Thousands of North Carolinians in rural counties at risk of losing a fair shot at justice

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2025) — Legal Aid of North Carolina, the state’s largest nonprofit law firm, announced today that it will close its Rocky Mount office following a statewide freeze on one of its key funding sources — the North Carolina Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program.

The Rocky Mount office has long served families across Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties, providing critical legal help to veterans, seniors, survivors of domestic violence, and families recovering from disasters. The closure means thousands of North Carolinians in eastern North Carolina will lose access to legal protections that safeguard their homes, safety and livelihoods.

For more than 20 years, Legal Aid of North Carolina has made access to justice in rural areas a key priority. It is the only law firm that helps North Carolinians in all 100 counties.

“When Legal Aid defends families, protects seniors and gives veterans a fair chance, we’re living out the values that make North Carolina strong,” said Ashley Campbell, CEO of Legal Aid of North Carolina.

“In places like Rocky Mount, we have stood with people working hard to rebuild their lives after loss — survivors of domestic violence seeking safety, veterans navigating the benefits they earned through service, seniors protecting their independence, and families recovering from disasters like Hurricane Helene,” Campbell said. “When we say the Pledge of Allegiance, we promise liberty and justice for all. Our flag reminds us of that promise every day. This is what IOLTA funds are for — making those words real for every North Carolinian. We are deeply disappointed that we cannot use those funds to serve the people in Nash County who deserve fairness and protection under the law.”

Legal Aid of North Carolina will lose approximately $6.3 million in IOLTA funding due to the freeze.

Established nearly 50 years ago, IOLTA was created to promote justice through the private legal sector, allowing interest earned on lawyers’ client trust accounts to fund civil legal aid for people who need it most. The program reflects a simple, shared principle: fairness and opportunity should be available to all, regardless of income.

In recent months, IOLTA funding has become caught up in broader political debates, but Legal Aid of North Carolina does not engage in political activity and remains solely focused on providing legal help to neighbors, veterans, seniors and families across the state.

In fiscal year 2024–25, IOLTA funding made possible $5 million in disaster-related legal services and more than 3,000 protective orders for victims of domestic violence and their children. Without IOLTA funding, Legal Aid of North Carolina estimates that thousands of North Carolinians — including veterans, seniors, survivors of domestic violence and disaster victims — will go unserved. Rural areas will be hardest hit, with 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties already considered “legal deserts.”

“We have had an office in Rocky Mount for many years,” said Ayanda Meachem, managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Wilson, Goldsboro and Rocky Mount offices. “This closure represents the loss of a physical presence in a rural community we’ve been proud to serve. We remain committed to supporting Rocky Mount residents through remote services and partnerships with other organizations.”

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Want to help us close the funding gap caused by the IOLTA freeze? Click here to make a difference.

Legal Aid of North Carolina is proud to announce that Celia Pistolis, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, has been inducted into the 2025 Legal Practice Hall of Fame — the first legal services attorney ever to receive this honor. The recognition highlights her extraordinary career in public interest law, marked by over four decades of service, leadership, and commitment to justice. 

Established by the North Carolina Bar Association, the Legal Practice Hall of Fame is the highest honor an attorney can receive in North Carolina. It recognizes lawyers over the age of 60 who have practiced law for at least 30 years—20 of them in North Carolina—and who have consistently demonstrated the highest ethical and professional standards. Inductees are also celebrated for their exceptional service to the legal profession and their communities. 

“This is a deeply meaningful and well-deserved honor for Celia and for the entire legal services community,” said Ashley Campbell, CEO of Legal Aid of North Carolina. “Celia has spent her career fighting for fairness, mentoring hundreds of lawyers, and ensuring that justice reaches those who need it most. She has set the gold standard for what it means to be a public interest lawyer.” 

Since joining Legal Aid of North Carolina in 1983, Celia has led one of the largest legal teams in the state—approximately 225 attorneys—and has directed the organization’s appellate work, handling 10–12 appeals annually. Her guidance has been instrumental in strengthening access to justice across North Carolina. 

Outside of Legal Aid, Celia has influenced the broader legal landscape through her roles as an Adjunct Professor of Law at UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University, and as Chair of the Equal Justice Alliance, where she coordinates statewide civil legal aid efforts. She has also served on the North Carolina State Bar’s Authorized Practice Committee, helping protect the public and uphold ethical standards in the profession. 

Celia’s long list of accolades includes being named Outstanding Legal Services Attorney of the Year by the NC Bar Association in 2001 and receiving the UNC Law Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2012—the first legal services attorney to do so. A native of North Carolina, she earned her BA with Honors in Classics and her JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

“I am truly humbled,” said Pistolis. “I hope others are inspired to view public interest law as an essential part of our profession—work rooted in empathy, fueled by justice, and driven by the belief that legal advocacy can and does transform lives.” 

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) announced yesterday a $300,000 grant from the SECU Foundation to support its Innovation Lab. The grant was celebrated with a check presentation and a tour of LANC’s new Raleigh office and Innovation Lab space at Beacon Point.  

ANC’s Innovation Lab is the first of its kind in the civil legal services field and is focused on modernizing how legal services are delivered to low-income North Carolinians. The SECU Foundation’s support will help expand services across the state, especially in rural and underserved communities, using technology, data-driven decision-making and community partnerships. 

“The Innovation Lab represents a bold new vision for legal aid, and we are honored to have the support of the SECU Foundation to help bring it to life,” said Ashley Campbell, CEO of LANC. “This funding will allow us to invest in cutting-edge tools, strengthen rural outreach and increase our capacity to serve the more than 2 million North Carolinians who qualify for our services but too often go without help.” 

The Innovation Lab is already leading several transformative initiatives. These include the creation of an AI-powered legal information assistant; an updated and more accessible online application; a mobile intake unit to serve rural counties; and partnerships with libraries and community-based organizations to expand access to legal support and information. 

“Access to justice should not depend on where you live or how much money you make,” said Scheree Gilchrist, chief innovation officer at LANC. “This partnership with SECU Foundation is a major step toward building a more inclusive, responsive legal system that truly meets people where they are.” 

Civil legal needs in North Carolina are widespread and growing. More than 71% of low-income residents experience at least one civil legal problem annually, often involving housing, health care, domestic violence or veterans’ benefits. Yet there is only one legal aid attorney for every 8,000 low-income North Carolinians, compared with one private attorney for every 367 residents. LANC’s Innovation Lab is working to close this justice gap and reach those who have historically been left behind. 

LANC, the largest nonprofit law firm in the state, serves all 100 counties. In 2023, the organization handled more than 25,000 cases and generated more than $23 million in financial benefits for its clients. 

The SECU Foundation’s investment in the Innovation Lab reflects a shared commitment to improving lives, expanding opportunity and building stronger communities across North Carolina. 

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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 to ensure equal access to justice and remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. With offices across the state, Legal Aid of North Carolina serves all 100 counties and focuses on issues affecting housing, domestic violence, education, employment, public benefits, and more. Learn more at www.legalaidnc.org. 

About SECU and SECU Foundation 

A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, and federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for 88 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $55 billion in assets. It serves more than 2.8 million members through 275 branch offices, 1,100 ATMs, Member Services Support via phone, www.ncsecu.org, and the SECU Mobile App. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $300 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide. 

No Appointment Needed — Free Help for Residents of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren Counties

HENDERSON, NC — Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Henderson Office is providing monthly walk-in legal office hours to serve residents of the 11th Judicial District (Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren Counties). These walk-in clinics allow community members to meet one-on-one with Legal Aid attorneys without an appointment to get guidance on a variety of civil legal matters.

When:

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
One Friday each month in 2025

• July 18
• August 15
• September 12
• October 17
• November 14
• December 12

2026 dates will be announced in December 2025.

Where:

Legal Aid of North Carolina – Henderson Office
208 N. Garnett St., Suite B
Henderson, NC 27536

What:

Free legal help for civil legal matters including:

• Domestic violence and sexual assault
• Family law
• Eviction defense
• Government benefits appeals
• Disaster relief
• Criminal record expungement
• Driver’s license restoration
• Consumer protection
• Advance directives and assistance for seniors
• Protections for students
• Help for veterans

More Information:

Call: 252-654-9474
Visit: www.legalaidnc.org