Lawyers As Volunteers 

The MCB Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) serves individuals and groups who cannot afford to pay for legal services by developing, expanding, and supporting programs involving volunteer attorneys, while providing lawyers in Mecklenburg County with meaningful opportunities to do pro bono legal work.

The MCB VLP currently administers three programs internally:

Wills & Estates Program

Wills, healthcare powers of attorney and other advance directives are drafted by volunteer attorneys recruited through the MCB Estate Planning and Probate Section. The program currently receives clients primarily from Habitat for Humanity.

Pro Bono for Nonprofits Program

Transactional matters are handled by volunteer business law attorneys on behalf of charitable organizations. Real estate transactions, trademark and intellectual property and incorporations are the most common case types

Attorney for the Day Program

Volunteer attorneys trained by MCB VLP, in conjunction with MCB CLE, work shifts in the SelfServe Center. Pro Se litigants are able to make an appointment to see the attorney for the day and have their pleadings reviewed before they go to court.

MCB VLP partner organizations:

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC)

LANC focuses on housing law, domestic violence protective orders and some family law for domestic violence victims, housing law and unemployment insurance. LANC requires that all its clients earn less than 125% of the Federal Poverty level. MCB VLP assists LANC with volunteer recruitment and training, and will take on short term special projects when there is a specific case type or client group that needs special attention.

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (LSSP)

LSSP is Mecklenburg County's oldest nonprofit law firm. They handle a wide variety of case types including representation of the elderly, tax matters, consumer law, health care and public benefits, and some immigration cases. Clients of LSSP must make less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines. MCB VLP assists LSSP with volunteer recruitment and training, and will take on short term special projects when there is a specific case type or client group that needs special attention.

Council for Children's Rights (CFCR)

The CFCR represents children in high conflict custody cases through its Custody Advocate Program. Volunteer attorneys are needed to serve as Custody Advocates. There are also programs to assist children who are facing suspension and expulsion from CMS, ensuring that these children get due process at these disciplinary hearings. MCB VLP assists the CFCR by managing a twice yearly recruitment drive among Bar members for the Custody Advocate Program.

26th Judicial District SelfServe Center (SSC)

The SSC has been open since 1999. They began by providing forms for simple divorce to litigants who are representing themselves (pro se). The SSC now offers scores of forms in English and Spanish, clinics, videos and research resources for pro se litigants. MCB VLP worked with the center to establish the Attorney for the Day program, in which volunteer attorneys meet with pro se litigants to help them with custody, visitation and divorce cases.

Best Practices for Law Firms and Attorneys

Providing Pro Bono Services in Mecklenburg Community

Are you interested in developing an active pro bono initiative in your law firm? Or are you looking for suggestions as to how your firm's current pro bono enterprises should be structured?

Download the MCB Volunteer Lawyer Program's "Best Practices."  This document is the product of a cooperative effort of the VLP, its member law firms, and the Community Partners.  It was conceived to develop reasonable principles to guide law firms wanting to support pro bono efforts in the community. 

If you are interested in further help in these initiatives, contact Heather Blackley at 704/375-8624 or hblackley@meckbar.org.

Inactive or out of state attorneys, download the State Bar's Pro Bono Emeritus Form

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2-9-12 Memorial Service for Patrick V. Ford
Friends and colleagues are encouraged to attend and, if desired, say a few words in celebration of Mr. Fords' life.

2-9-12 MCB YLD Winter Social
Please join the MCB YLD and your fellow young lawyers for drinks and appetizers at one of Charlottes newest venues

2-11-12 Diversity Day
This annual one-day conference engages minority students in a discussion about the legal profession and law-related careers. Students will hear about the role individuals with legal training play in everyday society; meet with attorneys, judges, law school admissions officers, and law students; and have an opportunity to share their views of the law and lawyers.