Pro Bono Awards
The Pro Bono Project does not provide referrals to
private attorneys.
We primarily support local and statewide volunteer lawyers
programs, local and statewide bar associations and non profit
agencies efforts to develop resources to assist people needing pro
bono legal assistance. If you are looking for pro bono legal
assistance (free legal assistance), please go to www.lawhelp.org/nc.
2011 Pro Bono Awards
William Thorp Pro Bono
Service Award
Presented to an attorney who has provided exemplary legal
services without a fee. Particular consideration is given to
lawyers whose voluntary contributions have resulted in the
increased access to legal services on the part of low-income
people.
Deborah Greenblatt
Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award
Presented to a legal services attorney who has made an
exemplary contribution to the provision of legal assistance to help
meet the needs of the poverty population in North
Carolina.
Chief Justice
Award
Recognizes a local, district or statewide bar organization
whose members have performed outstanding legal services or have
given outstanding support and assistance or maintenance of such
programs for low-income people.
Outstanding Law Firm
Pro Bono Service
There are two categories for law firm awards.
Smaller Law
Firms: Recognizes law firms employing 2-15
attorneys for their commitment to the provision of pro bono
service.
Large Law
Firms: Recognizes pro bono efforts in North
Carolina from among the 25 largest law firms in North
Carolina.
Law Student Group Pro
Bono Service Award
Presented to an outstanding law student whose pro bono
project benefits low-income people in North Carolina.
Younger Lawyer Pro
Bono Service Award
Presented to a younger lawyer who has made extraordinary
contributions by providing exemplary legal services without a fee
to persons of limited means or to charitable groups or
organizations.
2010 Pro Bono Award Recipients
 |
Cynthia Alleman, Asheville
(William L. Thorp Pro Bono Service Award)
Cynthia Alleman has been a pro bono panel member of the
Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (MAVLP) since
1994. MAVLP provides pro bono support to Pisgah Legal
Services, Inc. in Asheville. She handles a variety of case
matters (guardianship, wills and powers of attorneys). She
has provided approximately 245 pro bono hours to MAVLP, handling
more than 80 cases. |
 |
Linda S. Johnson, Charlotte
(Deborah Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney
Award)
For nearly 20 years, Linda Johnson has worked for legal services
providers in North Carolina. Currently, she works for Legal
Aid of North Carolina's Charlotte office. During the span of
one year, she handled, or supervised paralegals' work
for, approximately 360 new housing and unemployment
compensation cases. |
Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte (Outstanding
Pro Bono Service Award for Large Law Firms)
In 2009, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson provided 449 hours of
pro bono service to Legal Aid of North Carolina. Through
several projects and an institutional commitment, this firm has
provided exemplary service to both Legal Aid of North Carolina and
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (Charlotte). In the
winter of 2009, the Salvation Army and other agencies provided
temporary housing to 50 homeless families. Those families had
six months to stabilize their lives and find new homes.
Because many of them were burdened with various legal issues that
could interfere with gaining stability, a team of 15 attorneys
donated more than 150 hours to assist these families. These
attorneys worked with Legal Aid's Charlotte office, ultimately
opening files to assist 21 families.
The Hatcher Law Group, Charlotte (Outstanding Pro Boo
Service Award for Smaller Law Firms)
In 2007, the Hatcher Law Group entered into a strategic
partnership with Victim Assistance During 2008, this firm handled
25 domestic violence cases, providing more than 335 hours of pro
bono assistance. In 2009, the firm dedicated more than 570
ours towards pro bono activities.
28th Judicial District, Buncombe County (Chief Justice
Pro Bono Service Award)
In 2009, leaders of the 28th Judicial Bar (Buncombe County)
issued a Recession Response challenge to its members asking them to
increase pro bono participation in the areas of greatest need due
to the economic downturn. As a result, pro bono hours
increased by 38% overall and the Hotline Advice program saw a 44%
increase in closed cases and a 92% increase in pro bono
hours. This bar's efforts support the Mountain Area Volunteer
Lawyers Program which is a program of Pisgah Legal Services,
Inc.
Wills Project, UNC Chapel Hill School of Law (Law
Student Group Award)
More than 40 law students spent their fall and spring breaks in
eastern North Carolina in conjunction with the UNC School of Law's
Wills Project. This group partnered with the UNC Center for
Civil Rights and Legal Aid of North Carolina to help give
landowners in eastern North Carolina the opportunity to decide how
their property will be distributed upon death. These students
assisted Legal Aid lawyers in the preparation of more than 100
documents.
 |
Clark Walton, Charlotte (YLD
Younger Law Pro Bono Award)
Prior to joining the District Attorney's office in Mecklenburg
County, Clark was actively engaged in a variety of pro bono
activities through his firm Mayer Brown LLP and through the NCBA's
Young Lawyers Division. At a Salisbury Wills for Heroes event
spearheaded by Clark, more than 45 volunteers drafted more than 350
documents for 130 first responders and their spouses. During
2008, Clark also donated more than 300 hours to pro bono work. |
2010 Pro Bono Awards Information
Each year, the North Carolina Bar Association presents the
following awards to honor attorneys who have provided significant
legal assistance to low income people in North Carolina. To
nominate someone for any of the awards in the following section
please click here! Nominations are due Friday,
February 5, 2010.
- William L. Thorp Pro Bono Attorney Award -
Pro Bono Attorney Award established in 1984 to recognize lawyers
who provide exceptional pro bono legal assistance to low-income
citizens in North Carolina. In 2002, the award was renamed in the
memory of Bill Thorp, a founder of Legal Services of North
Carolina, Inc.
- Deborah Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services
Attorney Award Established in 1991, this award is awarded to an
outstanding legal services attorney.
- Chief Justice Award - This award,
established in 1989, recognizes an outstanding bar association that
has made extraordinary contribution in support of pro bono legal
services.
- Large Law Firm Award - Established in
1997, this award is given to one of the 25 largest law firms in
North Carolina for their commitment to providing pro bono legal
assistance.
- Smaller Law Firm Award - Established in
1999, this award is presented to a firm employing five to 15
attorneys.
- Law Student Group Project Award -
Established in 2002, this award is presented to a law student group
for an excellent pro bono project.
- Other
Awards - YLD Younger Lawyer Pro Bono Award and Intellectual
Property Section Pro Bono Award.
I. Beverly Lake Public Service Award
- Dr. I.
Beverly Lake Public Service Award - The Dr. I Beverly Lake
Public Service Award annually recognizes an outstanding lawyer in
North Carolina who has performed exemplary public service in his or
her community. The voluntary service of this attorney may have
occurred with a non-profit organization or with a number of groups
in the community as well as through elective or appointive
office.
Champions of Justice Volunteer Recruitment
Campaign
- This signature volunteer recruitment campaign seeks to recruit
more attorneys to provide pro bono civil legal assistance to those
who are unable to afford an attorney. If you are already providing
pro bono civil legal assistance, the campaign seeks to gain your
recommitment. Pro bono files are screened and referred through the
legal aid network. Statewide free legal service providers also need
your help.
Sign me up! - You will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader to view this. Download it here if your computer doesn't already have
it installed.
- Need Free (or Reduced Fee) Legal Help?
If you have a civil legal matter and you need an attorney but
cannot afford one, it is possible that there is a local legal
services (or legal aid) office or a volunteer lawyers program which
may suit your needs. Lawhelp.org helps low-and
moderate-income North Carolinians find legal help and
information.
Lawhelp.org/nc
- North Carolina Bar Association Projects
Register Your Project Now. If you, your
bar association, section, division or committee operate a project,
please register it here. The Pro Bono Project
maintains a list of all pro bono projects and opportunities
available in North Carolina. Please fill out this form to register
your project. We will help you publicize this project.
Operation Legal
Eagle NC For our assistance project for military personnel and
their families who have been activated to fight the war on
Terrorism in response to September 11, 2001.
- Elder Law
NC Center For Non Profits Pro Bono Program
Members from the Administrative Law, Business Law, Labor and
Employment Law, Tax Law Sections and Young Lawyers Division
volunteer to provide one-hour legal assistance to smaller non
profits in North Carolina.
Habitat for Humanity The General Practice, Small Firm and Solo
Section developed the Habitat for Humanity formbook for use by
attorneys handling closings for Habitat for Humanity
homeowners.
Lawyers in the Schools
This is the Law Pamphlet series This
signature pamphlet series is available to members of the public.
The pamphlets include general information about separate areas of
law, some of which are in Spanish. If you wish to order these
pamphlets for your office, firm or agency, please
contact us.
- Volunteer to be an Arbitrator
- Law School Projects Law schools in North Carolina have active
pro bono programs and participate in various pro bono projects
across the state.
- Pro Bono Opportunities The Pro Bono
Project in conjunction with the Young Lawyers Division maintain
this publication to help all members of the legal community locate
volunteer opportunities. Included are a description of the
opportunities along with a volunteer sign up form.
- Benefits of Pro Bono
Booklet The Young Lawyers Division produced this booklet which
describes the many benefits of pro bono as told by members of legal
profession, including ABA president A.P. Carlton, past NCBA
president Larry Sitton and Court of Appeals Judge Linda McGee.
- Newsstand Resources
NCBA Pro Bono Clearinghouse Information maintained in this
clearinghouse will help with program development and
implementation, list links to nationally recognized organizations
such as the ABA Center for Pro Bono, outline NCBA pro bono library
materials and list CLE manuals and video tapes that may be helpful
to pro bono attorneys.
North Carolina Pro Bono Coordinators Manual The materials
contained in this manual may be adapted for any pro bono program in
North Carolina, but have been developed specifically for the legal
services community in North Carolina. For information on
adaptability, please contact us.
Doing What's Right The NCBA Guide to Pro Bono Projects for
Sections and Divisions is revised annually. It contains information
about developing and implementing NCBA section, division and
committee projects. It's a one stop guide to developing these
projects within the NCBA.
Benefits of Pro Bono
Booklet The Young Lawyers Division produced this booklet which
describes the many benefits of pro bono as told by members of legal
profession, including ABA president A.P. Carlton, past NCBA
president Larry Sitton and Court of Appeals Judge Linda McGee.
This is the Law pamphlet series This
signature pamphlet series available to members of the public. The
pamphlets include general information about separate areas of law.
If you wish to order these pamphlets for your office, firm,
business or agency, please contact us.
North Carolina
Bar Association Foundation Continuing Legal Education Our CLE
department continues to be a leader in providing top quality
continuing legal education programs. Program videos are available
for check out, but not CLE credit. Program materials are available
for purchase.
Reports From time to time the NCBA issues reports on matters of
interest to the legal services and poverty law community. These
reports are available here.
NC
Casemaker Online legal research that is available to NCBA
members only.
Law Firm
Survey - Firms employing 5 or more attorneys in their
collective North Carolina offices should complete this form. We are
interested in learning about both small and large law firms'
commitment to pro bono and public service.
Lawyer Survey In order to assess what kinds of activity North
Carolina attorneys participate in, we ask you to complete this
survey. Results identifying individual attorneys will not be
published. Collective information may be used publicly.