Across North Carolina, family land is lost, and people struggle to obtain benefits because they do not have a clear or marketable title to the home passed down to them. Fortunately, the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the NCBA Real Property Section, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Pisgah Legal Services, and the Land Loss Prevention Project have partnered together to create the Heir Property Pro Bono Project. The project helps heir property owners establish clear title to their homes and land, thereby preserving both generational wealth in families and safe and affordable housing in low-income communities, especially predominantly Black, rural communities.
“In general, I am a firm believer in “To whom much is given, much will be required.” I have been blessed with some skills and talents. Fortunately, I have been able to make a career using those skills and talents and I find it important to give back and be of service to others.” Meet Adam Arthur, attorney at Arthur & Kirkman, LLC, and pro bono provider extraordinaire. He volunteers with Court Watch of North Carolina which has recently begun efforts to rebrand itself as Court Support for Families. In addition, he has been involved in the NCBF’s 4ALL Statewide Service Day for a number of years. He is a frequent participant in the NCBF/ABA Free Legal Answers Project. And since 2012, he has served on every Guilford County District Court Civil Local Rules Committee that has been constituted. Please note this is not a complete list of all Adam’s volunteer contributions.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Pro Bonohttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngPro Bono2023-07-28 11:07:542023-07-28 11:07:54Pro Bono Spotlight: Adam Arthur
Grabowski Law Firm has an obvious passion for pro bono work. Austin Grabowski graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina then attended Campbell Law School of Law, where he excelled in leadership roles and his pro bono interest took off. When Austin graduated, he held a prestigious position clerking for Superior Court Judge Eric Levinson. After that position, he worked for a national law firm and a boutique law firm. After those experiences, Austin wanted hands-on experience with his clients, and Grabowski Law Firm was born in Charlotte, NC.
When asked about her caseload as a mediator specializing in Workers’ Compensation and employment disputes, she replied, “It’s wild! I have a frenetic caseload!” Any mediator worth their salt can enjoy a great work/life balance, filling their calendar with as much work as they choose to accept. What distinguishes Kate from many of her colleagues is that she adds an extra element to her personal balance: a passion for social justice. This passion is articulated in every aspect of her life. This dedication to her craft and her cause has earned Kate repeated recognition from both within and beyond the legal community.
Kate gives freely of her time, talent, and energy very literally. For the past 13-14 years, Kate has blocked two to three days each week for pursuing both pro bono projects and community causes. That’s an extraordinary 50% of each work week! And for more than a decade! With that time, Kate has spearheaded several community-building initiatives. Kate has even woven her fervor for inclusiveness into the fabric of her family. Kate and her husband, Nick Maradei, are trans-racial adoptive parents, having adopted at birth two African American daughters to complete their family along with their biological son.
The 2023 Pro Bono Award winners have been selected and will be recognized during the NCBA Annual Meeting on Friday, June 23 in Wilmington. The recipients are:
Greenblatt Outstanding Lawyer Award: Carlene McNulty – NC Justice Center
Thorp Pro Bono Service Award: Erik Zimmerman – Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson PA
YLD Pro Bono Award: Troy Shelton – Fox Rothschild LLP
Outstanding Paralegal Pro Bono Service Award: S.M. Kernodle-Hodges – Tolliver, Richardson & Kernodle LLC
Outstanding Collaborative Pro Bono Award: Afghan Asylum Project – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein and Pisgah Legal Services
The Filling the Justice Gap Award: Charlotte Initiative to Mobilize Business
Law Firm Pro Bono Award: Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
Law School Pro Bono Service Award: North Carolina Central University School of Law Elder Law Project
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The Appellate Pro Bono Program is available to pro bono lawyers in North Carolina, in collaboration with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Bar Association Appellate Practice Section, and the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center. This program matches pro bono attorneys to pro se litigants in cases before the North Carolina Court of Appeals or the North Carolina Supreme Court.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Pro Bonohttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngPro Bono2023-05-26 10:58:312023-05-26 13:24:31Appellate Pro Bono Program Spotlight
There are many wonderful reasons why attorneys engage in pro bono work. A robust pro bono practice not only greatly benefits low-income clients and the legal services organizations that serve them, but it also benefits attorneys from the private bar who take on pro bono representation. Pro bono attorneys report high levels of satisfaction, knowing that they played a significant role in helping another person who needed an attorney. It is often one of the most personally and professionally fulfilling parts of an attorney’s practice.
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On March 30, a free informational session was held for college students to help answer the common questions among prospective students: is law school a good fit for me, and what can expect in the first year? Featuring an experienced panel of North Carolina Bar Association lawyers from diverse backgrounds and specialties within the legal field, the event provided insights on what it takes to excel in law school and eventually practice law. With an engaged audience of more than 40 attendees, many of whom stayed after the session to speak with panelists, it was evident that there is a strong interest in navigating the complex world of legal education.
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Candace Friel finds her passion for pro bono work in projects where she gets to work with clients one-on-one, especially at home in the Triad. Friel is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, working as a healthcare and commercial litigator, and she is a member of the NCBA’s Health Law Section.
Since beginning her legal career at Nelson Mullins in 2007, Friel has built a robust pro bono practice, volunteering with driver’s license restoration clinics, Rebuild North Carolina, A Gift to Your Family advanced directive clinics, and more. Friel appreciates the opportunity to work with pro bono clients in person like she did with Rebuild North Carolina, where her client was seeking funds to help rebuild after Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.
“Our courts are designed to protect the stability of our law, and pro bono attorneys can play a role in that important tradition. Our courts work better when all parties have a say in the outcome, even those without sufficient means to participate. Protecting an individual’s position safeguards the law at the same time, and as an officer of the court, I see that as my sincere duty.”
Who spoke these wise words? None other than Lorin Lapidus – a man who is a stellar example of someone who dedicates his legal services to pro bono work and cultivates a strong pro bono atmosphere at his firm.
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