In January 2022, the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center will launch a voluntary Paralegal Pro Bono Reporting process for the first time. 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 fifty (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. These lawyers who provide at least fifty (50) hours of these types of volunteer services in a year are recognized through the North Carolina Attorney Pro Bono Honor Society. For the first time, paralegals who meet these requirements will have a similar venue for recognition – the North Carolina Paralegal Pro Bono Honor Society.

While attorneys can provide these services autonomously, paralegals must do so in most cases under the supervision of attorneys licensed by the North Carolina State Bar. Many paralegals in North Carolina already provide pro bono services under the supervision of licensed attorneys. In some cases, a paralegal may provide pro bono services autonomously in administrative law matters where allowed by state law. For more information about the ethical obligations of a paralegal in pro bono service, refer to the Guidelines for Use of Paralegals in Rendering Legal Services as published by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification. Essentially, in most cases, paralegals can provide pro bono service in the same manner as they provide services to clients of their employing firm or attorney.

Self-reporting pro bono hours for both paralegals and attorneys is voluntary and available January 1 – March 31, for reporting the prior year’s activities. If you did not offer pro bono services in 2021, I would encourage you to seek opportunities in 2022, and mark your calendar for reporting next year. To assist you in tracking this information throughout the year, visit https://ncprobono.org/report/track/.

Paralegals should participate in pro bono activities for many reasons, including increasing access to justice for low-income communities and other vulnerable populations. Many paralegals may wonder how they can fit pro bono service into their already packed schedules of minimum billing requirements and family and personal responsibilities. If you break it down, fifty (50) hours of service per year would require less than one (1) hour of service per week, which can easily be accomplished during lunch breaks, after the kids go to bed, or even over a slow weekend. There are approximately 10,000 paralegals employed in the state of North Carolina, so if each one of them offers at least fifty (50) hours of pro bono service per year, that would lend 500,000 hours of pro bono service toward underserved North Carolinians. When paralegals assist attorneys in pro bono service, it also broadens attorneys’ availability to serve even more individuals who need legal services.

Pro bono opportunities for both attorneys and paralegals can be located by visiting the following:

North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center’s “Opportunities” page.
The NCBA Paralegal Division Communities forum (if you are not a member, you can join here).
North Carolina Bar Foundation’s “Our Programs” page.
The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Centers Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Guardian ad Litem programs.
Paralegals of the Carolinas Facebook group.
Networking with your local bar association or paralegal groups.

For more information on pro bono reporting, please visit https://ncprobono.org/report/.

Rachel is an NCCP and holds an AAS from Carteret Community College as the 2017 Paralegal Graduate of the Year. She joined the NCBA Paralegal Division as a student member and has been a past Council member, and is a current Pro Bono Co-Chair and the Secretary for the Division. Rachel has worked in family law, insurance defense, municipal law, and opened her own freelance business, Royal Touch, Legal & Business Solutions, LLC, in 2020. She is currently a contract Pro Bono Project Coordinator for the NC Equal Access to Justice Commission. Over the past 4 years, Rachel has volunteered for Legal Aid, the NC Pro Bono Resource Center, and as a mock trial site coordinator. She lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.

December 6, 2021/by Paralegals