saving Victory for a Legal Aid Client

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:52:25 -0400

Legal Aid's Tashama Williams and Jennifer Simmons secured Medicaid coverage for a young woman's life-saving kidney transplant.

Legal Aid�s 2010 Annual Report Available Now!

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:53:04 -0400

Download Legal Aid of North Carolina�s 2010 Annual Report to learn about the work we do, the people we serve and the difference we make.

Legal Aid�s Fair Housing Project Launches New Website

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:53:36 -0400

Legal Aid of North Carolina�s Fair Housing Project, the only statewide full-serve fair housing organization, has launched a new website at www.fairhousingnc.org.