Collaboration lies at the heart of the most successful, sustainable pro bono programs. What do NCBF volunteer programs such as Wills for Heroes, Disaster Legal Services and Lawyers for Literacy have in common? They are successful initiatives born of the commitment of NCBA members with the support of Foundation programs staff, often in concert with schools and legal services organizations…
In 2022-23, 244 NC Free Legal Answer volunteer attorneys answered 2,283 questions from North Carolinians. North Carolina attorneys have been serving residents in need online since 2018, through the power of the ABA’s Free Legal Answers (FLA) platform. Here, virtual connections can be made at any time of the day or night. Those who financially qualify can have their civil…
For Nan Hannah, the decision was an easy one. Volunteering and giving back are at the heart of who she is. Nan’s generous spirit has fueled her personal and professional pursuits throughout her life, so pledging a legacy gift to the NCBF was a natural extension of that generosity. Let Your Life “Speak” To make a deferred gift is to…
The Open Door Fund was established to engage legal organizations, law firms, and individuals across the state in supporting the Open Door Fellowship Program. In June of 2022 the NCBF Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt an additional core value affirming the Foundation’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Less than a year later, an Open Door Fund was…
With degrees in chemical engineering, Jennifer Knight didn’t set out to be an attorney, but when she decided to go to law school after working for a large corporation, she knew she would be a patent attorney. Now of counsel at Clements Bernard Walker, Jennifer feels strongly about the need to give back. “Securing my degree came with an obligation…
By Katherine Asaro, NCBA Pro Bono Committee Recognition Co-Chair “In general, I am a firm believer in “To whom much is given, much will be required.” I have been blessed with some skills and talents. Fortunately, I have been able to make a career using those skills and talents and I find it important to give back and be of…
By Samantha Gordon, NCBA Pro Bono Committee Member Grabowski Law firm has an obvious passion for pro bono work. Austin Grabowski graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of North Carolina then attended Campbell Law School of Law, where he excelled in leadership roles and his pro bono interest took off. When Austin graduated, he held a prestigious position clerking for Superior…
When asked about her caseload as a mediator specializing in Workers’ Compensation and employment disputes, she replied, “It’s wild! I have a frenetic caseload!” Any mediator worth their salt can enjoy a great work/life balance, filling their calendar with as much work as they choose to accept. What distinguishes Kate from many of her colleagues is that she adds an…
By Kaitlyn Fudge The Appellate Pro Bono Program is available to pro bono lawyers in North Carolina, in collaboration with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Bar Association Appellate Practice Section, and the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center. This program matches pro bono attorneys to pro se litigants in cases before the North Carolina Court of…
By Casey Burke and Lynna Moen There are many wonderful reasons why attorneys engage in pro bono work. A robust pro bono practice not only greatly benefits low-income clients and the legal services organizations that serve them, but it also benefits attorneys from the private bar who take on pro bono representation. Pro bono attorneys report high levels of satisfaction,…