Disaster Legal Services
The North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division coordinates the North Carolina Disaster Legal Services (DLS) effort in partnership with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC). The DLS pro bono program provides disaster-related resources and services to the public and attorneys with the support of the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the NC Pro Bono Resource Center, and the NCBA Paralegal Division.
The NC Disaster Legal Services pro bono program is working alongside, and in support of, Pisgah Legal Services in serving residents of Western North Carolina who have been affected by Tropical Storm Helene.
Since 2012, the NCBA Young Lawyers Division has proudly led the statewide Disaster Legal Services effort in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency the ABA Young Lawyers Division. To serve storm-affected North Carolina residents, we coordinate with Legal Aid of NC to recruit, train, and engage pro bono volunteers to assist with issues including insurance and FEMA claims, replacement of damaged or lost documents, consumer fraud, bankruptcy, and other legal matters related to disaster assistance. We assist with the delivery of legal aid to communities affected by natural disasters, addressing community inequities exacerbated by such crises. The DLS program coordination helps ensure that the volunteer experience is rewarding and impactful.
Support Disaster Legal Services
DLS pro bono attorney volunteers assist clients with filing FEMA claims and other basic legal services such as filling out forms, writing letters, and placing phone calls.
Volunteers provide:
- Basic counseling, advice and limited-scope representation;
- Extended representation; and/or
- Clinic-based brief advice and counseling (dates, times and places TBD).
Malpractice insurance coverage is provided to attorneys, paralegals and law students who volunteer through the DLS program. For more information, please email [email protected].
