Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to We are launching our "Stop the Cycle" campaign against abuse, assault and exploitation

RALEIGH—Legal Aid of North Carolina has launched the StopTheCycleNC campaign to raise awareness of the key role legal representation plays in ending the cycle of abuse for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, as well as seniors who have experienced financial exploitation. StopTheCycleNC.org educates users about what constitutes abuse, assault and exploitation, and the legal resources and support available to help victims break free from their abusers. From StopTheCycleNC.org, victims can call Legal Aid NC for help or connect to Legal Aid NC’s online application to start the intake process. Digital and radio advertising will start later this month and run through the holidays, when reports of abuse are known to increase. For more information, visit StopTheCycleNC.org.

Abuse, assault and exploitation can take many different forms, victimizing someone of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level or economic status. Victims are often repeatedly abused by an intimate partner, exploited by someone they trust or trapped in inhumane or illegal conditions at jobs they need for income. Escaping an abusive situation can become complicated between family members, for example, when the abuser is an intimate partner and children are involved, or when someone who holds power of attorney is using their position to defraud an elderly relative. Victims are even more reluctant to take action when they do not understand their rights, have little support and lack financial resources.

Rooted in more than 40 years of experience, Legal Aid NC has provided legal assistance to any victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, regardless of income or immigration status. Through its Senior Law Project, Legal Aid NC helps senior citizens who have been financially exploited. Legal Aid NC also helps clients with unemployment and government benefits, access to housing and family law services for child custody issues.

“When victims are finally ready to stop the cycle of victimization, Legal Aid NC is a partner in empowerment,” said TeAndra Miller, project manager of Legal Aid NC’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Project. “Our process may start with helping them obtain a protective order or legal document to protect their assets and children, but we go far beyond with services that can help them achieve stability and a path to independence.”

As an independent organization, Legal Aid NC is not affiliated with the government, district attorney offices or social services. They can help any North Carolina resident regardless of where they live, even if there is no Legal Aid NC office near them. Legal Aid NC’s ability to help victims is not impacted by the pandemic, or whether or not courts are open.

Legal Aid NC’s Stop the Cycle campaign and the services it promotes are funded in part by the Governor’s Crime Commission, the chief advisory body on crime and justice issues to North Carolina’s Governor and Secretary of Public Safety.

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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.

Media contact: Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Disaster Relief

A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for survivors of Tropical Storm Fred in North Carolina. Disaster Legal Services, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the North Carolina Bar Association and Foundation, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions may call the disaster legal assistance hotline at 1-866-219-5262 ext. 2657. Callers should identify that they are seeking storm-related legal assistance, ask for Disaster Legal Services assistance, and identify the county in which they are located. Survivors who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help.

Examples of legal assistance available include:

• Assistance with securing FEMA and other benefits available to disaster survivors

• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims

• Help with home repair contracts and contractors

• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster

• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures

• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems

• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems

The hotline is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where fees are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases will be referred to the North Carolina Lawyer Referral Service at 800-662-7660.

Major Disaster Declaration

A total of three North Carolina counties have been approved to receive federal assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm Fred. The counties are Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania (additional counties may be added later).

People who sustained property damage as a result of Tropical Storm Fred are urged to register with FEMA, as they may be eligible for federal and state disaster assistance. People can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Tropical Storm Fred survivors are also encouraged to call the FEMA hotline to report their damage. Other resources may be found on www.legalaidnc.org/disaster.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for eligible applicants. SBA helps businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or damaged personal property. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, individuals may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery, visit the disaster Web page at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4617, Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website at http://www.ncdps.gov/.

Beware of Fraud

Both FEMA and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office are warning North Carolina residentsof the risk of fraud and common scams in the wake of the severe weather. Common post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations, and fake offers of state or federal aid. North Carolinians are urged to ask questions, and to require identification when someone claims to represent a government agency.

Survivors should also keep in mind that state and federal workers never ask for or accept money, and always carry identification badges with a photograph. There is no fee required to apply for or to receive disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), or the state. Additionally, no state or federal government disaster assistance agency will call to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to the agency yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone as it can lead to identity theft.

Those who suspect fraud can call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (toll free). Complaints may also be made to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Hotline at 877-566-7226.

Background

When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, helps to establish a toll-free number for disaster survivors to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to handle survivors’ cases. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division partners with Legal Aid of North Carolina to offer a disaster legal services hotline that provides legal information and referrals for civil legal issues. Survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to the NC Lawyer Referral Service at 800-662-7660.

Partner Organizations

The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for North Carolina Tropical Storm Fred survivors to request free legal assistance, and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from hurricane related damage.

North Carolina Bar Association and Foundation – The North Carolina Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers, paralegals and law students dedicated to serving the public and the legal profession. The North Carolina Bar Foundation provides support to the Disaster Legal Services pro bono project and North Carolina Bar Association volunteers. The NCBA Young Lawyers Division, often referred to as the service arm of the NCBA, is involved in a multitude of worthwhile projects and public service endeavors, including Disaster Legal Services.

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

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and one of the largest voluntary professional membership groups in the world.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Through an agreement with the American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of operating toll-free legal assistance lines for survivors in areas designated as federal disaster sites.

National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center – The National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center, or DisasterLegalAid.org (DLA), is a national online resource with self-help tools and free legal information for individuals and communities impacted by natural disasters. It is a collaborative effort of Lone Star Legal Aid, Pro Bono Net, the American Bar Association, the Legal Services Corporation, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.

Media contacts:

Bryan Alexander, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Development & Public Relations Associate, 404-273-3104, bryana@legalaidnc.org
Kim Bart Mullikin, North Carolina Bar Association, Foundation Senior Director, 919-677-0561, DLS@ncbar.org
Brandon McPherson, American Bar Association, ABA YLD District 9 Rep., 919-896-3397, brandonlmcpherson@gmail.com

Author: pricelessmisc

Ward Black Law, a law firm in Greensboro, hosted the 10th annual Super Lawyers event August 24 to honor NC’s top 50 women Super Lawyers (see list below) and to raise funds for Legal Aid of North Carolina.

This year’s event, held virtually for the first time, featured remarks from keynote speaker Rep. Sarah Stevens, House Speaker Pro Tempore in the General Assembly; Janet Ward Black, owner of Ward Black Law; George Hausen, Executive Director of Legal Aid of North Carolina; and Adrienne Kennedy, a member of Legal Aid’s Board of Directors.

In her remarks, Rep. Stevens discussed the importance of education, the need for civility in the legal profession, the benefits of mediation and negotiation, her experience balancing work and family life, and more.

“I feel very humbled,” she concluded, referring to her selection as a Super Lawyer. “I don’t feel like a ‘super lawyer.’ I’m just a lawyer who cares about my people.”

Janet Ward Black, whose firm is one of the largest woman-owned law offices in North Carolina, started the Super Lawyers event to celebrate outstanding women attorneys in our state and give them a chance to network – all while raising money for Legal Aid of North Carolina, an organization whose clients and lawyers are predominantly women.

“We hope that no one underestimates the power of hope and the fact that we, as lawyers, can deliver hope in really unique ways – and this is one of the ways we can do that,” Janet Ward Black said about the event. “Because perhaps these women can meet a woman lawyer that could be a role model in their career.”

Legal Aid will use the money raised from the event to expand access to safe and affordable housing, protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, fight for equal access to quality education and affordable health care, and provide economic stability for those who need it most.

“Seventy percent of our clients are women heads of household,” George Hausen, Legal Aid’s executive director, said “and 40% of those women earn less than $10,000 a year to support their family,” he noted, highlighting the grave economic circumstances confronting our clients.

“I am a mother of three and I have a special-needs child,” said Adrienne Kennedy, a member of our Board of Directors. To ensure that Legal Aid never loses sight of our clients’ needs, a certain number of our board members are financially eligible for our services.

“I go to Legal Aid for everything,” continued Kennedy. “I thank God for Legal Aid and their humanitarian fight for justice.”

You don’t have to be a Super Lawyer or a Legal Aid lawyer to work for justice. By donating to Legal Aid of North Carolina, you become a partner in our mission to fulfill the promise of “justice for all” for all North Carolinians. Learn more at legalaidnc.org/donate.

Event Recording

About Super Lawyers

Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top women lawyers in North Carolina via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation. The North Carolina lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers Top Lists.

North Carolina’s top 50 women Super Lawyers

Elizabeth K. Arias · Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

Catharine Biggs Arrowood · Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Shelby D. Benton · Benton Family Law

Laurie B. Biggs · Stubbs & Perdue, P.A.

Heidi C. Bloom · Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP

Jean Gordon Carter · McGuireWoods LLP

Denise Smith Cline · Law Offices of Denise Smith Cline

Michelle D. Connell · Fox Rothschild LLP

Leto Copeley · White & Stradley, PLLC

Heather W. Culp · Essex Richards, P.A.

Janice L. Davies · Davies Law, PLLC

Tricia Morvan Derr · Lincoln Derr PLLC

Debra L. Foster · Debra L. Foster, PLLC

Nicole L. Gardner · Gardner Skelton PLLC

Susie Gibbons · Poyner Spruill LLP

Nancy L. Grace · Wake Family Law Group

Sara “Sally” W. Higgins · Higgins & Owens, PLLC

Jill S. Jackson · Jackson Family Law

Kimberly J. Korando · Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.

Margaret B. Maloney · Maloney Law & Associates, PLLC

Valecia M. McDowell · Moore & Van Allen PLLC

Karin M. McGinnis · Moore & Van Allen PLLC

Gena G. Morris · James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A.

Christine L. Myatt · Nexsen Pruet, PLLC

Laura L. Noble · The Noble Law

Holly B. Norvell · Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A.

C. Melissa Owen · Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, PLLC

Leslie C. Packer · Ellis & Winters LLP

Annemarie Pantazis · Wilder Pantazis Law Group

Patti W. Ramseur · Ramseur Maultsby LLP

Alice Carmichael Richey · Alexander Ricks PLLC

Heidi E. Royal · Heidi E. Royal Law, PLLC

Deborah Sandlin · Sandlin Family Law Group

Elizabeth Brooks Scherer · Fox Rothschild LLP

Elizabeth Davenport Scott · Williams Mullen

Patricia P. Shields · Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, L.L.P.

Caroline Wannamaker Sink · Robinson Bradshaw

Robin J. Stinson · Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.

Kimberly H. Stogner · Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

Jill Stricklin · Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP

Alice C. Stubbs · Tharrington Smith, LLP

Jennifer K. Van Zant · Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP

Angelique R. Vincent-Hamacher · Robinson Bradshaw

Lorion Macrae Vitale · Vitale Family Law

Dixie T. Wells · Ellis & Winters LLP

Laura J. Wetsch · Winslow Wetsch, PLLC

Stacy K. Wood · Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

A. Cotten Wright · Grier Wright Martinez, P.A.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Criminal Record Expunction

NEW HANOVER COUNTY—New Hanover County residents are eligible for a free expunction clinic.

To register:

Call Legal Aid of North Carolina’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-219-5262
The helpline is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Space is limited, act fast!

Legal Aid staff will screen callers to ensure they are eligible for the expunction clinic. Callers will be asked to attend an event on October 15, in the New Hanover County courthouse, where they will receive assistance in the expunction process.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Healthcare Access

RALEIGH · August 30, 2021—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded the NC Navigator Consortium $4,951,640 per year for the next three years to enroll North Carolinians in affordable health insurance on HealthCare.gov, the federal Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act.

This grant is the second largest in the country awarded by CMS for the 2021-2024 grant period.

The grant was announced last week by CMS, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Legal Aid of North Carolina, a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to low-income North Carolinians, is the leader of the consortium and will administer the grant.

The grant will fund a corps of Navigators, who are trained to help consumers understand the details of plans available on the Health Insurance Marketplace at  www.healthcare.gov, determine which plan will best meet the needs of their family, apply for financial assistance, and complete the enrollment process.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue the work that we started back in 2014,” Mark Van Arnam, director of the NC Navigator Consortium, said.

“We are honored that we were chosen to receive the second largest award among all the grantees. This really fuels our Navigators as it reflects on the amazing work done by Legal Aid Navigators and our sub-grantees over the last eight years,” said Van Arnam. “We’ll be able to help more North Carolinians connect to coverage through application assistance and enrollment education. We’ll help more of our community understand health insurance by providing free health insurance literacy events and free appointments, year-round, to talk with a Navigator about any questions they may have.”

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About 

The NC Navigator Consortium is a group of nine health care, social service and legal aid organizations that helps North Carolina consumers enroll in affordable, comprehensive health insurance plans on HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. Members of the consortium are Access East, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Cumberland HealthNet, HealthNet Gaston, Kintegra Health, NC Field, Pisgah Legal Services, and Legal Aid of North Carolina, which leads the consortium. Learn more at ncnavigator.net and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity number NAVCA210405-01-00 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Foreclosures

RALEIGH — The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund is now accepting applications from North Carolina homeowners whose finances were impacted by the pandemic and who need assistance with housing-related expenses. Established through the 2021 American Rescue Plan to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements and foreclosures for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fund offers assistance of up to $40,000 for qualified homeowners as long as funding is available.

“The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt by many North Carolinians,” said Scott Farmer, executive director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which is administering the NC Homeowner Assistance Fund. “This program is designed to help homeowners who are experiencing pandemic-related financial hardships hold on to their homes while they get back on their feet. Ensuring that families have stable housing has always been our mission and that has become even more critical during this ongoing public health crisis.”

For qualified homeowners, the fund offers:

Housing payment assistance for primary residence in North Carolina (for example, single-family home, townhome, condo or mobile home).
Assistance for mortgage reinstatement to catch up on late payments (first or second mortgages) or other housing-related costs due to a period of forbearance, delinquency or default.
Assistance covering other housing-related costs such as homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues/fees or delinquent property taxes to prevent foreclosure.

Homeowners may be eligible for assistance if they are experiencing financial hardship due to job loss or business closure, reduction in hours or pay, difficulty obtaining new employment, death of a spouse or co-borrower or increased expenses due to the pandemic. Increased expenses can be due to health care, the need to care for a family member, increased child care costs due to school closures or increased costs associated with quarantine. Applicants must be seeking assistance for a primary residence in North Carolina and meet income and other requirements.

Homeowners can learn more and apply for help by calling 1-855-MY-NCHAF (1-855-696-2423) or by visiting NCHomeownerAssistance.gov.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Disaster Relief

Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project will be on site at the Pender County Long Term Recovery Group Disaster Preparedness Expo on July 17 to help survivors of Hurricane Florence prepare wills and advanced directives and to provide information about the other disaster-related legal services that the organization offers.

The expo will take place at the Joint Community Center at 17808 NC Hwy 210 in Rocky Point from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Property ownership and estate planning are probably not the first things that come to mind when preparing for hurricane season, but they can be critical factors to recovery after a storm,” said Dale Deese, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project. “In fact, estate planning documents can provide certainty for you and your heirs if disaster strikes and you end up in an extended recovery process. We are excited to be at the expo to provide this service as well as information about additional ways Legal Aid may be able to help with disaster recovery in Pender County.”

Legal Aid may be able to draft a simple will or deed on site at the expo for eligible Hurricane Florence survivors who want to make sure that ownership of their home and land is clear and that their home and land will go to the person that they want to inherit it. Legal Aid’s services are free of charge. While walk-ins are welcome, advanced sign up is preferred. Please call Tommy Johnson at (984) 297-1977 or Michelle Green at (910) 623-1933 to sign up and secure a spot.

Legal Aid is helping survivors of Hurricane Florence access recovery assistance for damage to their homes sustained during the storm, and may also be able to help when other legal issues arise during the recovery process. For those who would like to learn more about Legal Aid’s services and eligibility, call the Legal Aid helpline at 866-219-5262.

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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. Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina and supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities.

Author: pricelessmisc

RALEIGH—Our board of directors installed new leadership and welcomed new members during its virtual meeting June 25. The slate of fresh faces includes big names in North Carolina’s corporate, legal and nonprofit communities.

“We are fortunate to enjoy such strong support from so many sectors in our state,” said George R. Hausen, Jr., our executive director.

“That we can attract such high-profile leaders from law firms, banks, global technology companies and top-flight nonprofits,” he continued, “is testament to the broad importance and high quality of the work we do.

“These directors understand that poverty is a universal issue and that providing access to our civil justice system—a necessary part of the fight against poverty—is not the sole responsibility of the legal community. All of us must chip in to solve a problem that affects us all.”

New leadership

Gonzalo E. Frias, Senior Vice President & Senior Company Counsel in Wells Fargo’s legal department, in Charlotte, is our new board chair. Gonzalo joined our board in 2017 and has served as vice-chair since 2019. He takes over as chair from Clayton D. Morgan, associate general counsel of Duke Energy, who left our board today.

“It is a privilege to lead these legal luminaries on the board of an organization with such a noble purpose,” Gonzalo said.

“Our board’s passion for justice helps drive Legal Aid of North Carolina’s commitment to client service across our 20 offices throughout the state. I am so excited to be a part of this organization at such a pivotal time.”

Learn more about Gonzalo.

Ashley H. Campbell, Director of Campbell Law’s Blanchard Community Law Clinic, in Raleigh, is our new vice-chair. Ashley joined our board in 2019 and has served as chair of our Fundraising and Resource Development Committee since 2019. She takes over as vice-chair from Gonzalo Frias, our new chair.

“I began my career at Legal Aid of North Carolina serving the citizens of Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland counties,” Ashley said.

“It is an honor to continue to serve the organization in this capacity and to continue the quest for equal access to justice for all North Carolinians.”

Learn more about Ashley.

E.D. “Ed” Gaskins, Jr., Partner in Everett Gaskins Hancock LLP, in Raleigh, is our new treasurer. Ed joined our board in 2017 and has served as secretary since 2019. He takes over as treasurer from Francisco J. Benzoni, assistant attorney general at the N.C. Department of Justice, who left our board today.

Learn more about Ed.

Tadra Martin, Supervising Attorney at Disability Rights North Carolina, in Raleigh, is our new secretary. She joined our board in 2020. Before joining Disability Rights NC, Tadra served as one of our staff attorneys. She takes over as secretary from Ed Gaskins, our new treasurer.

Learn more about Tadra.

New members

Alice Freeman, a licensed cosmetologist, is a resident of Lumberton. Living in a community that was hit hard by two recent hurricanes—Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018—she is well acquainted with devastation and misery on a personal level. Natural disasters have forced her to close or relocate her business more than once.

Her role as small-business woman also puts her in touch with the pain of her entire community. “Sometimes I feel like a personal psychiatrist,” she said, describing how she listens to her customers talk about the problems and challenges that affect their families. Many of her neighbors are still waiting to be compensated by FEMA.

Not content to merely be a sympathetic ear, Alice is passionate about finding resources to help her neighbors. She has sought connections with other community members and organizations that provide critical services.

“I know what it feels like,” she said, referring to the indignities suffered by a poor community in the wake of a natural disaster, “so no one is better than me at finding ways to make it better.”

Linda McCall is a proud resident of Durham. She knows the challenges that Legal Aid clients face, because they have been her own challenges. Homelessness, abuse, abandonment—these are not hypothetical or theoretical to her. They have been and continue to be part of her life.

Since she knows what it’s like to be treated as if she doesn’t exist, she seeks to help and make connections with those whom others might ignore. She sees herself in their faces and hears the longing in their voices. No matter their circumstances, she sees possibilities in everyone she meets.

Her compassion and uncommon empathy have caused her to become a resource for her neighbors in need. She collects informational pamphlets and useful phone numbers to give to those who need help. She talks with young people about making good choices and shares with them that her own choices were not always good ones. She talks with parents, giving them encouragement and listening to their dreams and concerns.

“I can be a fun person,” she says, though her tone let’s you know that she’s serious about the business of helping people.

John Moschandreas joined our board in earlier this year. John is the Deputy General Counsel for Technology, Privacy, and Procurement for Truist, in Charlotte. Before starting his current position in 2019, he served in the legal departments of SunTrust, Procter & Gamble, and Convergys. He earned his J.D. from the Marshall Wythe Law School at William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Va., in 2003.

Learn more about John.

 Jennifer T. Salinas joined our board earlier this year. Jennifer is the Executive Director, General Counsel of the Infrastructure Solutions Group and head of global litigation at Lenovo, in Morrisville. Salinas served as president of the Hispanic National Bar Association from 2018 to 2019, capping off nearly a decade of service in leadership positions with the organization.

“I’m delighted to join Legal Aid of North Carolina’s board,” Jennifer said.

“I have spent most of my 23-year legal career fighting for the rights of the underserved, so I’m excited to continue this work in my new hometown of North Carolina. And of course I look forward to forging longstanding relationships with my fellow board members; a top-notch group of professionals that I’m proud to be associated with.”

Learn more about Jennifer.

John R. Wester joined our board today. John is an attorney with Robinson Bradshaw, in Charlotte. He served as president of the North Carolina Bar Association in 2009-2010. In 2021 he received the Advocate’s Award and Citizen Lawyer Award from the NCBA. In 2019 he received the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award from the State Bar of North Carolina.

“Early in my time as a lawyer, I had the great good fortune to meet talented lawyers who had chosen Legal Aid for their careers,” John said.

“After engaging with them in many courtroom experiences,” he continued, “I became their teammate in a federal court class action representing disabled citizens that ran for 18 years (Hyatt v. Shalala).

“Although we in our profession must be wary of elitism, I have learned that there are some tools that only lawyers can wield. To join this board, to be part of this cause, is some honor indeed.”

Learn more about John.

As a grantee of the federal Legal Services Corporation, at least 60% of our board members must be attorneys and at least one-third of our members must be financially eligible to receive our services. The remaining members can be appointed by the board itself without regard to the members’ professions or financial circumstances.

Click here for the full list of our board members.

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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 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Disaster Relief

To help ensure North Carolinians are prepared for this upcoming hurricane season, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project is holding free events for Craven and Jones county residents aimed at helping eligible North Carolinians overcome the legal issues that could be a barrier to recovery from a storm.

“While property ownership and estate planning may not immediately come to mind when thinking about preparing for hurricane season, they can be critical aspects of recovery after a storm,” said Dale Deese, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project. “These events are a great opportunity to learn more about how Legal Aid can help with disaster recovery and also access some of our services directly at the events.”

Legal Aid will partner with the Craven County Disaster Recovery Alliance on Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Havelock for a drop-in informational event focused on heir property, property that has been passed down within families informally and not through a will. Legal Aid representatives will be available at the event to provide general information about how property ownership issues can arise when seeking recovery funds following a storm and can screen individuals on site for eligibility for Legal Aid’s free services.

On May 22, Legal Aid will partner with The Father’s Refuge to provide estate planning services to survivors of Hurricane Florence. Individuals who are eligible for Legal Aid’s services will be able to get help drafting and executing end-of-life documents such as wills and powers of attorney free of charge. The Father’s Refuge will also be providing food and use of their campgrounds during the event. The event will take place at 9210 Hwy 55 W., Dover, NC 28526 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. While walk-ins are welcome, Legal Aid encourages people to register in advance by calling (984) 297-1977 to reach Legal Aid or (252) 497-8783 to reach Scott Murphy at The Father’s Refuge.

Both events will take place outdoors, and masks and social distancing will be enforced.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Consumer Issues

NEW HANOVER COUNTY—New Hanover County residents with a suspended or revoked driver’s license have until July 2 to register for a free license-restoration event.

To register:

Call Legal Aid of North Carolina’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-219-5262
As soon as you hear the automated greeting, dial 2659
The helpline is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
July 2 is the last day to register. Space is limited, so act fast!

Legal Aid staff will screen callers to ensure they are eligible for a license restoration. The first 200 eligible callers will be asked to attend an event on Friday, August 20, in New Hanover County, where they will complete the restoration process.

This event is sponsored by LINC, the NC Second Chance Alliance, New Hanover and Pender County District Attorney’s Office, the New Hanover County Bar Association, the New Hanover County Public Defender’s Office and Legal Aid of North Carolina.

This effort is part of our Drive Forward NC program, which provides free license-restoration services to low-income people so they can secure and maintain employment, and otherwise engage fully and independently in their professional, family and social lives.