The new issue of our pro bono newsletter is hot off the presses! Learn about all the innovative, impactful — and fun! — ways we partner with the private bar to provide access to justice for North Carolinians in need.
Items in this issue include:
Big thanks to those who answered the call for Lawyer on the Line volunteers
Domestic violence pilot a success!
Wells Fargo, Moore & Van Allen hold Lawyer on the Line clinic
Free CLE: Disaster preparedness and the law
Mark Your Calendars! Annual Triage kickoff Sep 18
Pro bono post among NCBarBlog’s most popular
Program Spotlight: Adult Guardianship Program
Volunteer Spotlight: Connor H. Crews, McGuireWoods
Our Lawyer on the Line pro bono program needs volunteer attorneys! Give legal advice over the phone to low-income tenants living with dangerous and unsanitary housing conditions — everything from broken AC in summer to backed-up sewage lines. Keep reading to learn more and sign up. Visit our Lawyer on the Line page at legalaidnc.org/lotl.
We need you!
Lawyer on the Line meets a critical need. More low-income North Carolinians need legal help than our staff can serve. That’s where you come in. Lawyer on the Line attorneys step up to serve those we can’t help.
You can do it!
Lawyer on the Line makes pro bono easy. No experience? No problem! We provide training, support materials, mentorship from our seasoned attorneys and malpractice insurance. We got your back!
You have time!
Lawyer on the Line fits your schedule. Most cases take only an hour and have no deadlines. Call your client when you want — and where you want! Lawyer on the Line lets you serve from the comfort of your office or home.
You’ll love it!
Lawyer on the Line provides a rewarding experience. A bit of legal advice might seem like a little to you, but it means a lot to our clients — and it shows! Our clients aren’t shy about showing their appreciation.
So, how ’bout it?
Author: Sean Driscoll
We love our pro bono volunteers! Connor H. Crews, an associate in the Raleigh office of McGuireWoods and a volunteer with our Heir Property Pro Bono Project, recently helped one of our clients, a senior citizen and military veteran, untangle his home’s “tangled title.”
“Heir property” refers to homes or land passed down informally, without a will. Legally speaking, ownership of such property is divided equally among all the surviving heirs of the original owner. This is true even if only one or some of the heirs live in or use the property. As a result, heir property is said to have “tangled title,” as the issue of ownership can be far from clear.
This was the case with our client. His home was originally owned by his grandfather, who died without leaving a will. Therefore, in the eyes of the law, ownership of our client’s home was divided equally among the grandfather’s surviving heirs, even though only our client lived in it.
Connor got to work, researching the history of the home’s title and our client’s genealogical history. He concluded that no deed had been recorded on the property since the one granting ownership to his grandfather, and that our client and his siblings were the grandfather’s only surviving heirs.
Thankfully, the siblings readily agreed to grant their interests in the property to our client. Connor then prepared and filed the documents to transfer ownership to our client, thereby providing him with “clear title” — sole ownership of his home — and all the peace of mind that comes with it.
“Participating in the Heir Property Pro Bono Project was a great way to be of service to someone who needed assistance, and to learn something at the same time,” Connor said. “I was glad to help my client become the sole owner of his property, and I hope I made him feel more comfortable in his own home.”
He also had kind words for Nicole Mueller, head of the Heir Property Pro Bono Project. “I’d like to commend her for her responsiveness and attention to detail in assisting me in this matter. She promptly responded to my questions and gave me the direction that I needed.”
The new issue of our pro bono newsletter is hot off the presses! Learn about all the innovative, impactful — and fun! — ways we partner with the private bar to provide access to justice for North Carolinians in need.
Items in this issue include:
Robinson Bradshaw helps launch Summer Associate Pro Bono Program
The new issue of our monthly pro bono newsletter is hot off the presses!
Learn about all the innovative, impactful — and fun! — ways we partner with the private bar to provide access to justice for North Carolinians in need.
Leaders and volunteers with the Better Together law school partnership stand with Durham District Court Judge Amanda Maris (front row, fifth from left) at the partnership’s 2023 expunction clinic.
The North Carolina Bar Association awarded this year’s Law School Pro Bono Service Award to Better Together, a partnership among Duke Law, NC Central University Law, UNC Law and the Durham Expunction and Restoration Program (itself a partnership among many groups, including Legal Aid NC) to provide pro bono criminal record expunctions to Durham residents.
Expunction is a critically important service in Durham, where, based on DEAR Program estimates, thousands of residents have criminal records. Such records create serious roadblocks to securing and maintaining safe and affordable housing, and stable and sustaining employment. While those with means can afford to hire private attorneys, low-income residents with criminal records — who, because of systemic racism, are disproportionately Black and Hispanic — must rely on the help of public-interest organizations to secure a clean slate.
That’s where Better Together comes in. Working under the supervision of attorneys from Legal Aid of North Carolina and the law schools, the project harnesses the people power provided by local law schools to offer expunctions on a grander scale than could otherwise be achieved. During the October 2023 Better Together clinic, hosted at the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law, six teams of three students each (one from each law school) prepared 70 petitions to expunge 325 charges in 14 counties for 27 Durham residents — not bad for a day’s work.
While many pro bono projects are a partnership between two organizations — a legal services provider and a law firm, for example — Better Together is a uniquely expansive collaboration, bringing together different (and, in some contexts, rival) schools to work together towards a shared goal, creating a community of service-oriented advocates within the next generation of NC lawyers.
Better Together is also unique due to the enthusiastic engagement of the judiciary. Durham District Court Judge Amanda Maris, co-chair of the DEAR Program’s Advisory Board, the program’s leadership body, is a key supporter of Better Together. During the 2023 clinic, she met with Better Together students to share her perspective from the bench on the importance of their work.
At the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards luncheon May 6 in Durham, William C. “Bill” Moore stands with (left to right) Gina Reyman and Dietrich McMillan from Legal Aid NC; Lakethia Jefferies, Director of the Pro Bono Legal Clinic at NCCU Law; and Sarah Moore (no relation) and Sharon Council from Legal Aid NC.
We love our pro bono volunteers! HUGE congratulations to William C. Moore, one of our most legendary volunteers, for winning a Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for his lifetime of pro bono service to our firm and North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Bill volunteers as the supervising attorney of the Elder Law Project, a partnership between our Durham office and NCCU Law. Bill works with the project’s faculty, staff and law-student volunteers to provide free legal help to Durham senior citizens referred by the Durham Center for Senior Life.
“It’s hard to imagine the Elder Law Project without Bill Moore,” says Lakethia Jefferies, Director of the Pro Bono Clinic at NCCU Law. “He has played such an integral role in the project since its inception. While we have had many volunteer attorneys for the project, Mr. Moore is our shining star. His dedication and commitment to the project is unmatched. Each year, I have the privilege and joy of training another group of project law students. I can say that Mr. Moore has played an important role in the growth and professional development of our students. As a result, I can say without hesitation that North Carolina’s legal community is better off because of Attorney Bill Moore.”
Bill’s work with the Elder Law Project is just the tip of the iceberg. Since 2003, he has provided a total of nearly 1,500 hours of pro bono service to hundreds of our clients, ranking him among our most prolific — and impactful — volunteers ever.
“It’s almost impossible to overstate the value of Bill Moore’s service to our clients and our organization,” says Gina Reyman, Triangle Regional Manager for LANC and former head of its Durham office. “His longtime leadership of the Elder Law Project and his additional pro bono service over the last 20 years speak to the quality of his character and the strength of his commitment to public service. When it comes to pro bono volunteers, Mr. Moore is unmatched in his persistent, dedicated and quality services to our community.”
“With Bill,” says Sharon Council, pro bono coordinator for LANC’s Durham office, “it’s not just the amount of pro bono he does that makes him so special—it’s also the way he does it. He treats every client as if they’re the most important person in the world. He listens to their stories, empathizes with them, makes sure he understands what they want AND that they understand what he can and can’t do for them. His dedication to service is evident in every one of his client interactions. It has been my true joy to work with such a person who treats our clients and other colleagues with such great respect and dignity.”
One of Mr. Moore’s recent wills clients agrees. “Thank you for putting me in touch with attorney Bill Moore,” said the client. “He is such a caring person and a professional and friendly lawyer.”
Sarah Moore (no relation), a case coordinator on LANC’s statewide Pro Bono Programs team, who also works with Mr. Moore, says, “He is my go-to volunteer for estate-planning cases. He often works with multiple clients at a time. Whenever he finds himself with only one client, he always reaches out to ask if there are any new cases he can take on. That’s an extraordinary level of dedication for one of our pro bono volunteers.”
We’re making an impact in “Will-mington”! On May 4, we partnered with attorneys from Ward and Smith, P.A., to provide pro bono wills and advanced directives to senior citizens in the Port City. Working at the MLK Community Center, the Ward and Smith volunteers drafted 16 documents throughout the day.
“We are grateful for this partnership with Ward and Smith and the peace of mind and security their volunteers brought to our clients,” said Allison Constance, our Director of Pro Bono Programs, who provided support to the volunteers at the clinic.
Are you an attorney who wants to make a difference for NC seniors? Learn more about our Volunteer Wills Program.
Photos
Ward and Smith attorneys Taylor Rodney Marks (left) and Avery LocklearWard and Smith attorneys Zach Marks and Dana LingenfelserWard and Smith attorneys Emily Martchek (left) and Avery LocklearWard and Smith attorneys Taylor Rodney Marks and Zach Marks
Author: Sean Driscoll
NCCU Law, NCBA Corporate Counsel Section, Legal Aid NC partner up for expunction event
DURHAM · NC Central University School of Law and our Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) Program hosted some special guests April 5 at an expunction clinic at the law school. Members of the Corporate Counsel Section of the NC Bar Association joined us to partner with law students to provide pro bono expunctions to Legal Aid NC clients in Durham.
“I was worried this would be really complicated, but it wasn’t” said Elizabeth McKee, Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section, who volunteered at the event. “It was really easy. It helped that I partnered with a seasoned person who knew what they were doing.”
That “seasoned person” was NCCU Law 2L Taiesha Morgan, a frequent participant in the law school’s expunction clinics. Asked about her interest in the subject, Taiesha, who wants to work in criminal law, said, “People have the right to expunge their records, but it’s a complicated process. Just being able to help is awesome.”
Providing an opportunity for law students to network with attorneys was an important goal of the clinic, according to Jane Paksoy, Co-Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section’s Pro Bono/Community Service Committee, who participated in the event along with fellow Co-Chair Tracy Gaskins. Another goal was to provide in-house counsel with a meaningful and manageable pro bono opportunity.
“In-house attorneys have less exposure to traditional pro bono opportunities than some of our colleagues,” Jane said. “Pro bono opportunities like today’s clinic are ideal for in-house attorneys. You don’t need a criminal law background to do expunction work and it’s a meaningful way to make an impact in a short amount of time.”
Making an impact is what motivates Lakethia Jefferies, Director of the Pro Bono Clinic at NCCU Law, to organize these clinics. She wants to show students the meaningful difference that attorneys can make in the real world.
“People with criminal records may not be able to get housing or jobs,” Lakethia said. “Something as simple as clearing a few marks off someone’s record can make a world of difference. These clinics allow law students to do access-to-justice work and see what a difference they can make for real clients. It also shows students that regardless of what practice area they go into, they can still do this work as a volunteer and make a difference.”
Ali Nininger-Finch, attorney with our DEAR Program, provided training to the law students and attorneys on how to prepare an expunction petition. Ali and DEAR paralegal Jeremiah Brutus (an NCCU Law alum), provided support to the volunteers during the clinic.
Photos
NCCU Law 2L Vanessa Johnson (left) and attorney Laura Snead Morgan from LM Advocacy & ConsultingCisco attorney Tracy Gaskins (left) and NCCU Law student Kristina CabrejasState Employees Credit Union attorney Dana Chavis (left) and NCCU Law 3L Tamia GloverElizabeth McKee (left), attorney with Static Control Components Inc., and NCCU Law 2L Taiesha MorganClinic participants (left to right): Jeremiah Brutus, Legal Aid NC; Taiesha Morgan (glasses) (2L), NCCU Law; Lakethia Jefferies (blue top), NCCU Law; Sherard Johnson, NC Bar Association; Vanessa Johnson (2L), NCCU Law; Ali Nininger-Finch, Legal Aid NC; Kristina Cabrejas, NCCU Law; Dana Chavis (glasses), State Employees Credit Union; Elizabeth McKee, Static Control Components Inc; Jane Paksoy, IQVIA; Laura Snead Morgan, LM Advocacy & Consulting; Tamia Glover (3L), NCCU Law; Tracy Gaskins, Cisco.
Meet Hannah Guerrier, our Charlotte Community Engagement Manager, a new role for both her and Legal Aid of North Carolina. In November 2023, Hannah transitioned from Supervising Attorney in our Charlotte office’s housing unit to assume the role, the first of its kind for our organization.
Hannah serves as the liaison with our supporters and stakeholders in the Queen City, including our robust corps of pro bono volunteers. She leads Legal Aid of North Carolina’s involvement with the Charlotte Triage Pro Bono Partnership, a citywide effort to harness the power of pro bono to meet residents’ unmet legal needs.
You’ll find Hannah on the scene at the partnership’s monthly eviction-court clinics, which provide on-the-spot legal advice and representation to tenants facing eviction, and its monthly Lawyer on the Line clinics, which provide free legal advice to tenants struggling with dangerous and unsanitary housing conditions. She also helps organize the partnership’s monthly domestic violence clinics, held jointly with Safe Alliance, where pro bono volunteers help survivors draft complaints for Domestic Violence Protective Orders.
Keep reading to learn more about Hannah.
In her own words
Why is pro bono so important?
Because legal representation in matters of safety and stability is essential to achieving actual justice. We see how representation changes outcomes for litigants every day – whether it’s a domestic violence survivor seeking and protective order or a tenant trying to defend against an eviction. And because the need for these services is greater than Legal Aid staff can address on their own.
What’s the best part of your job?
As cliche as it sounds, the people. I get to work every day with some of the most genuine and hardworking human beings on behalf of other genuine and hardworking human beings. It’s a pleasure and an honor to help bring justice to our communities alongside such dedicated advocates.
What do you do in your free time?
Spoil my three pups with treats, walks, and cuddles. Puzzles and board games with my husband. And travel as much as I possibly can with him.
At a glance
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Charlotte Community Engagement Manager, 2023 – Present
Supervising Attorney, Housing Unit, Charlotte office, 2020 – 2023
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Charlotte office, 2018 – 2020
Housing Fellow Attorney, Charlotte office, 2016 – 2017
Selected previous experience
Georgetown Law Juvenile Justice Clinic, Graduate Legal Assistant and Student Attorney
US Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Law Clerk
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Child Protection Section Law Clerk
