Lawyers As Volunteers Advisory (LAVA) Panel

To increase volunteerism within the Bar and coordinate among the various MCB Committees, Sections, Divisions, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation and collaborative legal organizations and to oversee the activities of the three committees: Collaborative Pro Bono, Nonprofits and Client Pro Bono and Community Services.

                         

Heather Blackley, Director of Lawyer Volunteer and Community Services, hblackley@meckbar.org

Volunteer Need / Commitment

Members of the LAVA Panel attend bi-monthly meetings.  Select members serve as liaisons to the three committees that fall under the panel and attend meetings on behalf of LAVA.  Members help to manage projects and programs of the committees and evaluate their effectiveness.

2011-12 Report

In lieu of highlighting the many volunteer activities that occurred within the Mecklenburg County Bar this year, we are providing a high level overview of some of the undertakings that have occurred to reorganize the MCB's various volunteer activities.  This is no way meant to minimize such activities, so we start this article bearing in mind that during the past year, MCB members have provided countless hours of volunteer legal services, community services and services to local non profits.  For these efforts we are profoundly appreciative and recognize that our Community is stronger and more vibrant for the effort. 

The Mecklenburg County Bar's Lawyers as Volunteers Advisory Committee (MCB LAVA Committee) had a very productive formative year.  For those of you who may not have heard of the LAVA Committee, the purpose of the LAVA Committee is to organize, expand and oversee the many volunteer activities that are undertaken by the MCB and to coordinate its activities with the MCB Foundation.  It is the goal of the LAVA Committee to increase volunteerism within the MCB while ensuring that such activities are consistent with the MCB's Mission Statement.

During the past year, a diverse group of individuals within the MCB met to discuss how best to structure the LAVA Committee and to tackle some of the details behind how the LAVA Committee (and its subcommittees, discussed below) will operate within the MCB.  In early 2012, the MCB President made appointments of the charter members of the LAVA Committee and the Committee has quickly undertaken the work of organizing the MCB's volunteer activities.  In addition to organizing the Committee and appointing representatives, the LAVA Committee has undertaken the following activities:

•                Reorganized the Volunteer Lawyer Program Committee by broadening its charter and renaming it to the Collaborative Pro Bono Committee (CBP Committee).  The expanded charter of the CPB Committee is to continue to ensure that the volunteer needs of the MCB collaborative organizations are being met by MCB resources.  These organizations, Legal Assistance of North Carolina (LANC), Legal Service of the Southern Piedmont (LSSP), Council for Childrens Rights and the 26th Judicial District Self-Serve Center continue to be an important focus of the CPB Committee.  Additionally, the CPB Committee is using its resources to marshal MCB volunteer attorneys to address special projects requiring legal assistance that the MCB may be asked to undertake by various community organizations.  Finally, the CPB will, in the coming year, review and update the manner in which the MCB recognizes the volunteer efforts undertaken by Firms, Corporate Legal Departments and Solo Practitioners.  
•                Expanded the role of the Pro Bono for Non Profits Committee.  In recognition of its expanded role the PBNP Committee has been renamed the Nonprofits and Client Pro Bono Committee (NP-CPB Committee).  In addition to its continuing responsibility for reviewing applications for free legal service from area non-profits and assigning resources to such matters, the NP-CPB Committee is in the process of creating a Direct Client Placement Program, so that the MCB can ensure that the full resources of the MCB can be directed to the expanded need for free or reduced costs legal services within Mecklenburg County.  We encourage all MCB members to stay tuned for more details of this new initiative and encourage your participation as a volunteer attorney.
•               Created a Community Services Committee whose purpose is to organize and review volunteer activities proposed to be undertaken by MCB members whose purpose may not fit into the provision of traditional legal services.  The goal of the Community Services Committee is to assist in ensuring that any such volunteer activities fit within the broader context of the MCB's Mission Statement and to provide a consolidated review of these activities in advance of such activities being undertaken.

Finally, we would like to recognize and give a special thank you to all of the MCB Members and Staff, along with the Subcommittee Chairs/Vice Chairs who have contributed to the formative efforts of the LAVA Committee.  Without the time, hard work and dedication of these individuals, such an effort would simply have not been possible.  The MCB LAVA Committee looks forward to a very productive 2012-2013 year.