PR O B O N O P R O G R A MANNUAL REPORT 2011 – 2012

At the close of its 15th year, the Pro Bono

Program’s reach and impact have never been

greater. Given the program’s capacity-building

efforts, as well as dramatic increases in unmet

legal needs throughout North Carolina, no

one at the UNC School of Law expects any-

thing less. Among its many internal goals, the

program dedicated itself this year to improving

its sustainability. The board, comprised of 12

students, implemented a new database system

to better capture and share information when

students graduate.

“North Carolina has a rapidly growing

need for low-cost, high-quality legal services,

and the Pro Bono Program at UNC Law is

committed to serving those needs for the long

run,” said Bethan Eynon 3L, the program’s di-

rector this year. “We needed to focus on some

internal muscle-building before we could

maximize our impact throughout the state.

Moving forward, the program will be well-

prepared to continue serving this state and

its residents.”

The Pro Bono Program’s commitment to

North Carolina cannot be overstated. Its part-

nership with Legal Aid of North Carolina is

instrumental in honoring this commitment.

Together with Legal Aid, the Pro Bono Pro-

gram hosts several ongoing projects. As part

of the Ambassador Certification Program, stu-

dents interview potential clients and provide

attorney referrals to low-income North Caro-

lina residents. The Divorce Clinic, now in its

second year, offers low-income residents sim-

ple divorce services while giving students the

chance to represent clients in a court setting.

Together with the North Carolina Bar Asso-

ciation, the program played an important role

Continued on page 4

This law school has long embraced a ‘public

mission’ in at least three senses. We draw

talented students from every geographical,

socioeconomic and racial background, from

the mountains to the sea. We earnestly believe

that our collective future is far better served

when law schools tap the most talented young

men and women from every quarter.

We mean ‘public’ in a second sense: we

proudly send forth our graduates to a broad

array of public and private careers. While

many embrace private law practice with

firms large and small or take in-house cor-

porate positions, others enter public service

or government, pursuing careers that have

benefited the nation profoundly through

the generations. We are ‘public’ in yet a third

sense: both the University and the School

of Law share a deep commitment to direct

service to the people of this state and region.

Yet the public mission of Carolina Law

extends beyond these institutional commit-

ments. All of our graduates, no matter their

career objectives, will have immense oppor-

tunities to shape the public good. We there-

fore aim to awaken all Carolina Law students

to the positive ways in which they cannot

only serve their clients but can improve the

judicial system and strengthen the communi-

ties in which they will live. While such ideals

can be apprehended, in part, through classes

and student-faculty interaction, the experi-

ence of actually delivering much-needed

legal services to those desperate for help can

prove life-changing.

The UNC Pro Bono Program has sup-

ported remarkable programs over the past

dozen years that have introduced hundreds

of students to the immense social value and

deep personal satisfaction that come from

meaningful public service. Dean Sylvia

Novinsky and the dedicated student leaders

of the Pro Bono Program have infused a

spirit of voluntary public service into a

full generation of Carolina Law graduates.

In so doing, the Pro Bono Program has

exemplified and continues to perpetuate

Carolina Law’s very finest values.

THE PUBLIC MISSION OF UNC SCHOOL OF LAW

WITH 15 YEARS ON THE BOOKS, THE PRO BONO PROGRAM’S

FUTURE IS BRIGHT

— By John Charles

“Jack” Boger ’74,

Dean and Wade

Edwards Distinguished

Professor of Law

Jon Sink 2L scans land records during the wills trip in eastern North Carolina over spring break.

GRADUATING STUDENT OF THE YEARErika Jones

Erika Jones has become a leader in pro bono work and embodies the spirit of selflessness and community involvement of the Pro Bono Program. She encour-ages her fellow classmates to get involved and is always ready to talk about the need for legal services in North Carolina.

She graduated with 305 hours of pro bono work. She has provided legal services to the homeless, taught elementary students about their constitutional rights, drafted a legal hand-book for domestic violence prosecutors, created legal resource materials for Disability Rights NC, volunteered to provide legal information to the community with NC Prisoner Legal Services, conducted community outreach on education and housing legal issues in the Mississippi Delta Region for the Missis-sippi Center for Justice, and written wills in her hometown of Kinston, N.C.

3L STUDENT OF THE YEARLindsey Spain

Lindsey Spain exemplifies persistence by prioritizing her pro bono work dur-ing a year when many law students lose momentum and motivation. She has logged 217 pro bono hours, 93.5 of which were during her third year. Spain volunteers her time with no

thought of recognition, focused solely on her passion for in-digent defense and how she can address unmet legal needs in our community. She has worked on cases with the John-ston County District Attorney’s office, represented indigent clients in criminal proceedings with the Orange County and Mecklenburg County Public Defender Offices, provided legal services to incarcerated men and women through N.C. Pris-oner Legal Services, researched reentry issues with the Ever-ett and Everett law firm in Durham, and written wills in rural North Carolina.

2L STUDENT OF THE YEARD.J. Dore

D..J. Dore’s body of pro bono work—com-piling 390 hours—speaks for itself. Dore was intensely committed to pro bono work his 1L year, completing more than 200 hours, and his commitment has only increased with time. This year, Dore became an integral part of facilitating

the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), taking the initiative to become certified in handling more complicated tax returns. Dore has also written wills for rural North Carolina landown-ers, assisted military members in filing affidavits for consumer protection cases, provided legal services to the homeless, and researched legal issues for the N.C. Department of Justice–Transportation Division.

1L STUDENT OF THE YEARCharlotte Stewart

Charlotte Stewart exemplifies what it means to be a first-year law student dedicated to pro bono work. She has led her class by example, logging 135 hours and taken on organizing new pro bono opportunities for the student body. Stewart developed and executed a new

Voting Registration Project through the ACLU UNC Law Chapter, leading a group of students to teach teenagers about the Vot-ing Rights Act and to register young people to vote. In addition, she has also written wills for rural North Carolina landown-ers, assisted with criminal domestic violence case investiga-tion, taught elementary students about constitutional issues, provided legal information to local immigrants, researched forensic legal issues for Indigent Defense Services, aided a Legal Aid client in obtaining a divorce, drafted advance direc-tives for same-sex couples, and researched community inclu-sion issues with the Center for Civil Rights.

PROFESSOR OF THE YEARMelissa Jacoby, Graham Kenan Professor of Law

Professor Jacoby’s research on bank-ruptcy, and debtor-creditor and com-mercial law issues is not limited to an academic audience. Instead, it embod-ies the concept of engaged scholarship, in which her research focuses on issues and solutions affecting real people and

real problems. Jacoby is a member of the National Bankruptcy Conference, where she has worked on technical revisions to Article 9 of the UCC and where she remains involved in legisla-tive and policy initiatives. Recently, she has focused on bank-ruptcy solutions for low-income homeowners and people with high medical bills. She is part of the Rethinking Regulation group at Duke University’s Kenan Institute for Ethics and is a contributor to Credit Slips, a blog about credit, bankruptcy, consumers, and financial institutions. Jacoby’s focus on cre-atively addressing the unmet needs of low-income citizens through new academic and policy initiatives is commendable.

ALUMNUS OF THE YEARMartin Brinkley ’92

Martin Brinkley is a partner at Smith Anderson in Raleigh and practices in areas including corporate law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust and trade regulation, public finance, charitable foundations and nonprofit or-ganizations, and appellate litigation. He

is the 2011-2012 president of the 17,000-member North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA). Previously, he was a co-chair of the NCBA’s first large-scale pro bono project, 4ALL, where North Carolina attorneys volunteer to answer legal questions for the public. 4ALL is now an annual event. As NCBA presi-dent, Brinkley has focused on coordinating and delivering pro bono legal services, including naming a task force to address the current budgetary crisis in low-income legal services by issuing recommendations for pro bono work to the NCBA. Un-der his leadership, the NCBA initiated a new pro bono project, Call4ALL, where private attorneys work with Legal Aid of North Carolina to provide legal advice to low-income clients. Brinkley has recruited more than 400 attorneys for this project and is a regular pro bono volunteer. He embodies what it means to have a lasting commitment to pro bono after graduation.

STUDENT GROUP OF THE YEARCommunity Legal ProjectThe Community Legal Project (CLP), one of UNC School of Law’s most established student-led pro bono projects, part-ners with the Women’s Center of Chapel Hill to provide legal information to low-income individuals in the Triangle area. Law student volunteers meet with a client to identify the client’s legal issues, research those issues under the supervision of an attorney, and follow up with the client to explain legal informa-tion pertaining to the issue. Significantly, CLP provides the op-portunity for students of any class year to confront first-hand the legal and non-legal issues that low-income clients face. Special recognition is due to this year’s CLP co-presidents Kate Saleeby 3L and Jessi Thaller 2L.

10,833 Hours of Service 77% Participation

16,957 Hours of Service 85% Participation

2011–2012 STATISTICS

Class of 2014

Class of 2013

Class of 2012

5,721 Hours of Service 63% Participation

UNC SCHOOL OF LAW 2011–2012 PRO BONO PUBLICO AWARDS

P R O B O N O P R O G R A MANNUAL REPORT 2008 – 2009

400+Erin L. BrinkmanKarl S. Gwaltney

300+Mary Lynn IrvineErika Nicole Jones

250+Carla M. HermidaBethan R. EynonSelene Ava Haedi

200+Crystal BoniMarcelius L. BraxtonShonaka L. EllisonMacy B. FisherWill JohnsonDrew KukorowskiVirginia Radford NiehausJoseph Arthur PolichLindsey Spain

Amelia A. ThompsonKristin Marie Wouk

150+Jennifer L. AndersonLorelle A. BabwahAdam BarringtonAdam K. BatenhorstKim BurkeRyan J. CabanCade J. LavertyScott M. LibfraindZach MarquandElizabeth Dannelly MorganMeredith K. RoseMolly Thebes

100+Sheyna R. AlterovitzJacqueline N. AzisKatherine M. BarnesHilary BlackwoodNoah Elliot Brisbin

Orla Marie BuckleyHeather Elizabeth BurlesonEmily I. BurnettLauren C. CranfordMichelle E. CunninghamMichael D. DanielsonAndrew J. DarcyParin DesaiJared ElostaPhillip FeaganLeann A. GerlachRaina Shama HaqueDanyeale L. HensleyLauren Nicole HobsonJenna Lyn HoelerBarrett Grey HollandElizabeth Dean HopkinsJames Patrick HunterAlyssa M. IglesiasLauren Christine JoyMaria E. Juambeltz

Kendra E. LeghartZachary Wayne LongCarolyn Anne MayerStephanie J. MurrElizabeth Ann OvercashAnand K. PatelAdam Joshua Seth PhillipsDanielle PiñolBrooks T. PopeSara Elizabeth QuickSonya N. RikhyeEric Louis RoehrigSarah RotheckerMaria T. RuteckiKathryn SaleebyGrace SalzerDevin James SchoonmakerJane SmartMorgan Eugene StewartTziporah Schwartz Tapp

Michael E. TorralbaLisa M. ValdezTheresa Eileen VieraJudson B. Wood III

75+Andy Andrews Jr.Haley C. EssigVarsha Dilipkumar GadaniAndrew A. GreenwoodWilliam HarrisonJamie L. HesterJohn Wallace HoltonMargaret Brantley KoppMeghan Colleen MeloRyan J. OstrowKavita Rani PillaiElizabeth A. RuizHayleigh Tasha StewartMary P. SullivanPearry L. Tarwasokono

Matthew C. Weissman-VermeulenJonathan WellsKelley Morris White

50+Sarah J. ArenaLaurin Clark AriailLisa Williford ArthurBerenice T. BenjaminDavid R. BoazEbony J. BurnsKimberly P. ClearyHannah X. CollinsAshley E. DeanSamuel DiamantHector E. DiazChristopher E. DodgeMelynn Elizabeth GlusmanStefanie M. GregoryBrooks Foster JaffaJosh LawsonDerek K. Loh

Lindsey Ellen LynskeyAnika C. NavaroliAsanka PathirajaLeah RichardsonWhitney ShafferVal VanTilburgLace L. Wayman

25+Alexander AbramovichFreddie AkroucheKatherine Blass AsaroAaron Benjamin BiekKimberly J. BrowMorgan BumbargerGeorge W. CarterTravis E. CochranGraham CorriherMatson CoxeAndrea C. DavisFranklin C. DavisChristopher R.

DetwilerNicole M. DowningCody I. GilliansDavid C. HerringKevin Andrews JoyceCharles Roy Kabugo-MusokeAndrew Adams KasperRichard C. KleinJoseph C. LambertCatherine Bethea LaneDavid Earl Lanier Jr.John LawrenceChristen P. LittmanKimberly E. McGannPavan Kumar MehrotraSara B. MilsteinKevin D. MuletKara Marie MurphyKyle S. NavarroJames William O’Rourke

Jane Yumi PaksoyMatthew John PentzKatherine J. PerrettaWill QuickAnne Stewart SalterRobin A. SeelbachElyssa K. SharpAllegra Amelia SinclairChannell V. SinghJoanna Woodley SpruillMartha J. SvobodaDouglas Bradley ThieJamille WadeStuart A. WestAlexander L. WilsonKatherine J. Zachrich

CLASS OF 2012

300+D.J. Dore

200+Nathan T. Schaal WilsonFallon J. Speaker

150+Jean C. AbreuKader CrawfordKandace R. DavisMeriwether Tull EvansChris HeaneyAndrew D. Hennessy-StrahsZack KohnAdam LanierAdam C. ParkerHolly E. Safi

100+Jane Hoffman AtmatzidisJames A. BartowMark E. BowersSarah J. ChangCameron B. EllisYolanda R. FairBrett C. HolladayElizabeth J. IrelandFred JohnsonSonya N. MochegovaMelody B. RowellRuth A. SheehanLaura N. SloanJessica B. Thaller

75+Brandy G. BarrettAmy Bruch

Dac CannonVivian R. ConnellChristina D. CressCaitlyn R. CulbertsonAlex DadokMarshall O. DworkinRachel E. FaultersackJeremy L. FreifeldAmanda L. Gladin-KramerDania L. HaiderBarbi HerreraGideon A. KaplanAshley D. KleinAleksandra E. KozlowskaElizabeth P. LigonJonathan W. MassellMartin E. MooreAgata A. Pelka

Heather L. PetrovichJeremy S. SpearsAsher P. SpillerNicolas E. ToscoJeffrey L. TrousdaleCasey L. Turner

50+Andrew P. ArnoldJaha N. AveryKatie BakerAmit BhagwandassRachel F. BradenAlli BrandtAndrew D. BrownMary B. ChessonPatricia H. ChoiDylan A. FarmerKelsey L. Feeheley

Danielle N. GonderingerRachel R. HallElizabeth A. HillElizabeth M. HodgeMelissa M. HylandJeff JamesJennifer K. KanzelbergerJosh KinardDesiree R. LafountainSarah Danielle MillanJoseph C. NienaberNicole M. OlveraZachary Alexander PadgetBrittany K. PinkhamMargaret J. PishkoNatalya L. RiceWill Robinson

Rachel E. SasserKevin G. SchroederWill ScottMegha ShahDan SiegelKat SlagerHolly C. SmithLauren E. TapsonLiz TurgeonGabriell A. ViresMaren T. WertsJessica Elaine Womack

25+Graham R. BillingsJoan M. BlazichTony S. BotrosAnn A. BryanTyler Lynne Burgess

Sarah K. BurrisLaetitia L. CheltenhamJoseph F. ChiltonElizabeth H. ChoiSean M. ClaytonLeonardo E. ConcepcionClay R. CostnerSara O. CouchAlexander C. CovingtonDavis W. CreefColette DavenportZack DawsonElliott James DeaderickMeisha S. EvansPatricia I. FernandezAndrew P. GregoryJulie C. Grimley

Janie HauserJosh HayesTyler J. HillDan HinsonSierra K. JohnsonUttara KaleSahil KheraKatherine KitleySarah C. MillsCatherine E. MitchellHanna S. MoriLauren E. NelsonMatthew E. NigrinyArijit PaulAshley D. PayneVirginia S. PleasantsCaroline M. RichardsonRobert M. RiveraJessica L. Scism

Peter B. SekulicJonathan T. SinkHillary SmithMeghan R. SpearsJennifer K. VuonaMargaret L. WaltersErnest L. WashingtonRebecca M. WilliamsRebecca Y. Yang

CLASS OF 2013

CLASS OF 2014

100+Kelly AndersonSarah ColwellElaine HartmanHoward LintzDebbie McDermottJoseph PolonskyTroy SheltonCharlotte Stewart

75+Ramona Baker Jordan Cobb

Kevin DennyRyan FairchildJacob GerberSeth LawrenceLogan LilesKatie ReynoldsDavid RussellJustice Warren

50+Catherine BruceTeresa CookKelly Crecco

Caroline CressBrett CurrierBelal ElrahalZach FergusonRebecca FissBecka FortuneLindsey FryeTimothy Henderson James JolleyEric KoteckiJack LymanJustin MannLeah Mason

Stephanie MelliniJohn MillerBrett NeveMinisha PatelKaitlin PowersJoseph StraderKatherine TaylorElizabeth Troutman Jordan Wolfe 25+Laura AckermanChad Anderson

Robert ArmstrongLaura Arredondo- SantistebanElizabeth BuckleyNick ByrneMichelle ChuangCatherine ClodfelterKenneth DantinneDebolina DasRoy DawsonTucker DealDouglas DeBaughLauren Demanovich

Chreasea DickersonClay DouglasAdam FleckensteinAna FriedmanMichael FrongelloJonah GarsonCarla GrayLauren HarkeyShilpa HegdeMatt HerrSJ HightowerAmanda HuegerichDonald Huggins

Kenneth JenningsTanner KroegerGina LeBlancAdam LewisDylan Mataway- NovakAshley McAlaraneyCatherine McCormickAmy McCreaJocelyn MitnaulSatie MunnRachel NicholasSeiko Okada

Vanessa PeñaLauren PowersJessica RaGiles RhodenhiserPorsha RobinsonEdward RocheErica RomainRebekah ScherrAmanda SherinMarcie SmithDemitra SourlisNicholas SteenAlexandra Suarez

Jessica ThompsonSamantha ThompsonAnna TisonAlexandra TronoloneBridget WarrenCasey WentzAmanda WitzkeLuke WollardChrisy YunAgnieszka Zmuda

2011–2012 PRO BONO PROGRAM PARTICIPATING STUDENTS

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONSAmerican Constitution SocietyCarolina Street LawCarolina Teen Court Assistance ProgramChild ActionCommunity Legal ProjectDeath Penalty ProjectDriver’s License Restoration ProjectEducation Law and Policy SocietyEnvironmental Law ProjectHispanic/Latino Law Students AssociationImmigration Law AssociationUNC Innocence Project Lambda Law Students AssociationLegal Aid of North Carolina Ambassador Certification ProgramNational Lawyer’s GuildPro Bono Divorce Project Student Animal Legal Defense FundVolunteer Income Tax Assistance

AGENCIES, FIRMS AND ORGANIZATIONSAEquitas: The Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against WomenChapel Hill PoliceDistrict Attorney’s Office – Wake County Fair Trial InitiativeGlenn, Mills, Fisher & MahoneyImmigrant Medical TaskforceJames T. Bryan, Attorney at LawLas Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center Legal Aid of North CarolinaNicholsonPhamNorth Carolina Bar AssociationNorth Carolina Conservation NetworkNorth Carolina Immigrant Rights ProjectsNorth Carolina Indigent Defense ServicesNorth Carolina NAACPNorth Carolina Office of the Capital DefenderNorth Carolinians Against Gun ViolenceOffice of the City Attorney – Durham, NC

Orleans Public Defenders OfficeOrrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe LLPPoyner Spruill, LLPRobertson Immigration Law FirmSouthern Environmental Law CenterThe Rural Advancement Foundation InternationalTown of Chapel HillTriangle ArtworksUNC School of Law Center for Civil RightsUNC School of Law Clinical ProgramsUnited States Public Defender’s Office – Eastern District of NC

YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

All gifts to the Pro Bono Program are used to fund

programming, students’ travel expenses for winter and

spring break pro bono trips, and start-up costs for fu-

ture pro bono projects.

We are grateful to our many supporters over the last 15

years. Amid tough economic conditions, our program

could not exist without your continued support. If you

would like to make a gift, please send a check made

payable to UNC School of Law, with Pro Bono Program

in the subject line, to the address on the back cover, or

give online at www.law.unc.edu/alumni/givenow.

Donald Huggins Jr. 1L and Anna Tyson 1L work to draft a will during the spring break wills trip to eastern North Carolina.

Continued from cover:

in making this year’s Call4All, a statewide

day of pro bono service, a success.

“Throughout the school year, students as-

sisted Legal Aid with the Call 4All project

by performing intake interviews on a weekly

basis,” said Hannah Camenzind ’10, director

of student services, who oversaw the proj-

ect. “The students provided a valuable step

in connecting underserved North Carolin-

ians with volunteer attorneys, while gaining

valuable interview experience.”

The Pro Bono Program sends students

all across the state to provide legal services

to individuals and families in need. For

example, the program in partnership with

Legal Aid and the UNC Center for Civil

Rights sent 54 students to rural commu-

nities in the central, eastern and western

parts of the state to write wills and ad-

vance directives for local residents. And,

for the first time ever, the program sent 20

students to Charlotte to provide indigent

defense services with the Mecklenburg

County Public Defender and to ensure

access to education for disabled children

with Disability Rights NC.

“Charlotte is often considered North

Carolina’s most privileged city, but the

fact still remains that too many Charlotte

residents are unable to afford basic legal

services,” Eynon said. “The Pro Bono Pro-

gram is committed to serving the state’s

other cities, like Charlotte, in the same

way we have served the Triangle and rural

communities in the past.”

Meriwether Evans 2L, who coordi-

nated the Class of 2013’s pro bono efforts

the past two years, will succeed Eynon as

director next year. She is confident the

program’s future is bright.

“Success for the program is bittersweet,”

Evans said. “As state agencies and organi-

zations cut their budgets, North Carolin-

ians in need of legal services have to go

somewhere. UNC Law students are ready

and able to make a major impact. The Pro

Bono Program is the connector between

the state and the students. With the help of

the UNC Law network, our 16th year will

be our most successful yet.”

PARTICIPATING STUDENT GROUPS, LAW FIRMS & ORGANIZATIONS PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

In what is fast becoming one of its most

popular fund raising events, the Pro Bono

Program lassoed local food trucks for two

“food truck rodeos” — one in the fall and

another in the spring. The program invited

several trucks to the lower parking lot, and

raised approximately $800 from the tips and

a percent of all sales made during the lunch-

time festival.

“If I ate much more, you’d have to roll

me out of there like a barrel at, well, a ro-

deo,” said Tanner Kroeger 1L. “I don’t clown

around with food, so you can trust me when

I say the food at the food truck rodeo is sec-

ond to none. If the Pro Bono Program spon-

sored a rodeo every month — heck, every

week — I’d be there every time.”

With the food truck rodeo on campus,

students, faculty and staff bucked their regu-

larly scheduled lunch plans for the day. Stu-

dents wrestled with the choices among trucks

like Baguetteaboutit, Will & Pops, Klausie’s

Olde North State BBQ, Monuts Donuts, and

Local Yogurt. But no matter the choices, a

herd of students always seems to show up for

the food truck rodeo.

PROGRAM WRANGLES SUPPORT, ENTHUSIASM

WITH “FOOD TRUCK RODEOS”

The Pro Bono Program sent 25 students,

split into two teams, on the winter break

trip to Charlotte, N.C. One team worked

at the Mecklenburg County Public

Defender’s Office, while the other spent its

time with Disability Rights North Carolina,

a private, not-for-profit advocacy group

based in Raleigh. In total, both teams per-

formed 650 pro bono hours in Charlotte.

“The winter break trip in Charlotte

was a fantastic opportunity for both stu-

dents and the organizations we served,”

said Melissa Hyland 2L, who lived in

Charlotte prior to law school. “Chapel

Hill is a short drive from Charlotte. This

trip demonstrated that Carolina Law can

be a consistent contributor to the pro

bono community in Charlotte.”

Eight students teamed up to work at

the Public Defender’s Office, where the

team aided attorneys in interviewing

clients, preparing documents and attend-

ing hearings.

“Participating in the winter pro bono

trip gave me the opportunity to see public

interest lawyers up close, working in the

trenches,” said Munashe Magarira 1L.

“Pro bono trips like the trip to Charlotte

are immensely beneficial for law students

because they give us opportunities to ap-

ply the law and doctrine from the class-

room. The pro bono trip was especially

useful for me because it helped reaffirm

my interest in public interest law.”

The remaining students worked with

Disability Rights North Carolina to in-

vestigate an under-18 psychiatric residen-

tial treatment facility in Charlotte. Stu-

dents interviewed residents of the facility

to determine whether they were receiv-

ing the education benefits they were en-

titled to under law.

“Disability Rights gave us an oppor-

tunity to gain valuable real-world expe-

rience conducting client interviews and

drafting parts of a memo,” said Lauren

Harkey 1L. “But as important, we were

able to spend part of our break serving

the legal needs of our state’s largest city.”

STUDENTS HEAD TO CHARLOTTE FOR WINTER BREAK

Pro bono students outside the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office. In addition to assisting that office, students also worked with Disability Rights North Carolina to interview young people at a psychiatric residential treatment facility in Charlotte.

Jamie Denvir 1L grabs lunch at the spring food truck rodeo. The rodeo is an important fundraiser for the Pro Bono program.

PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

ELECT ION PROTECT ION HOTL INE F IELDS 400+ CALLS

It’s one thing to mobilize 60 students to serve

more than 400 hours over the span of a few

days. It’s a different thing altogether to mo-

bilize those students the week after spring

exams. But Election Protection pulled it off.

Election Protection is a nonpartisan, nation-

wide, non-profit organization that partners

with the UNC Center for Civil Rights and

the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights

Under Law to assist voters in exercising their

rights to vote.

“Election-day projects with Election Pro-

tection are amazing opportunities for our stu-

dents,” said Sylvia Novinsky, assistant dean for

public service programs. “Not only do our

students get great experience interviewing

clients and synthesizing those interviews, but

they get to work on the front lines protecting

something so fundamental and important as

the right to vote.”

During the May 2012 primary vote, more

than 60 students answered 434 phone calls

from voters, logging more than 400 hours. In

general, students answered calls with ques-

tions on polling places, absentee voting stan-

dards, and possible ballot inconsistencies.

“Volunteering to aid the Election Protection

Hotline was an extremely rewarding experi-

ence,” said Matthew Stigall, a first-year stu-

dent who volunteered at the project.

“Voting is at the apex of our civil duties and

Election Protection ensures that most vital

right. It was a privilege to be able to protect

the voice of the citizenry in a non-

partisan environment.”

S T U D E N T S T E A M W I T H G L E N N , M I L L S , F ISHER & MAHONEY ON PRO BONO CASESIn partnership with Glenn, Mills, Fisher &

Mahoney, UNC School of Law students

worked on a wide variety of pro bono cases

this year, including age, sex, race, disability and

national origin discrimination claims; breach

of contract disputes; and First Amendment

claims. Students focused on interviewing

clients and witnesses, researching legal issues,

assembling discovery responses, and draft-

ing documents.

“I have seen numerous students who

seemed to get a much better understanding

of how legal rights are enforced through liti-

gation,” said Stewart Fisher, a partner at the

Durham-based firm. “Many students have

told me they learned how civil procedure

really works by being involved in cases at

our firm.”

“I like doing pro bono projects like this

because you get to practice the legal skills that

you don’t use in class,” says Nathan Schaal-

Wilson 2L, who volunteered at the firm.

RURAL ADVOCACY NON-PROF IT PROV IDES STUDENTS WITH ENV IRONMENTAL LAW PRO BONO OPPORTUNIT IESAfter the North Carolina General Assembly

called for research on consumer protec-

tion issues related to natural resource leasing

rights in the state, the Rural Advancement

Foundation International turned to the Pro

Bono Program for help. UNC School of Law

students joined the foundation’s efforts by re-

searching consumer protection laws in other

states to provide context for similar laws in

North Carolina.

“We needed some important and detailed

information in a very short amount of time,

and the UNC Law students working with us

accomplished this goal,” said Jordan Treakle,

a project coordinator at the foundation. “All

students worked independently, were very

professional, and provided accurate informa-

tion that is critical to our work.”

Ramona Baker 1L, said the project has

helped her hone both valuable legal skills and

a sense of what interests her about the law.

“Working with [the foundation] has been

a dynamic educational opportunity to de-

velop my research skills while delving into a

substantive area of law,” she said. “Prior to this

project, I only had a cursory understanding of

mineral rights law, but now I feel comfortable

with the vocabulary and the structure of the

field and know that I want to learn more-

about oil, gas and mineral rights law.”

S T U D E N T S A D D R E S S U N M E T L E G A L N E E D S I N R U R A L C O M M U N I T I E SSince 2008, the UNC School of Law Wills

Project has been a major component of the

program’s effort to serve unmet legal needs in

North Carolina. By sending 34 students on

the spring break trip, the program continued

to bolster the Wills Project’s reach and impact.

“In collaborating with the UNC Center

for Civil Rights and Legal Aid of NC, our

goal is to address the land-loss issues that ex-

ist in rural North Carolina, especially in mi-

nority and low-income communities,” said

Adam Parker 2L, one of the program’s special

trips coordinators. “It’s well-established that

Legal Aid offices across the state are facing

serious budget cuts. Law students have em-

braced a small—albeit vital—role in making

sure rural communities have access to quality

legal services.”

The Wills Project benefits clients and

communities in significant ways, as stable

land ownership leads to stable communities.

GET INVOLVED!

www.law.unc.edu/studentlife/probono

@uncprobono

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Don

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PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

With each year, the amount of time students

dedicate to pro bono increases. These achieve-

ments are directly attributable to the Pro

Bono Board, a group of 12 students and one

advisor who are extremely dedicated to facing

the challenges of encouraging and providing

high-quality and meaningful pro bono op-

portunities at UNC School of Law. The board

is a unique example of graduate-level student

leadership and what I believe is the premier

student professional development opportunity

at UNC Law. It is every director’s goal that his

or her board members walk away a better per-

son and better professional with tangible skills

to increase their leadership abilities.

Over the years, the board has developed a

distinctive professional culture now inherent in

the program. We focus on individual and group

goal setting, including benchmark periods

where we evaluate achievement progress and

translate what we mean by “improving” into

quantifiable goals. We prioritize diversity of

our board members, realizing that the most

meaningful decision-making conversations are

those that involve multiple perspectives. We

balance our friendships and our professional

relationships, allowing professional disagree-

ments to enhance our personal respect for each

other. We emphasize organization and time-

management skills, cognizant that these are the

building blocks to our success. We embrace

our failures by confronting our shortcomings

and determining how we can fix them in the

future. We value transparency towards the stu-

dent body, something that this year’s board has

prioritized by being ever-conscious that we

are students leading students. And we strive to

ensure consistency in our leadership, checking

our internal processes to ensure that the mes-

sages we send our students and our legal part-

ners are honest and true to our mission.

At the center of our work are enthusiasm

and motivation, qualities that, especially in law

school, cannot be created. I am proud to be a

member of a team of individuals for which the

incentive to achieve is personal growth, the

public good, and the betterment of our law

school. Through this evolved culture of lead-

ership, board members have built an enduring

program at UNC Law that has changed what

it means to be a Carolina lawyer for the better.

— By Bethan Eynon 3L

REFLECT ION FROM THE D IRECTOR

Students on the spring wills trip toured the Lincoln Heights neighborhood near Laurinburg, N.C., in Scotland County.

But the trips are equally valuable to students,

especially first-year students.

“I came to law school with limited knowl-

edge of wills and heirs property. I certainly

didn’t appreciate how prevalent the lack of

access to legal services is in rural communi-

ties and the severe impact that lack of access

has on land ownership,” said Kevin Denny 1L,

who went on both the fall and spring break

trips. “The benefits for a student are twofold.

On one hand, you get practical experience

performing substantive legal work. On the

other, you get the opportunity to help a

family or a community protect its property

for another generation.”

Stay up-to-date with our Wills Project

year round on the blog http://wherethere-

sawillunc.wordpress.com.

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Don

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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCHAPEL HILL, NCPERMIT NO. 177

2011 – 2012 PRO BONO BOARDDirector: Bethan Eynon 3L

Attorney Projects Coordinator: Yolanda Fair 2L

Alumni Outreach Coordinator: Danielle Gonderinger 2L/Annie Bryan 2L

Group Projects Coordinator: Elizabeth Morgan 3L

New Projects Development Coordinator: Lauren Cranford 3L

Public Relations Coordinator: Jaha Avery 2L/Tanner Kroeger 1L

Special Trips Coordinators:Adam Parker 2L and Andrew Brown 2L

Winter Break/Spring Break Coordinator: Shonaka Ellison 3L

3L Class Coordinator: Carla Hermida 3L

2L Class Coordinator: Meriwether Evans 2L

1L Class Coordinator: Joey Polonsky 1L

Advisor: Sylvia Novinsky, J.D., Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs

2012 – 2013 PRO BONO BOARDDirector: Meriwether Evans 2L

Attorney Projects Coordinator: Sarah Colwell 1L

Alumni Outreach Coordinator: Annie Bryan 2L

Group Projects Coordinator: Yolanda Fair 2L

New Projects Development Coordinator:Jean Abreu 2L

Public Relations Coordinator: Tanner Kroeger 1L

Special Trips Coordinators: Kelly Anderson 1L and Munashe Magarira 1L

Winter Break/Spring Break Coordinator:James Jolley 1L

3L Class Coordinator: Kathryn Van Wie 2L

2L Class Coordinator: Joey Polonsky 1L

Advisor: Sylvia Novinsky, J.D., Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs

ABOUT THE UNC LAW PRO BONO PROGRAM

At a time when budget cuts at non-profit and government agencies are making it more

difficult for individuals in need to secure quality legal representation, the UNC School

of Law Pro Bono Program has never been needed more than it is today. Our mission is

twofold. We seek to mobilize students to assist attorneys in providing high-quality, low-

cost legal services to individuals in need and to foster a lifelong commitment to pro

bono work throughout the UNC School of Law network. As we enter our 16th year,

we look proudly on the thousands of hours that our students have served at non-profit

organizations, private firms, and in government agencies.

The bulk of the Program’s pro bono service takes place during the academic year.

The Program coordinates special projects over fall, winter and spring breaks. Pro bono

projects over the breaks include both group and individual student projects. When

students complete 50 hours of pro bono service, they receive a letter of recognition

from the dean as well as a notation on their transcript. Students who perform more

than 75 hours receive a certificate from the North Carolina Bar Association. And at

graduation, the law school recognizes students who perform more than 100 hours of

pro bono service.

To learn more, visit us on Facebook or Twitter @uncprobono.

For more information please contact:

UNC School of Law Pro Bono Program, CB# 3380

Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3380 | Phone: 919.962.5685

www.law.unc.edu/studentlife/probono

Van Hecke-Wettach Hall 160 Ridge Rd., CB # 3380Chapel Hill, NC 27599www.law.unc.edutwitter.com/unc_law

UNC Law Pro Bono Program Students and Lawyers Making a Difference

Front row, from left: Dean Sylvia Novinsky, Bethan Eynon 3L, Yolanda Fair 2L, Elizabeth Morgan 3L.

Back row, from left: Shonaka Ellison 3L, Adam Chase Parker 2L, Lauren Cranford 3L, Tanner Kroeger 1L, Meriwether Evans 2L, Joey Polonsky 1L, Annie Bryan 2L, Andrew Brown 2L.

Photo by Donn Young