RALEIGH – Laura Butler, a long-time attorney in our Central Intake Unit, passed away unexpectedly January 26. 

Laura was truly special. Her passion and dedication to serving our clients was unparalleled. Even in an organization full of selfless people, Laura stood out. 

She always put our clients’ time before her own, even requesting flexibility in her schedule so she could staff our intake Helpline after hours, ensuring that our clients’ work schedules didn’t prevent them from securing justice. She always volunteered to be the on-call attorney during holidays, allowing her colleagues to celebrate with their families while ensuring that no client was left behind. She also donated generously to causes that provided for our clients. 

Laura was one of the founding members of our Central Intake Unit, joining us in 2006, soon after the unit’s creation. She was part-time until her passing, using the extra hours to volunteer and engage in her many community activities.  

Prior to becoming an attorney, Laura was an engineer. As a well-thought-out second career, Laura decided to attend law school and ultimately joined Legal Aid with the sole purpose of giving back. She believed in Legal Aid’s mission to serve low-income and marginalized communities. 

During her time with us, Laura made an impact not only on the clients she worked with, but with her colleagues. The following testaments come from those who knew and worked with her. 

“‘How can I help?’ That was Laura’s purpose, whether it was helping a client or her colleagues. Laura did not limit her help to workdays or work hours. I still remember the many times during the holidays – Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day – when she contacted me to determine if the client had an emergency we needed to address.” 
—Vilma Suarez, Deputy Director of Operations, former Managing Attorney of our Central Intake Unit 

“Laura was one of the most selfless people I have ever known. She always searched for ways to help our clients. At the office, she would ask everyone how they were doing and if they needed any help. She was also unflappable. I never once heard her raise her voice or complain about anything. She was a very calming presence in our office. Her loss cannot be overstated.” 
—Alison Everett, Supervising Attorney, Central Intake Unit 

“Laura was a respected colleague and a dear friend. We began working together when the Legal Aid Helpline was created over fifteen years ago. Clients and coworkers have come and gone, but Laura remained a constant, never losing sight of our mission, never losing her zeal for advocating for our clients. Her quiet calm and fierce advocacy will be missed by those she served, and by all of us who had the pleasure of working with her and counting her as a friend.” 
—Robert Amrine, Attorney, Central Intake Unit 

“Laura was passionate about helping people. She was always there for a colleague or a client. Laura quietly helped without seeking recognition. She donated generously to the NC Legal Feeding Frenzy and to others in need. Her kindness was well known and she touched all those she met. She will be deeply missed.” 
—Sulaifa H. Siddiqui, Supervising Attorney, Central Intake Unit 

“Laura was the go-to person that everyone knew could handle a client case without hesitation. She was not only an excellent attorney but also a dear friend who cared about her colleagues and wanted to be involved to help or lend a listening ear. Yes, she was that person that you could truly count on, and she will be honored for her loyalty and her loving, giving spirit.” 
—Connie Johnson, Intake Paralegal, Central Intake Unit 

“Laura was truly unparalleled in her ability to engage with our clients, especially those in stressful situations. Her manner unfailingly imparted empathy, compassion, and reassurance to clients that they were being heard and that she would do whatever she could to help. I was fortunate to work within earshot of her for many years and learn from her example.” 
—Hope Williams, Supervising Attorney, Fair Housing Project 

“Not only was Laura an amazing advocate for her clients, but she was a great person. She will be missed.” 
—Andrea Johnson, Paralegal, Fair Housing Project 

“I was privileged to work with Laura during my time at Legal Aid. I spent most of my time with her as an interpreter for her clients. I would notice that she was very devoted and how she took time to inform and educate her clients. She was passionate about her work. Her work left an impression and motivated me to always advocate for my clients to the best of my ability.” 
—Raul Diaz, former staff, Central Intake Unit 

Click here to read Laura’s obituary. 

RALEIGH – Jeffrey D. Dillman passed away peacefully but unexpectedly a month ago today, January 22. Jeff, as he was known to us, was a co-director of our Fair Housing Project, which actively and successfully fights housing discrimination on an individual and systemic level throughout our state.

His untimely passing at the age of 58 has left us reeling. While the Fair Housing Project is a relatively small unit in our large organization, the importance of its work and Jeff’s warm personality, quiet but strong moral character, and long tenure—he became co-director in 2012, a year after the Fair Housing Project’s launch—gave him an outsize influence here. His principled and passionate pursuit of justice epitomized the ideal legal aid lawyer. He served—and we hope that his memory continues to serve—as a model for many of his colleagues.

Testament to his dedication are the many notable successes the Fair Housing Project enjoyed under his leadership. Here is a sampling:

• Housing Discrimination Case in Greenville Continues after One Defendant Sentenced to 28 Months in Federal Prison for Racial Harassment
• Builders, Architects, Owners of 5 NC Housing Complexes Settle Discrimination Cases; Agree to Make $1.3 million in Accessibility Modifications
• SkyHouse Apartments Settle Fair Housing Cases for $1.8 million: Money to help make homes more accessible for people with disabilities
• Fidelity Bank Agrees to Invest $1 Million to Settle Discrimination Complaint
• Scotland County Housing Group Settles Fair Housing Case for $2.7 Million

If you knew Jeff, then you know that words alone cannot adequately convey who he was as a person and colleague. However, for those who did not have the privilege of knowing him, we hope that the following remembrances from his closest colleagues provide at least a glimpse into his character and the difference he made for victims of housing discrimination in North Carolina.

“When I think of someone with great integrity, I often think of Jeff. There was just no one like him. He was unique and he was very generous. He was a singular individual in terms of his intelligence, his passion, and his capacity for hard work. He was just extraordinary in every respect, and he was a young man who left us much too early.”
—George Hausen, Executive Director

“Jeff was just the best and we miss him dearly. We’re just going to try and continue to do the work the way that Jeff wanted us to. He was just remarkable.”
—Kelly Clarke, Supervising Attorney, Fair Housing Project

“This has been a deeply sad time for us at the Fair Housing Project. I know he touched a lot of lives, and he was truly one of the very best people I’ve ever known. He was caring and generous and always willing to help a colleague. I am privileged to have known him, to have learned from him, to have him as a boss and a mentor. I know I’m a better advocate and a better person for knowing him, and I will miss him very dearly.”
—Lauren Brasil, Supervising Attorney, Fair Housing Project

“Back in November, I joined the Fair Housing Project as an attorney, and I was just thrilled beyond belief to be able to work with Jeff and learn from him. I am so impressed with his core competence with everything he did. He was an amazing leader and amazing friend, and he was such an advocate for everyone. He really encouraged me so much in my work and I will deeply miss him.”
—Hope Williams, Attorney, Fair Housing Project

“Jeff was one of the best supervisors I have had the privilege of working with. He was always calm and easy going, compassionate, helpful, and ready to provide guidance if I needed it. He always had time for a quick question and encouraged my professional growth. I will never forget his kindness.”

—Andrea Johnson, Paralegal and Assistant Testing Coordinator, Fair Housing Project

“Jeff was an incredible manager, and you could see the love that his staff had for him. Jeff always had time for people. As committed as he was to getting the work right, the human side of Jeff was something that I know his staff really appreciated and that I appreciated. He was always a terrific advocate for his staff, in all different forums.”
—Suzanne Chester, Managing Attorney, The Child’s Advocate

“Jeff was one of the original people that jumped in as a volunteer to our Diversity Working Group. I didn’t get a ton of men lining up to volunteer for that. Jeff made every meeting, and he didn’t try to take over. The type of man that he was, I hope we could all, especially the men, emulate that, because he really stood up for a lot of good things. I just want to thank him publicly for that.”
—Gina Reyman, Managing Attorney, Durham office

“I am so thankful that I knew Jeff and knew him as a colleague. He was committed to all our clients, and to all the people in the world having better lives and having more opportunities. I remember often he would say to me ‘Willette, are you taking care of yourself?’ and he was always available to help. He was genuinely caring, the care that you can see in someone’s eyes, not just from their words, and I will miss his spirit dearly.”
—Willette Crews, Paralegal/Outreach Coordinator, Durham office

“When I started taking on additional responsibility and trying to figure out how to do that, Jeff was very generous and kind with his time. He met with me several times to teach me, mentor me and help me figure out how to be a better supervisor. I’m just devastated. He is irreplaceable.”
—Peter Gilbert, Director, Statewide Eviction Diversion Program

“Jeff was always precise, always so meticulous, always kind in all his comments. His passing has been very hard for us. We all have to pull together to help each other and check on each other. That’s very important, and it’s what Jeff would want us to do.”
—Yvette Stackhouse, Deputy Director of Administration

“Jeff was not only a wonderful attorney, but Jeff was also a good accountant. Jeff could have been an accountant any day of his life. He basically put the HUD budgets together himself. If I made a mistake, he would catch it, which was great. He made our lives so much easier. It was a privilege to work with him.”
—Bernetta Reynolds, Chief Financial Officer

“Jeff pursued publicity for the Fair Housing Project with complete selflessness. He never, ever sought recognition for himself. His motivation was always solely to effect positive outcomes for the project’s clients and for victims of discrimination in general. He recognized that public relations was simply another tool in his advocacy toolbox, and he used it skillfully and effectively. His example has always inspired me and will continue to do so. I will miss him.”
—Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations

To learn more about Jeff, click here to read his obituary. His memorial service will be held March 20 at 11 a.m. at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

MURPHY— Jim Holloway has retired from Legal Aid of North Carolina after serving continuously in legal aid work in the state for more than 40 years, most recently as senior managing attorney in Legal Aid NC’s Murphy and Hayesville offices.

Holloway is well known in the community at large in Western North Carolina. Last month, the Clay County Progress published a story about his retirement on its front page, with quotes of praise from everyone from the Clay County Manager to a former client, social workers, and an educator.

Why did he stay in legal aid work for his whole career, when some young attorneys submit to a time of public service and then are attracted elsewhere?

Holloway said it goes back to core values and how you choose to spend your time. “It sounds sappy, but I learned a lot in Sunday school, and I believed it,” Holloway said.

Holloway said that when he graduated from law school in 1975, he “wasn’t of a mind to start a traditional law practice.” Instead, he kicked off his career by serving a year as a VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) attorney in the Anchorage office of Alaska Legal Services. For Holloway, Alaska also held the lure of adventure. He developed a love of cross-country skiing there.

After his VISTA year he continued working for Alaska Legal Services, serving the native population in the Bristol Bay area, which consisted of small villages and towns reachable mainly by small plane.

In 1978, Holloway returned to his native North Carolina and joined Eastern Cherokee Legal Services as a staff attorney. That organization later became Western North Carolina Legal Services (WNCLS), the predecessor of the Sylva office of Legal Aid of North Carolina. Holloway achieved promotion to co-executive director of WNCLS.

Larry Nestler, currently a part-time senior managing attorney for Legal Aid NC, worked together with Holloway every day “for a long time,” according to Nestler.

As Nestler tells it, Holloway became an expert in complex cases, including jurisdiction relating to tribal affairs, truth in lending, and many kinds of consumer cases. Nestler remarked that Holloway was extremely thorough on behalf of every client, whether the case was complex or not, and whether the monetary amount in controversy was large or small.

“Jim would not have been able to practice that way if he were in private practice, where greater resources go to the potentially larger pay-offs,” Nestler said.

In the courtroom, Holloway was very calm and collected “even when opposing counsel was acting like a rear-end,” according to Nestler. Nestler said he would get irritated and would urge Holloway not to let the asininity go. But Holloway would always handle it calmly. He also had a reputation among his co-workers for helping clients deemed difficult by most others on staff.

In 2002, Holloway secured funding to open a Legal Aid NC office in Hayesville. From that office he served Legal Aid’s mission in Clay, Cherokee, and Graham counties for almost 20 years.

Holloway continually developed his expertise in consumer law and became a resource on the subject for Legal Aid attorneys across the state. According to Nestler, Holloway spent long nights doing research and built long pleadings that left nothing to chance. “He would wear the other side out,” Nestler said. “They would settle, and Jim’s client would get almost everything demanded.”

In 2017, the North Carolina Bar Association awarded Holloway the Deborah Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award. Judge Donna Forga of the 30^th Judicial District wrote one of the recommendation letters in support of the award. Forga recalled that Holloway had mentored her. She said that she, now as a judge, enjoyed the opportunity to see Holloway accompany young attorneys into her courtroom, offering tips and directions “while modeling patience and professionalism in dealing with difficult opposing counsel.”

Nestler doesn’t foresee Holloway actually “retiring” in the sense of not working. “People will still call him for help, and so he will,” said Nestler.

Holloway confessed he doesn’t know right now what his retirement will look like. “It’s pretty darned nice not to have any responsibilities other than Medicare, insurance, and so on,” he said. He said that for the time being, he plans to get in touch with old friends and spend more time with his grandchildren.

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About

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. Learn more at legalaidnc.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Need legal help? Call 1-866-219-5262 (toll-free) or apply online at legalaidnc.org/apply.

Our Smoky Mountain Offices, located in Sylva and Murphy, serve Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Territory. Follow us on Facebook.

Media Contact

Bryan Alexander, Legal Aid of North Carolina, 404-273-3104, bryana@legalaidnc.org

After 20 years of service as the founding President and Executive Director of Legal Aid of North Carolina, George R. Hausen, Jr., recently announced that he will retire in the summer of 2022.

“Leaving Legal Aid is truly bittersweet for me,” Hausen said. “My 20 years here have been the most meaningful of my career. The passion, dedication and tirelessness of my colleagues – not to mention the resiliency and courage of our clients – inspires me daily. I will miss being surrounded by the best of what humanity has to offer. I also know that now is the time for new leadership. Legal Aid is better positioned than ever before to make a real, meaningful difference in the lives of North Carolinians in need. The organization deserves a new leader with a vision for what it can become over the next 20 years. I am excited for that future and hope that all of our supporters are too.”

Under Hausen’s visionary leadership:

• Legal Aid grew from a $13 million organization with 220 staff into the powerhouse it is today. With its current staff of 475 and its operating budget of $38 million, Legal Aid is one of the largest human-service nonprofits in North Carolina, the fourth largest law firm in the state, and one of the largest civil legal aid organizations in the country.
• Legal Aid launched innovative projects aimed at providing holistic services to its clients, including the NC Navigator Consortium, which helps enroll North Carolinians in affordable health insurance on HealthCare.gov; the NC Medicaid Ombudsman, which serves as the advocate for beneficiaries in North Carolina Medicaid’s new Managed Care system; and the Disaster Relief Project, which helps vulnerable households prepare for, respond to and recover from ruinous natural disasters.
• Legal Aid served 800,000 households since its launch in 2002. By employing innovative strategies, like establishing the Central Intake Unit to standardize client intake across the state, launching a statewide client helpline and online intake application, and maximizing the use of the latest technology to deliver free legal-education and self-help materials to the client community, Hausen ensured that Legal Aid advocates could deliver the most impactful service to those who need it most.

“It’s hard to imagine Legal Aid of North Carolina without George,” said Gonzalo E. Frias, Chair of Legal Aid’s Board of Directors. “Heading into our 20^th anniversary year, the organization is the strongest it has ever been – and that is due in large part to George’s steady, tireless and innovative leadership. Under his direction, the organization has evolved from merely a law firm into the full-scope human-services juggernaut for the poor that it is today. He leaves his successor with giant shoulders to stand on.”

In preparation for Hausen’s retirement, Legal Aid’s Board of Directors has engaged Armstrong McGuire & Associates to lead an Executive Transition Management process. A transition and search committee has been formed and is led by longtime Legal Aid board member Reid C. “Cal” Adams, Jr., Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson in Winston-Salem; and Vice Chair of Legal Aid’s board of directors, Ashley Campbell, director of Campbell Law’s Community Law Clinic and Of Counsel at Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh.

About Legal Aid of North Carolina

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. Learn more at legalaidnc.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Need legal help? Call 1-866-219-5262 (toll-free) or apply online.