Pro Bono & Volunteer Opportunities

Pro Bono Volunteer Enrollment Form

Calling All MeckBar Volunteers!

“[Rule 6.1(b)(2) of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct] recognizes the value of lawyers engaging in activities that improve the law, the legal system or the legal profession. Serving on bar association committees; serving on boards of pro bono or legal services programs; taking part in Law Day activities; acting as a continuing legal education instructor, a mediator or an arbitrator; and engaging in legislative lobbying to improve the law, the legal system or the profession are a few examples of the many activities that fall within this paragraph.” (Comment 8 to Rule 6.1.)

The following message was shared by Sylvia Novinsky of the NC Pro Bono Resource Center:

Attorneys: The new pro bono hour reporting system is through the NC State Bar attorney portal. If your law firm paid your dues, you can still log in and report your pro bono hours. Reporting your pro bono hours helps quantify the legal profession's commitment to serving the public and can help secure funding and resources for legal service providers.

Paralegals: Certified paralegals (NCCPs) can report through the NC State Bar's recertification process, and non-certified or out-of-state certified paralegals may continue to use the Individual Paralegal Pro Bono Reporting Form. Reporting is voluntary and open to all paralegals, regardless of certification status.

Volunteer on a Bar or Foundation Committee
For information about volunteering with a committee of the 26th Judicial District Bar, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation and/or Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, please visit MeckBar.org/committees.

Volunteer with a Local Organization/Agency

Pro Bono Go was created and is maintained by the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center in partnership with Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Pisgah Legal Services. Other legal services providers’ pro bono opportunities can be found here as well.

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 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.

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (CCLA)
CCLA 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 CCLA must make less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines. MCB assists CCLA 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.

Safe Alliance 
Safe Alliance provides hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault by providing a continuum of critical crisis services to those victimized by domestic violence or sexual assault. They offer 24-hour crisis lines, shelter, hospital accompaniment, case management, systems advocacy, support groups, court advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling for victims and survivors. 

International House 
International House promotes international understanding by serving as a center for diversity, advocating for people of diverse national backgrounds and facilitating professional and cultural exchange programs.

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 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.

North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits is a network of trusted professionals who can offer pro bono consultations, one-time sessions, or short-term projects that empower nonprofits to lead with clarity and confidence. Professionals provide council in the form of one-hour sessions while nonprofits get the help they often cannot afford. It's a win-win situation for making a positive difference in our community.

Attorney for the Day Program with SelfServe Center
Volunteer attorneys take special CLE trainings and work shifts in the SelfServe Center. Pro se litigants are able to make appointments to see the attorney for the day and have their pleadings reviewed before they go to court.

Volunteer Online

If you are interested in volunteering online, sign up with the North Carolina Free Legal Answers (FLA) website. The FLA is a legal advice website for low-income North Carolina residents, sponsored by the American Bar Association. All attorneys in good standing, who are licensed to practice law in North Carolina are eligible to participate. Malpractice insurance is provided through the website.

Volunteer by Providing Pro Bono Assistance

The Mecklenburg Bar Association's Pro Bono & Legal Recruitment Committee recruits legal volunteers and provides direct case placement for nonprofits and individual clients who cannot afford representation and who are not served elsewhere.  The Committee also recruits MeckBar members for pro bono opportunities with legal service organizations as requested.

Volunteer as a Mentor