Pro Bono Volunteer Enrollment Form Calling All MeckBar Volunteers! “[Rule 6.1(b)(2) of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct] recognizes the value of lawyers engaging in activities that improve the law, the legal system or the legal profession. Serving on bar association committees; serving on boards of pro bono or legal services programs; taking part in Law Day activities; acting as a continuing legal education instructor, a mediator or an arbitrator; and engaging in legislative lobbying to improve the law, the legal system or the profession are a few examples of the many activities that fall within this paragraph.” (Comment 8 to Rule 6.1.) For more information, please see the message below from Sylvia Novinsky, Director of the NC Pro Bono Resource Center. By Sylvia Novinsky, Director, NC Pro Bono Resource Center Our Supreme Court notes “Equal Justice Under Law” on its building. Yet, access to this justice only truly exists when it is available to all members of our state, regardless of ability to pay. A failure to provide adequate legal services to those of modest means affects both the economic and social fabric of our society and does not adequately represent the principles of the profession to which we have been called. Pro bono is one way for attorneys to help narrow the access to justice gap. We would like to capture your service and celebrate your pro bono work! The NC Pro Bono Resource Center is currently accepting information about the types of activities encouraged by North Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1: pro bono legal service; legal service at a substantially reduced fee; activity that improves the law, the legal system, or the legal profession; non-legal community service; and financial support of legal service providers. To report, you will need to share the total number of pro bono legal service hours you provided in 2021 -- this is the only activity from Rule 6.1 that leads to recognition through the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society. Questions about other activities from Rule 6.1 only require general information about participation. You will also need your North Carolina State Bar ID Number to submit their entry. You can report your hours at ncprobono.org/report. The deadline to report is March 31, 2022. North Carolina licensed attorneys (or attorneys who provide services under North Carolina Pro Bono Practice Status) who report at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service in a year will be inducted into that year’s cohort of the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society and receive a certificate from the Supreme Court of North Carolina recognizing their achievement. You may elect to opt out of recognition if preferred. Additionally, for the first time, North Carolina paralegals may also report their pro bono information to the Pro Bono Resource Center – those who report providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services in 2021 will be recognized through the North Carolina Paralegal Pro Bono Honor Society. Paralegals interested in sharing their information can learn more and submit their information at ncprobono.org/report. For more information about the Pro Bono Resource Center and voluntary pro bono reporting, please visit ncprobono.org/report. We look forward to celebrating your good work! Volunteer on a Bar or Foundation Committee
Volunteer with a Local Organization/Agency Pro Bono Go was created and is maintained by the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center in partnership with Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Pisgah Legal Services. Other legal services providers’ pro bono opportunities can be found here as well. Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (CCLA) Council for Children's Rights (CFCR) Safe Alliance International House 26th Judicial District SelfServe Center (SSC) Attorney for the Day Program with SelfServe Center Volunteer Online If you are interested in volunteering online, sign up with the North Carolina Free Legal Answers (FLA) website. The FLA is a legal advice website for low-income North Carolina residents, sponsored by the American Bar Association. All attorneys in good standing, who are licensed to practice law in North Carolina are eligible to participate. Malpractice insurance is provided through the website. Volunteer by Providing Pro Bono Assistance The Mecklenburg Bar Association's Pro Bono & Legal Recruitment Committee recruits legal volunteers and provides direct case placement for nonprofits and individual clients who cannot afford representation and who are not served elsewhere. The Committee also recruits MeckBar members for pro bono opportunities with legal service organizations as requested. Volunteer as a Mentor If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor, please contact DE&I Coordinator Kaila Johnson Belton at kbelton@meckbar.org.
|