In 2022, the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center (the “PBRC”) launched a statewide voluntary Paralegal Pro Bono Reporting process for the first time. In 2022, 127 paralegals reported performing 1,983 hours of pro bono service throughout the year. Additionally, 13 of those paralegals who reported a combined 1,227 hours were inducted into the inaugural cohort of the North Carolina Paralegal Pro Bono Honor Society! The PBRC has once again opened pro bono reporting for paralegals to report their hours served in 2022. The reporting period closes on March 31, 2023. This process is open to all North Carolina paralegals, regardless of education or certification status.
While there is no requirement for paralegals to offer pro bono services in North Carolina, there is an ethical responsibility for attorneys to do so under North Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1, and Guideline 10 of the ABA Model Guidelines for Utilization of Paralegal Services states that “[a] lawyer who employs a paralegal should facilitate the paralegal’s participation in appropriate continuing education and pro bono publico activities.” Rule 6.1 encourages North Carolina attorneys to provide at least 50 hours of legal services per year at no cost to individuals of limited means and/or charitable or other organizations that serve individuals of limited means.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2023-03-16 10:30:172023-03-16 10:30:172022 Pro Bono Reporting is Open for NC Paralegals
As a Family Law paralegal, assisting clients with regard to spousal support is an important skill. When a client comes to your office, they are often scared and concerned about their financial future. It is imperative to provide knowledge and expertise with respect to financial matters, while also being patient and understanding of the client’s concerns.
Helping a client navigate a spousal support case requires the paralegal to be knowledgeable of financial matters. Paralegals must also know how to obtain the documents necessary to calculate spousal support. As a matter of fact, there are potentially more documents needed for a spousal support case than in a child support case. Paralegals also need to understand how to do an analysis of their client’s monthly financial needs. This can be challenging because many people do not know how much their monthly expenses are, possibly due to the other spouse paying the bills. It is the paralegal’s duty to help clients determine how to obtain financial documents and what their expenses are. Paralegals need to know how to obtain online access to accounts, contact information for banks, find lender information for a mortgage, and other types of documents. Additionally, a paralegal must be able to assist clients in completing a financial analysis (Financial Affidavit) of their expenses. This is crucial to helping them determine how much support they need to survive each month. This can also be very time-consuming. Having tools at your fingertips to assist clients with document discovery and calculating their monthly expenses is critical to being a Family Law paralegal.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2023-03-06 16:02:302023-03-06 16:02:49Through Our Eyes – A Paralegal's View into Spousal Support (Post-Separation Support and Alimony)
By Peggy M. Pardue on behalf of the Communications Committee
Anna Skaggs is a North Carolina Certified Paralegal who was certified in 2016. She works for Collins Family & Elder Law Group in their Charlotte office.
Anna has been a Paralegal for her entire career and started her journey when she was just 19 years old. She will be celebrating 31 years in June of this year. Anna says, “when you know, you just know.” She had been considering law school but decided to look at the paralegal field. From the moment she sat in her first class at Marshall University, she never looked back or doubted that she made the right career choice. She is so thankful for the teachers, mentors, and attorneys who supported and guided her, and truly loves this work.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2023-02-22 11:40:562023-02-22 11:40:56Paralegal Spotlight: Anna Skaggs' Journey to Becoming a Paralegal
I am proud to be the co-chair of the 16th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day, which will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The 4ALL Statewide Service Day is a pro bono program of the North Carolina Bar Foundation and held in conjunction with the North Carolina Bar Association. During 4ALL, North Carolina lawyers provide free legal answers, information, and resources to callers seeking information regarding North Carolina-related legal matters. Once again, paralegals will be able to participate virtually as call screeners.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2023-02-14 14:24:512025-01-16 03:37:54Be a Pro Bono Paralegal at this Year’s 4ALL Statewide Service Day!
The Scholarship Committee had a number of excellent student essays submitted for the Fall 2022 Paralegal Division Student Scholarship. The topic, “What skillsets do you believe a paralegal should have in order to be successful?”, allowed students the chance to highlight not only the skills they believe make them a powerful addition to the legal field but also how those skills can bring them success. While each essay was superb, the Scholarship Committee is proud to announce that Erin Acaley is the winner of the Fall 2022 Scholarship. Below, you can find a little more information about Erin, as well as her essay.
Thank you to all the students who submitted essays. We look forward to your submissions for the 2023 Spring Scholarship! Read more
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2023-02-02 09:23:502023-02-02 09:23:50Erin Acaley – The Winner of the Fall 2022 Paralegal Division Student Scholarship
Welcome, Paralegal Division members, to the new year! As we transition into a brand new calendar year, I would like to take a moment to thank you for being a part of our division and engaging with us. Our council and committee chairs have worked hard to bring quality endeavors to you thus far, and as we continue into 2023, we would like to continue to do so.
With that being said, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what our division has already managed to accomplish this bar year:
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2023-01-17 11:40:042023-01-27 13:09:39A Brand New Year: Looking Back at 2022 While Stepping Into 2023
On March 4, 2023, the Charlotte Expunction Clinic will again be held at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. This project is a partnership of the following organizations: the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center (PBRC), the SelfServe Center, the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, and Public Defender’s Office. During the clinics, volunteer public defenders offer advice to applicants regarding their eligibility for expunction relief under North Carolina law.
The project has held six prior clinics since 2019. Since August 2021, paralegals have been utilized to review criminal records and attorney analysis forms and prepare petitions for attorney review.
The holidays are fast approaching, and many of us are looking forward to holiday parties, delicious goodies adorning the breakroom counters, festive decorations, gifts, and more. However, it is not all fun, as the holidays bring an abundance of ethical concerns for the workplace. Below are some helpful tips and reminders going into the holidays.
Holiday Decor
Although there are no specific rules regarding holiday decor, there is an Establishment Clause in the U.S. Constitution that forbids Congress from establishing a state religion. Also, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals stated, “No holiday season is complete, at least for the courts, without one or more First Amendment challenges to public holiday displays.” Skoros v. City of New York, 437 F.3d 1 (2006).
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2022-12-16 14:37:082022-12-16 14:37:08Paralegal Ethics: Deck the Halls, or Maybe Not!
In April 2021, the Paralegal Division and the Family Law Section partnered for the first time to hold a Pro Se Custody and Family Law Advice Clinic for residents of Wake County. This pilot was held at the Blanchard Community Law Clinic and successfully served eleven clients by answering their family law questions and drafting pro se custody packets for several of them.
Since the first clinic was so successful, Guilford County family law attorney, Manisha Patel, approached the Paralegal Division with the backing of the Greensboro Bar Association and its Family Law Section and Pro Bono Committee about partnering for a clinic in Guilford County. The clinic is set for February 11, 2023, from 9 a.m. to noon at Elon Law School.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Paralegalshttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngParalegals2022-12-08 16:00:382022-12-08 16:59:25The Paralegal Division and Family Law Section Partner Again to Serve Guilford County Residents with Family Law Issues
This month’s Paralegal Spotlight is on Johana Sanchez, a Paralegal at Armendariz Law Office, PLLC.
Johana began her legal career in her native country of Venezuela, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Universidad de Carabobo and a Master’s degree in International Criminal Law from the Universidad Latino Americana y del Caribe. However, due to political and social issues, she made the decision to live abroad in Panama. This move led Johana to personal and professional growth, allowing her the opportunity to work as an assistant in a local family law firm, in addition to coursing (but not completing) an MBA at the Universidad Interamericana de Panama. Yet, she desired to continue her professional growth so she decided to move again, this time to the United States. She attended Campus Education Midtown in New York City and Taylor Business Institute in Chicago, places where she would learn English as a second language. Read more
By Rachel Royal
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