Theodore O. "Ted" Fillette is the Senior Managing Attorney in the Legal Aid of North Carolina Charlotte office and also serves as Assistant Director of Legal Aid of North Carolina. During his thirty-five years of service to the Charlotte community, Ted has systematically helped change laws for the benefit of those in need. He has advocated for legislation, increased community knowledge and awareness, and enlisted the support of others who may be positioned to help. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Ted earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and then attended Boston University School of Law. Ted began his career with a focus on landlord/tenant cases. His tireless efforts produced important tenant procedural protections, including the creation of a warranty of habitability for tenants. He has also served as an advocate on behalf of residents who were displaced by urban renewal projects. Ted became the Litigation Director for Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (LSSP) in 1983 and remained there until LSSP reorganized as two entities in 2002 in response to congressional funding cuts and restrictions placed on Legal Services Corporation-funded organizations.
Kenneth L. "Ken" Schorr is the Executive Director of Legal Services of Southern Piedmont. Ken has dedicated his entire professional career to helping the underprivileged. A native of Washington, D.C. he received his B.A. degree from Brandeis University, his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and an M.S. degree in Organization Development from the American University of Public Affairs and the NTL Institute. Before coming to Charlotte, Ken worked in Little Rock, Arkansas representing community organizations, labor unions and individual employees in labor and civil rights cases. He served as the Litigation Director of Community Legal Services in Phoenix, Arizona and as Executive Director of Legal Services of North Texas in Dallas. After moving to Charlotte, Ken became active in many local, state and national nonprofits and continues his support today. He serves or has served on boards of the NC Equal Access to Justice Commission, the NC Justice Center, Crisis Assistance Ministry, the United Way of Central Carolinas Council of Agency Executives, and the Civil Committee of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.
Ted and Ken's commitment to providing quality legal representation for low-income clients in Mecklenburg County has forged a partnership that is a national model of cooperation and a showcase for exceptional legal skills. It is for these reasons and many more that we are honored to present Ted Fillette and Ken Schorr with the 2011-12 Ayscue Professionalism Award.