Our Team

Bio highlights: Allison joined Legal Aid of North Carolina as Director of Pro Bono Programs in 2023. She worked as Director of Pro Bono Initiatives at UNC School of Law from 2016-2023, where she also served as an adjunct professor. She began her career as an attorney at North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc., following her graduation from UNC School of Law in 2009. 

Works from: Raleigh

Resident of: Durham

Native of: Greenville, SC

Fun fact: Loves creative projects and has taken courses in cake decorating and pottery.

Bio highlights: Tricia joined Legal Aid of North Carolina as the Strategy and Operations Manager on our Pro Bono Programs team in 2025. Previously, Tricia worked as in-house counsel for tech companies in the Bay Area and at a law firm in the northeast doing corporate transactional work. Her other experience includes serving as a law clerk at Asian Law Caucus, an intern at the Exoneration Initiative, and an extern for a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals during law school. She has a J.D. from UNC Law and a B.A. from Boston University.

Works from: Raleigh

Resident of: Chapel Hill

Native of: Boxford, MA

Fun fact: I collect cookbooks (the older – and more local – the better!)

Bio highlights: Brien received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Clemson University in 2003 and her JD from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2006. Brien has been an attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina since 2007, most recently as Managing Attorney of the Concord Office. Her areas of practice include housing, consumer protection, and domestic violence. 

Works from: Charlotte

Resident of: Charlotte

Native of: Columbus, Ohio

Fun fact: I love cooking and wine and have traveled to Bordeaux, France and Barolo, Italy to visit wineries.

Bio highlights: Ida received her undergraduate degree in Political Science with a Minor in History from Pembroke State University (now UNC-Pembroke) in 1985. She received her J.D. from NCCU School of Law in 1991 and has worked for Legal Aid for over 30 years starting as an MLK, Jr. intern. 

During her Legal Aid career, she served the firm in the following positions:  a staff attorney, the Managing Attorney of the New Bern, Pittsboro and Fayetteville Offices as well as the Southeastern Domestic Violence Supervising Attorney. 

Ida is VA and CAVC (Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims) accredited and authorized to practice law in the United States Bankruptcy Courts in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina. Though Ida shares that she is a generalist, her favorite areas of law are domestic violence, veterans law, and elder law.

Works from: Fayetteville, NC

Resident of: Raeford, NC

Native of: Pembroke, NC

Fun fact: I love Korean movies and television shows. My favorite show is ‘Because This Is My First Life.’ One day, I hope to visit Korea.

Bio highlights: Marquita Pittman became the Raleigh Community Engagement Manager at Legal Aid of North Carolina in 2025. Her role includes serving as a supervising attorney on our Pro Bono Programs team, where she oversees pro bono efforts in the Raleigh area. Marquita joined Legal Aid NC in 2019, serving as a domestic violence staff attorney in our Raleigh field office until assuming her new role as Community Engagement Manager. Marquita received her JD from Cooley Law School in Michigan and her bachelor’s in political science from Shaw University in Raleigh.

Works from: Raleigh

Resident of: Raleigh

Native of: Chicago, IL

Fun fact: One of my favorite things to do is to travel. My goal is to visit everywhere!

Bio highlights: Lauren Ashley joined Legal Aid of NC as an attorney on the Pro Bono Programs team in 2025. Based in our Asheville office, she focuses on coordinating pro bono services for survivors of Tropical Storm Helene and supports our statewide heir property work.

Before joining Legal Aid, Lauren Ashley practiced civil litigation in Atlanta and later focused on real estate and estate planning after moving to Asheville in 2019. Though originally from Georgia, she now considers the mountains home and is deeply committed to serving communities across WNC and expanding access to justice for all North Carolinians.

Lauren Ashley is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Buncombe County Bar, where she serves on the Pro Bono Committee. She is also an officer of the WNC Chapter of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys.

Works from: Asheville

Resident of: Asheville

Native of: Augusta, GA

Fun fact: I love fly fishing! I got into it a few years ago when I bought a guided trip for me and my husband. I ended up catching the first fish – and the most fish! – and I’ve been “hooked” ever since!

Bio highlights: While Erin’s day-to-day work is focused on housing and family law cases in our Central Carolina office in Carrboro, she also manages our private attorney contracts program. She earned her JD from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1997.

Works from: Carrboro

Resident and native of: Rural Orange and Alamance counties

Fun fact: Loves trails – on foot or horseback – especially in the fall and early spring. 

Bio highlights: Grant joined Legal Aid of North Carolina in 2024 as a Case Coordinator on our Pro Bono Programs team. He earned his bachelor’s in political science and communications, with a minor in conflict management, from UNC Chapel Hill in 2024. During his junior and senior years, he worked for the Carolina Center for Public Service on its Engagement Week project, an annual, week-long celebration of research institutions and communities working together to improve the lives of residents. Between his junior and senior years, he interned with the NC Division of Juvenile Justice, where he helped children who had committed criminal acts avoid jail time and further involvement with the justice system. “The legal system can seem big and scary to people unfamiliar with it,” said Grant. “I enjoy helping people navigate the system and relieving them of that fear.”

Works from: Raleigh

Resident of: Carrboro

Native of: Wilmington

Fun fact: Can bend his thumbs backwards to touch his wrists

Bio highlights: Leslie joined Legal Aid in 2016 as a paralegal with The Child’s Advocate, one of our special projects. She previously worked with special populations in the Wake Co. School System and privately. She has a paralegal certificate from Meredith College and a bachelor’s from Montclair State in New Jersey.

Works from: Raleigh

Resident of: Garner

Native of: Parsippany, NJ 

Fun fact: Corgi lover 

Bio highlights: Kemiyah joined Legal Aid of North Carolina in 2024 as a Case Coordinator on our Pro Bono Programs team. Kemiyah’s previous experience includes serving as a legal file clerk for Moore & Van Allen, where she focused on corporate law, and serving as a paralegal for the McAdoo Law Group, where she focused on family law and litigation. She earned her bachelor’s in criminal justice from Eastern Kentucky University, and she sees law school in her future. 

As to why she is pursuing a career in law, she says, “I have a philanthropic mindset. I find joy and purpose in helping others, especially in my own community. I believe we all have to do our part to make the world a better place. When my time ends, I want to look back and be proud of what I accomplished and what side of history I was on.” 

Kemiyah is a devoted mother to her daughter, Kimora, born in 2023. 

Works from: Charlotte

Resident of: Charlotte

Native of: Lexington, KY 

Fun fact: I study astrology/planetary alignments and zodiac signs for fun. 

Bio highlights: Tranisha Hubbert joined Legal Aid of North Carolina in August 2023 as the Specialist Case Coordinator on the Pro Bono Programs team. She brings a diverse background as a licensed North Carolina real estate broker and certified notary, and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology. Tranisha is currently pursuing a second master’s in clinical mental health counseling, reflecting her passion for supporting individuals and families.

In addition to her role at Legal Aid, Tranisha began a 700-hour internship with a local nonprofit counseling center, further demonstrating her dedication to service and community care. She also created a referral system between Legal Aid and North Carolina Central University’s Eagle Counseling, Consultation, and Research Clinic, ensuring that LANC clients have access to both legal and mental health resources. Tranisha is committed to bridging services, empowering others, and creating meaningful impact through her professional expertise and community engagement.

Bio highlights: Hannah joined Legal Aid of North Carolina in 2025 as a Case Coordinator on our Pro Bono Programs team. She works from our Asheville office and focuses on our pro bono efforts for survivors of Tropical Storm Helene. This is her second stint with our firm, having served as a paralegal with our Senior Law Project from 2019 to 2021. Her other prior experience includes service at a patent law firm in Morrisville, a legal-technology company in Chicago, a South Carolina patent firm, and South Carolina’s probation and parole agency. She earned her paralegal certification from NALA in 2020 after graduating with an associate degree in paralegal studies. She also has a master’s in criminal behavior, a bachelor’s in criminal justice and sees law school as a potential path in the future. About her reason for returning to Legal Aid NC and her interest in law school, Hannah says, “Having worked in IP and corporate law, I want to be back on the side of practice where helping people is the primary focus. The legal arena is complex and typically you encounter people who need help to navigate it on their worst day. Making sure they have the support they need is my absolute goal.”

Works from: Asheville

Resident of: Arden

Native of: Richwood, OH

Fun fact: I love macaroni and cheese and know the best places in Asheville (and surrounding areas) to get the most delicious bite.

Bio highlights: Jayla joined Legal Aid of North Carolina in 2026 as a Case Coordinator on our Pro Bono Programs team. Jayla shares: “I love being part of the work that helps people feel seen, supported, and connected to the legal resources they need. I’m passionate about accessible justice, community care, and making our services feel welcoming from the very first interaction.” 

Works from: Greensboro, NC 

Resident of: Greensboro, NC

Fun fact:  Outside of Legal Aid, I run Jayla Creative Co — where I create digital products, guides, and resources for women who want to build soft, intentional, creative lives and businesses.