Category: Media release

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is proud to announce that Rona Karacaova, Managing Attorney of its Immigrant Pathways for Victims (IMMPAV) project, has been honored with the North Carolina Bar Association’s Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award. This award recognizes a full-time attorney employed by a legal services program in North Carolina who has made exemplary contributions to providing legal assistance to meet the needs of the state’s impoverished population.

The award is named in honor of Deborah Greenblatt, an advocate who served as the executive director of Carolina Legal Assistance for over two decades, championing the rights of individuals and children with disabilities.

For over 20 years, Karacaova has led IMMPAV, a project that fiercely advocates for the rights of abused and trafficked immigrant victims. She was the first legal services attorney in North Carolina to represent victims under the U nonimmigrant status (U visa), a remedy for victims of crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse. For many years, she and her staff were the sole free legal services providers representing victims eligible for U Visa status. Today, she leads an 11-person team managing over 1,400 open cases, referred by law enforcement agencies including the FBI, immigration judges, the Department of Social Services, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Before her tenure at LANC, Karacaova worked with Connecticut Legal Services and Legal Services of Southern Piedmont. She earned her B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University in 1993 and her J.D. from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1998. Her early career included international experience with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Ankara, Turkey, where she interviewed Iranian and Iraqi asylum seekers, and served as the Assistant Director of a Bosnian refugee camp on the Bulgarian border of Turkey.

“Rona is leading a team that does life-changing work. She empowers some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” said Ashley Campbell, CEO of LANC. “We are so proud to call Rona our colleague. She inspires us all.”

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Category: Media release

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
Smith Anderson wills clinic
Elon Law wills clinic
NC Pro Bono Honor Society 2023
Free trainings for pro bono volunteers
Free CLE! Fighting imposter syndrome
Program Spotlight: The Child’s Advocate
Volunteer Spotlights
- UNC Law Economic Justice Clinic
- Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm
- Mark Kinghorn, McGuireWoods LLP

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Category: Media release

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.

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2023

Category: Media release

Raleigh, NC – Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) proudly announces that its domestic violence documentary, Beyond Fear, has been honored with a Silver Telly for Documentary: Short Form (Under 40 Minutes) – Non-Broadcast at the 45th Annual Telly Awards. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in video and television across all screens, judged by industry leaders from top video platforms, television networks, streaming services, and production companies.

This year’s Telly Awards saw fierce competition, with notable winners including Adobe, Calvin Klein, ESPN, LinkedIn, Mother Jones, MTC Entertainment Studios, NASA, the LA Clippers (NBA), PlayStation Studios, Sawhorse Productions, TelevisaUnivision, and more. LANC’s Beyond Fear was recognized among this illustrious group, earning accolades for its powerful storytelling and impactful message.

Beyond Fear, produced by LANC’s Chief Communications Officer, Helen Hobson, in collaboration with Front Runner Productions, delves into the harrowing experiences of three domestic violence survivors who found support and help through LANC. Through their heartfelt and deeply personal narratives, the documentary brings to light the often hidden and traumatic realities of domestic violence, celebrating the resilience and courage of these survivors as they strive to break free from abuse.

“The caliber of the work this season truly has reflected the theme of going beyond the frame. Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world’s most pressing issues,” shares Telly Awards Managing Director Amanda Needham. “The Telly Awards is uniquely positioned to meet the industry where it’s actually making work, be that on television or TikTok.”

Helen Hobson expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating, “We worked tirelessly to honor the voices of our clients through Beyond Fear. This award is a testament to their bravery and the critical importance of telling their stories.”

This year marked a record-breaking milestone for the Telly Awards, with nearly 13,000 entries from across the globe. Winners were selected by the Telly Awards Judging Council, which includes prominent figures such as Nathalie Van Sasse Van Ysselt, VP of Design and Creative Services at MSG Sphere Studios; Barry Christie, Global Creative Lead at Meta Creative Shop; Farihah Zaman, Director and member of Brown Girl Doc Mafia; Aiden Darné, VP, Global Studio Lead at Shutterstock; and Malinda Wink, Executive Director at Minderoo Pictures.

For the full list of the 45th Annual Telly Awards winners, please visit www.tellyawards.com/winners.

To watch Beyond Fear, please visit: https://youtu.be/FyNTA8yfsDQ?si=DReCl41bMMoZf6Qk

About The Telly Awards

The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multiscreen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include the Gotham Institute, NAB, Stash, NYWIFT, LAPPG, Production Hub, Green the Bid, Video Consortium, and Series Fest. New Partners include FWD- Doc, AI Film Festival, Reel Abilities Film Festival, and Film Fatales.

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About Legal Aid of North Carolina

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) 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 to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

Media Contact:

Helen Hobson, Chief Communications Officer, HelenH2@legalaidnc.org, 704-430-7616

Category: Media release

Leaders and volunteers with the Better Together law school partnership stand with Durham District Court Judge Amanda Maris at the partnership's 2023 expunction clinic. — *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.

Read the NC Bar Association’s announcement.

Category: Media release

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.”

Learn more about the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards.

Category: Media release

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.

Shoutout to volunteers Isabelle Chammas, Dana Lingenfelser, Avery Locklear, Taylor Rodney Marks, Zach Marks and Emily Martchek!

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 Locklear

Category: Media release

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) unveiled its innovative LANCMobile unit at a launch event held yesterday, May 1st, at the Haywood County Public Library: Canton Branch. The event marked a significant step forward in the organization’s mission to provide vital legal services to underserved communities, particularly in disaster-stricken and rural areas. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured special remarks from LANC staff and the Mayor of Canton, NC, Zeb Smathers.

LANCMobile addresses a critical gap in the American justice system, where low-income individuals facing civil legal matters often lack adequate representation. According to recent studies, 92% of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal help. In North Carolina, approximately two million people, 18% of the population, are eligible for LANC services but face geographical barriers preventing access.

Born out of the pressing need exacerbated by natural disasters like Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, LANCMobile was established with a grant from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The initiative aims to serve disaster-affected areas while also addressing broader issues of legal deserts and rural community neglect.

“Our primary purpose is to get people the assistance they need,” said Alicia Edwards, Project Director of LANC’s Disaster Relief Project. “We have two fully serviced offices inside where we can meet clients. We can come out to their community, screen them, deal with their legal issues, and provide fully serviced assistance right from the bus.”

Scheree Gilchrist, Chief Innovation Officer at LANC, emphasized LANCMobile’s broader mission beyond disaster relief. “We are going to take the bus and identify the areas that have the most need and work with our community partners to deliver those services,” Gilchrist stated.

The event garnered support from Mayor Zeb Smathers, who highlighted the significance of LANCMobile in bringing hope to communities in need. “This is where you affect people in the trenches… This is where you make a difference,” said Mayor Smathers. “Where y’all go and this bus goes, hope is not too far behind.”

LANCMobile’s impact extends beyond immediate legal aid provision. Through data-driven strategies and community partnerships, LANC aims to identify rural communities most in need and devise tailored solutions to overcome communication, infrastructure, and service accessibility challenges.

“This is a crucial step in our commitment to innovation and making a lasting impact in the communities we serve,” noted Gilchrist. “LANCMobile not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters a culture of community engagement, empowering rural communities to assert their rights and access legal resources.”

LANCMobile’s schedule can be found at legalaidnc.org/lancmobile.

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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 to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Learn more at legalaidnc.org.

Media Contact

Helen Hobson, Chief Communications Officer, 704-430-7616, HelenH2@legalaidnc.org

Category: Media release

RALEIGH, N.C. – Legal Aid of North Carolina announces a Conciliation and Voluntary Compliance Agreement, resolving a housing discrimination complaint filed against the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR). The complaint was filed on behalf of an individual whose application to the ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program was rejected due to proof of ownership requirements applied to owners of heirs’ properties. The ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program administers Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funds to assist survivors of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence in rebuilding their homes.

The complaint, filed in February 2023 with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), alleged that NCORR’s proof of ownership requirements, as applied to owners of heirs’ properties, disproportionately impacted and denied equal housing opportunities to Black/African American homeowners seeking disaster recovery assistance funds, in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. “Heirs’ property” is a term used to describe family-owned property that is passed between generations of family members without a valid will or formal estate. While heirs’ property can present challenges, each heir shares legal ownership of the entire property with the other heirs and can maintain it through repairs, improvements, and payment of property taxes. Decades of research shows that heirs’ property issues most often impact Black families, and that heirs’ properties, particularly in the South, are disproportionately owned by Black/African American landowners.

As a result of the Conciliation and Voluntary Compliance Agreement, Respondent NCORR has agreed to:

Adopt a new proof of ownership policy, now in Version 9.0 of the CDBG-DR Homeowner Recovery Program Manual and corresponding forms, that complies with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act. Under the revised policy, owners of heirs’ property will now only need to agree that they have or will notify, in whatever way they see fit, any party that may have an ownership interest in the property about their participation in the ReBuild program, if such parties are known to the applicant;
Provide written notice of the new policy to the approximately 74 applicants previously rejected from, or otherwise deemed ineligible for, the ReBuild Homeowner Recovery Program due to previous proof of ownership requirements as applied to owners of heirs’ property;
Allow these approximately 74 applicants previously rejected from the program due to the prior proof of ownership requirements applied to owners of heirs’ property to submit appeals for reentry into the Program; and
Train NCORR staff on the requirements of the new policy.

With these changes, NCORR affirms its commitment to compliance with federal fair housing laws, which prohibit discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability.

“Legal Aid of North Carolina is proud to announce this resolution, which reduces unnecessary barriers for owners in heirs’ properties to access crucial disaster relief funding, while also preserving the existing homeownership structure and keeping these properties in the family. We hope that these revised policies can serve as a model for other disaster relief programs in North Carolina and CDBG-DR funded programs across the country,” said A.D. Skaff, Supervising Attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project.

“We commend NCORR for prioritizing fair housing, implementing these new policies, and working with us to resolve this matter, so all homeowners in North Carolina recovering from devastating natural disasters have equal housing opportunities,” said Lauren Brasil, Co-Director and Managing Attorney of Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project.

A copy of the Conciliation Agreement is available here.

Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can contact Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project by calling 1-855-797-3247.

Legal Aid of North Carolina’s involvement in this litigation was made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program.

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Media Contact

Helen Hobson, Chief Communications Officer, 704-430-7616, HelenH2@legalaidnc.org

Category: Media release

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.