Legal Aid of North Carolina

New Pro Bono Newsletter! May 2026

June 4, 2026 · 7 min read · legalaidnc.orgHousing

The new issue of our pro bono newsletter is hot off the presses! Learn about all the innovative and impactful ways we partner with the private bar to make a meaningful difference for North Carolinians in need.

Chapman and Cutler LLP, Truist Bank, and Wells Fargo Kick Off Gavel Wills Drafting Tool with Legal Aid of NC! When Chapman Cutler generously offered to customize a wills and advance directive automation tool for use by Legal Aid of North Carolina volunteers, Wells Fargo and Truist were excited to help with its launch.
When Chapman Cutler generously offered to customize a wills and advance directive automation tool for use by Legal Aid of North Carolina volunteers, Wells Fargo and Truist were excited to help with its launch.
Joint Crisis Response Workshop and Housing Conditions Clinic with NCBA Young Lawyers Division and State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division On April 25, the Pro Bono team’s own Lauren Ashley Wright helped lead a collaboration between the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division in a joint program aimed at exploring and navigating crisis responses and emergency preparedness.
On April 25, the Pro Bono team’s own Lauren Ashley Wright helped lead a collaboration between the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division in a joint program aimed at exploring and navigating crisis responses and emergency preparedness.
We were also lucky to host: A Raleigh Pro Bono Collaborative Expunction session on May 13 with Kilpatrick A Lawyer on the Line event with LPL Financial, in honor of Financial Institution Pro Bono Day, and more!
A Raleigh Pro Bono Collaborative Expunction session on May 13 with Kilpatrick
A Lawyer on the Line event with LPL Financial, in honor of Financial Institution Pro Bono Day, and more!
Congratulations to our 2026 Law School Graduate Volunteers and Pro Bono Leaders! Casey Buttke (JD ’26, UNC Law) – Recipient of the Winston Crisp Award for Student Leadership Avery Allen (JD ’26, Duke Law) Neven Vrbetic (LLM ’26, Duke Law) Caitlyn Leary (JD/MPP ’26, Duke Law) Kacey Buercklin (LLM ’26, Duke Law) Sened Teklay (LLM ’26, Duke Law) Max Tinter (JD ’26, Duke Law) Emily Bass (JD ’26, Duke Law) Maame Adu (JD/LLM ’26, Duke Law) Yuxi He (LLM ’26, Duke Law) Seimi Chu JD ’26, Duke Law)
Casey Buttke (JD ’26, UNC Law) – Recipient of the Winston Crisp Award for Student Leadership
Avery Allen (JD ’26, Duke Law)
Neven Vrbetic (LLM ’26, Duke Law)
Caitlyn Leary (JD/MPP ’26, Duke Law)
Kacey Buercklin (LLM ’26, Duke Law)
Sened Teklay (LLM ’26, Duke Law)
Max Tinter (JD ’26, Duke Law)
Emily Bass (JD ’26, Duke Law)
Maame Adu (JD/LLM ’26, Duke Law)
Yuxi He (LLM ’26, Duke Law)
Seimi Chu JD ’26, Duke Law)
Featured Pro Bono Opportunities With the start of the 2026 agricultural season, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Farmworker Unit is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteer attorneys and paralegals to help with visits to migrant farm worker labor camps as part of its Witness for Justice Volunteer Program. We’re seeking assistance from a volunteer attorney and/or paralegal to assist a client with an heirs property matter in Robeson County, though this matter can be handled remotely. We are seeking volunteers to assist clients with disabilities with preparing reasonable accommodation/modification request letters to submit to housing providers. Help our senior client complete court forms for return of surplus funds after foreclosure Help Survivors Get DV Protective Orders
With the start of the 2026 agricultural season, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Farmworker Unit is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteer attorneys and paralegals to help with visits to migrant farm worker labor camps as part of its Witness for Justice Volunteer Program.
We’re seeking assistance from a volunteer attorney and/or paralegal to assist a client with an heirs property matter in Robeson County, though this matter can be handled remotely.
We are seeking volunteers to assist clients with disabilities with preparing reasonable accommodation/modification request letters to submit to housing providers.
Help our senior client complete court forms for return of surplus funds after foreclosure
Help Survivors Get DV Protective Orders
Thanks to our Charlotte Triage Volunteers Last month, our April eviction courthouse clinics, led by our Triage Courthouse Clinic Champions, Kirsten Peterson/Womble Bond Dickinson LLP and Graham Claybrook/Bank of America, were a huge success. Many of our volunteers took cases to trial or worked out beneficial settlements for our clients. We also wanted to extend a special welcome to the Villmer Caudill attorneys who joined us at our Lawyer on the Line event on May 7th! We’re also grateful to our May Triage Champions, Bill Butler/Moore & Van Allen PLLC and Graham Claybrook/Bank of America (again!) for ensuring the event was a success.
Last month, our April eviction courthouse clinics, led by our Triage Courthouse Clinic Champions, Kirsten Peterson/Womble Bond Dickinson LLP and Graham Claybrook/Bank of America, were a huge success. Many of our volunteers took cases to trial or worked out beneficial settlements for our clients.
We also wanted to extend a special welcome to the Villmer Caudill attorneys who joined us at our Lawyer on the Line event on May 7th!
We’re also grateful to our May Triage Champions, Bill Butler/Moore & Van Allen PLLC and Graham Claybrook/Bank of America (again!) for ensuring the event was a success.
Upcoming Events June 10 – Charlotte Triage Housing Lawyer on the Line June 16 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic June 18 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic June 23 – Charlotte Triage Child Custody Complaint Drafting Event June 23 – Raleigh Pro Bono Collaborative Expunction Session hosted by Parker Poe June 24 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic June 26 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic June 26 – Wills Clinic with Smith Anderson and Southeast Raleigh Promise
June 10 – Charlotte Triage Housing Lawyer on the Line
June 16 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
June 18 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
June 23 – Charlotte Triage Child Custody Complaint Drafting Event
June 23 – Raleigh Pro Bono Collaborative Expunction Session hosted by Parker Poe
June 24 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
June 26 – Charlotte Triage Eviction Courthouse Clinic
June 26 – Wills Clinic with Smith Anderson and Southeast Raleigh Promise
For years, John has been volunteering his time at the Central Carolina office, assisting the attorney and paralegal team with administrative tasks like case closings. In addition to these contributions – which help offload considerable work for our attorneys and staff – John is a welcoming presence at the office and frequent volunteer for other local organizations in the community, like Meals on Wheels.
We have been so fortunate to have Mark Henriques as not only an ardent supporter of Legal Aid of North Carolina but also as a frequent volunteer. Mark has provided invaluable service to our clients post Tropical Storm Helene. Most recently, he negotiated a significant settlement after our client experienced a repair gone wrong and the HOA refused to replace the damage done, leaving the client with an unfinished floor in his home.
Congratulations to Garfinkel Immigration! Garfinkel has been recognized by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) as a recipient of the 2026 Pro Bono Champion award for their service to Legal Aid of NC clients. Please join us in celebrating our partner, and Anna Cushman, a former Legal Aid of NC attorney, on this well-deserved honor.
Garfinkel has been recognized by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) as a recipient of the 2026 Pro Bono Champion award for their service to Legal Aid of NC clients. Please join us in celebrating our partner, and Anna Cushman, a former Legal Aid of NC attorney, on this well-deserved honor.
Join Our Justice Legacy Circle – Make Justice Part of Your Legacy By making a planned gift of any size, you become part of the Justice Legacy Circle, a community of supporters whose foresight ensures that Legal Aid’s mission endures long into the future.
By making a planned gift of any size, you become part of the Justice Legacy Circle, a community of supporters whose foresight ensures that Legal Aid’s mission endures long into the future.
Upcoming CLE Opportunities Join us on May 21st, 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM for Veterans Benefits & Discharge Issues: A Practical Guide for Non-VA Attorneys Join us on June 8th, 11:00 AM to 12:00PM for Mediation 101: Fundamentals for Effective Advocacy & Resolution Join us June 17th, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM for North Carolina Child Support 101
Join us on May 21st, 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM for Veterans Benefits & Discharge Issues: A Practical Guide for Non-VA Attorneys
Join us on June 8th, 11:00 AM to 12:00PM for Mediation 101: Fundamentals for Effective Advocacy & Resolution
Join us June 17th, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM for North Carolina Child Support 101
Lead a Virtual Legal Education Presentation Topics: Child custody, simple divorce, and housing
Topics: Child custody, simple divorce, and housing
Pro Bono Go Find volunteer opportunities at www.probonogo.org
Find volunteer opportunities at www.probonogo.org