The Compass Center is an organization that provides domestic violence and self-sufficiency services to survivors throughout the triangle area. Compass Center understands how financial barriers negatively impacts survivors of domestic violence and seeks to provide accurate and accessible legal information to clients at no cost to them. The Community Legal Project connects Compass Center clients to UNC law students who draft memoranda providing information about a client's specific legal needs, relating to family law or landlord/tenant claims. The program maintains a directory of volunteer attorneys who review student memos before transmission to clients. Not only does the program provide an important service, but it also has the benefit of exposing attorneys to potential clients. The program thrives off of the generosity of our volunteer attorney reviewers, and we are in great need of new volunteers for this vital pro-bono opportunity.

Project Frequency

Regular Commitment, but Less Frequent than Monthly

Project Time Commitment

Regular commitment is asked but not required. In the active months we would ideally send multiple memos per month to review. Attorneys can also inform us of their capacity to review new memos. Number of memos in need to review varies. Memos are basic and straight to the point. Program is very flexible and will respect requests for how often they are able to review memos.

Project Location

Remote Electronic (service completed by phone or internet)

Area of Law

  • Animal Rights
  • Domestic and Sexual Violence
  • Family
  • Housing

Geographic Areas

  • Remote
  • Durham
  • Orange
  • Wake

Project For

  • Newly Licensed Attorney
  • Attorney
  • Retired Attorney
  • Out-of-State Attorney (registered with NC State Bar)

Population Served

  • Crime Victims
  • Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors
  • General Low Income
  • Immigrants
  • LGBT+
  • Nonprofits
  • People who are Homeless

Skills to be Developed

  • Client Advice and Counseling
  • Community Engagement and Education
  • Legal Research and Writing
  • Management and Mentorship
  • Training Provided for Project Volunteers
    No
  • Volunteers Who Speak an Additional Language Requested for this Project
    No
  • Malpractice Insurance Provided for this Project
    No
  • Mentorship Provided for this Project
    No