Letter sent by email to North Carolina Attorneys on January 8, 2020. View the official letter here.
January 6, 2020
Dear North Carolina Attorney,
Each year, North Carolina lawyers demonstrate our commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for all by giving thousands of hours of pro bono service. The provision of free legal services to those who cannot afford representation is not only encouraged by Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1, it is an affirmation of the highest ideals of our noble profession.
The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center is collecting information about the pro bono legal services provided throughout calendar year 2019. All North Carolina-licensed attorneys who report at least fifty hours of pro bono legal services will be inducted into this year’s class of the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society and will receive a certificate from the Supreme Court of North Carolina recognizing their achievements. Please report your Rule 6.1 activities at https://ncprobono.org/volunteer/reporting before the March 31, 2020 deadline.
As we look ahead to 2020 and think about all of the ways that we can meet our professional obligation to provide pro bono service, I am proud to announce the North Carolina Faith and Justice Alliance. The Faith and Justice Alliance will bring together members of faith communities and the legal profession to answer the unmet legal needs throughout the state. Recognizing that faith leaders are uniquely positioned to identify potential legal issues within their membership and in the communities they serve, we will train clergy to refer clients for pro bono advice and representation and to host legal clinics. Lawyer volunteers will be needed, not only to provide legal services, but also to train faith leaders in issue spotting. Please watch for additional details in the coming months or reach out to the Pro Bono Resource Center if you are interested in participating in this important work.
Thank you to those who have done so much to address the unmet legal needs that exist in our state. I look forward to hearing about and recognizing your important contributions.
In Service,
Cheri Beasley
Chief Justice