December 1, 2004 MEDIA RELEASE
Legal Aid of North Carolina initiates Access
to Justice campaign to help the poor
(Raleigh, NC) – Legal Aid offices across North Carolina are
reaching out to their communities for support during the annual “Access to
Justice” campaign this winter.
“The funds raised by our Access to Justice campaign enhance our capacity to
provide free representation in civil matters to low-income families,” said
George Hausen, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s executive director. “The Access to
Justice donations and pledges help us fill the gaps in our struggle for equal
justice and demonstrate the strong support of our legal aid projects.”
Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that
provides free legal services in civil matters (non-criminal) to low-income
people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers
to economic opportunity. Operating 24 geographically located offices and
five statewide projects, LANC provides legal services to eligible clients in all
100 counties of North Carolina.
Hausen noted that for the poor and disadvantaged, access to the legal system
can often be the single most important factor in determining the course of their
lives. LANC helps children, families, individuals and migrant
workers solve problems that affect their basic needs, such as
health care benefits (Medicare or Medicaid), subsistence income (SSI or SSDI),
consumer loan problems, environmental safety, protection from domestic violence
and the right to decent and affordable housing. LANC’s involvement and
legal help also complement the efforts of local family shelters, children’s
organizations, community development groups and other nonprofits in North
Carolina.
To be eligible for LANC’s free legal services, clients must have incomes of
125% or less of the federally established poverty guidelines. For example,
a family of four could have an annual gross income of no more than $23,563.
The annual “Access to Justice” campaigns have raised more than $2 million
statewide over the past 12 years to help provide free legal services for
low-income people in North Carolina.
Although contributions are requested throughout the communities of North
Carolina, the Access to Justice campaign has primarily targeted attorneys and
private law firms, both for financial donations and commitments for pro bono
work. Expectations are high for support from the legal community.
“Many law firms here in North Carolina respond well,” said Hausen. “Some
firms ask their attorneys to donate the equivalent of one billable hour per
month to help our programs fill the gap for equal justice in our communities.
Some firms are also willing to provide financial as well as pro bono support.”
During the campaign, local LANC advisory board members staff and approach law
firms, businesses and individuals for support. The requests are made
through mailings, telephone calls and presentations.
“All donations made during the annual campaign can be designated,” added
Hausen. “This means that local donations and pledges can go toward support
of legal aid within the local community, to one of our statewide projects or to
the general fund of LANC.”
“The success of our Access to Justice campaign will be critical to our
capacity to provide legal services this year,” says Chris Marks, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s assistant director of finance & administration. “Inflationary costs
continue to impact us, even at a time when we are making technological advances
to increase our capacity, and foundations appear to have less dollars to give
due to the downturn in the economy.”
In efforts to encourage donations in the rural, less populated areas of North
Carolina, the NC State Bar’s IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts)
fund
has traditionally provided “Rural Incentive Grants.” These
matching grants have provided additional incentives to those offices to achieve
specified fundraising goals during the “Access to Justice” campaigns. The
seven LANC offices that have been eligible for the IOLTA Rural Incentive Grants
included: Ahoskie, Boone, New Bern/Greenville, Morganton, Pembroke, Sylva and
Wilson.
“IOLTA’s support for these campaigns has been greatly appreciated,” remarked
Hausen, “and is another example of how strongly the legal community in North
Carolina supports our work for equal justice.”
To make a contribution and/or pledge to the Access to Justice campaign, send a
check (made payable to “Legal Aid of North Carolina”) to:
Access to Justice Campaign
Legal Aid of North Carolina
P.O. Box 26087
Raleigh, NC 27611.
Contributions can also be made online at the Legal Aid of North Carolina website:
http://www.legalaidnc.org Click
here
to make a donation online.
or by calling the local Legal Aid of North Carolina office.
CONTACTS: George R. Hausen, Jr.
(Executive Director,
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC)
919-856-2564
Dock Kornegay (Director, Public Relations &
Development, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC)
919-856-2564
Disclaimer
The materials contained on this website are for information and educational
purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Please contact your
Legal Aid of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to
an attorney regarding your particular situation. See our complete
disclaimer.
Mission Statement
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that
provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in
order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers
to economic opportunity.