Tekia Bazemore is a second-year law student at North Carolina Central University School of Law who will be joining the Equal Access to Justice Commission and Pro Bono Resource Center as an intern for the summer of 2022. While she is new to the Pro Bono Resource Center, she is not new to volunteering. Her favorite volunteer experience is working with Habitat for Humanity. She says, “When I am helping build a home for families who are first-time homebuyers, I like to make sure that everything is perfect. I love to see the smiles on their faces when they come for their ribbon-cutting ceremony. I love to help because I remember when I truly needed help.” Tekia has also volunteered with the Greensboro Women’s Resource Center to help domestic violence victims escape their abusers.
Tekia already sees how volunteerism has enriched her life personally. “I feel a sense of purpose in the world after I have helped someone, and I get to show my children that it is not always about you; help someone when you can.” She expects this enrichment will transfer to her career when she becomes a licensed attorney. Tekia wants to apply what she is learning in law school to help underserved North Carolinians in the access to justice gap.
Tekia encourages law students who might think they don’t have time to go out and volunteer. “Helping someone overcome a struggle or roadblock is rewarding. We all have to take a break from books and studying at some time. Use that time wisely to make someone else feel good. I promise, in the end, you will feel good as well.”
During her summer internship, Tekia will work with our staff attorneys on the Driver’s License Restoration Project, Housing Stability Project, and Federal Public Defender Expunction Project, as well as assist with research for legislative matters and other Commission-related work. We are excited for Tekia to come and work with us this summer and look forward to helping enrich her budding career through pro bono service!