Legal Aid of North Carolina

Glossary of Terms

Terms used by Legal Aid of North Carolina

Legal Aid of North Carolina works closely with many organizations, grantors and programs to help deliver legal representation in civil matters to (and ensure equal justice for) low-income people in North Carolina.  Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of many of such entities, as well as key operational terms.  This glossary of terms has proven particularly useful to the members of Legal Aid of NC's  advisory boards and committees. [Also, view our disclaimer for our websites.]

Access to Justice Campaign – a local fund-raising effort conducted annually by Legal Aid offices across the state that involves soliciting funds from attorneys.  [click here to go to "Donations" page.]

Access to Civil Justice Act – a North Carolina law that authorizes the Administrative Office of the Courts to send Legal Aid of NC a portion of each court fee paid.  Other terms that refer to this money are "dedicated funding" or "state funding."

Administrative office – the principle office (or headquarters) of Legal Aid of NC, which houses its executive director and administrative staff and is located at 224 South Dawson Street in Raleigh, NC.

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) -  a office of North Carolina State government that provides statewide support services for the courts, including information, technology, personnel, financial, legal, research and purchasing services.  [Also, click here to view the AOC's "Glossary of Legal Terms"; click here to view the AOC's "Judicial Forms".]

Advocates for Children's Services (ACS) - a statewide project unit of Legal Aid of NC that focuses on a specific area of the law.  ACS provides free legal representation for children who are in need of medical,  psychiatric, special education and foster care/adoption services to which they are entitled under state and federal law.

American Bar Association (ABA) – a national organization with lawyers from all states and territories in the U.S. As the largest voluntary professional association in the world, its mission is "to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law." The ABA has offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, DC.

Asset guidelines –guidelines established by Legal Aid of NC that place a ceiling on the value of liquid and non-liquid assets to be used in determining eligibility. For example, a person who meets the income guidelines but has assets over the limit will not be financially eligible to receive services. There may be exceptions for senior citizens and domestic violence victims.

Attorney Member – a board member who is an attorney admitted to practice in North Carolina.  By Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulation (Part 1607.3 Composition), a majority of the members of the Board must be attorney members appointed by the governing body(ies) of one or more State, county or municipal bar associations, the membership of which represents a majority of attorneys practicing law in the localities in which the recipient provides legal assistance. Appointments should be made so as to insure that the attorney members reasonably reflect the diversity of the legal community and the population of the areas served by the recipient, including race, ethnicity, gender and other similar factors.  By LSC regulation 1607.3.c., at least sixty percent (60%) of the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors must be attorneys. [Note: The same LSC regulation states that at least one-third of the Board of Directors be eligible clients when appointed.]

Base Budget – funds that provide and support the current level and quality of services offered by Legal Aid of NC.  Base budget does not include provision for salary increases or adjustments, increased cost of fringe benefits, new or replacement capital outlay or equipment, or new personnel or expansion of any offices or projects requiring statewide resources.

Battered Immigrant Project (BIP) - a statewide project of LANC under LANC's Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI) that focuses on a special area of the law.  BIP provides comprehensive and culturally appropriate legal services to battered immigrants across the state of North Carolina, such as legal assistance with domestic violence protective orders, family law issues, public benefits and immigration Issues.  BIP staff is located in Charlotte, Durham and Raleigh and works with the local LANC offices to help clients.

Brennan Center (at NYU School of Law) - a non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. Its work ranges from voting rights to redistricting reform, from access to the courts to presidential power in the fight against terrorism.  A singular institution – part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group – the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, and communications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector.  Located in New York City.

Case Acceptance criteria – written standards that an office has developed to determine whether or not to represent any particular applicant whose case falls within the priorities.

Centralized Intake – initial processing of client calls for assistance from a central location rather than multiple locations across the state.

Centralized Intake Unit (CIU) - an office of Legal Aid of North Carolina that interviews persons seeking legal assistance.  The unit provide advice and brief service to eligible clients.  For eligible clients needing additional legal services, CIU staff refers the client to a local LANC office of an additional review of the case.

Citizenship – LSC regulations require that Legal Aid of NC verify citizenship status of its clients and can only provide representation to natural born or naturalized citizens of the U.S. or its territories. Non-citizens or aliens who meet certain conditions (such as those who have permanent residency status or certain farm workers) may be eligible for representation by Legal Aid of NC. Others who cannot meet these conditions are considered "ineligible aliens."

Center of Law And Social Policy (CLASP) – a nonprofit organization with program staff whose work is concentrated on family policy and access to civil legal assistance for low-income families. Family policy projects include welfare reform, workforce development, childcare, child support enforcement, child welfare, couples and marriage policy, and reproductive health and teen parents. Civil legal assistance projects include "general counsel" to LSC-funded programs and the Project on the Future of Legal Services. CLASP’s office is located in Washington, DC.

Client eligibility – financial income and asset guidelines that client must meet and have a civil or non-criminal legal problem that affects basic needs in order to be eligible for legal assistance at Legal Aid of NC.

Client Grievance Procedure - Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) has a client grievance procedure in accordance with Part 1621 of the Legal Services Corporation Act.  This procedure is designed to ensure that LANC will be accountable to those persons it is expected to serve and will provide legal assistance as required by the Act.

Client Representative – an individual who is asked to serve as a delegate (or representative) of those who are eligible to receive legal services from Legal Aid of NC. The Legal Aid of NC Clients Council provided recommendations for the appointment of the first client representative Board members of the LANC Board of Directors. Typically a client representative is "client eligible." By Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulation (Part 1607.3.c Composition), at least one-third of the members of the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors must be eligible clients when appointed. [Note: The same LSC regulation states that at least sixty percent of the Board of Directors be attorneys.]

Clients Council (Legal Aid of NC Clients Council) – an advisory council to Legal Aid of NC that provides critical input and perspective for development of policies, training plans, community education and outreach, as well as other matters. Its mission is to educate and empower poor and low-income citizens regarding rights, responsibilities and available resources necessary for them to achieve economic, political and social justice. The Clients Council is typically composed of client representatives who serve on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors and client representatives who serve on local advisory councils.

Clifton Everett Fellowship (Clifton W. Everett, Sr. Community Lawyer Fellowship) – a one-year fellowship awarded to an attorney who will serve low-income persons in a rural area of North Carolina.  Currently, IOLTA provides funding for two such fellowships in Legal Aid of NC. 

Community Economic Development (CED)– organized efforts to assist low-income communities and individuals to become economically self-sufficient as well as to provide needed services to those communities. Often referred to as "CED’s."  LANC has staff that attend the CED Task Force meetings in North Carolina.

CSR (Case Service Reports) – recording and reporting of information about cases to LSC so that it can use these statistics to request funding from Congress.

Dedicated funding - a term that refers to the practice of pre-determination of the use of certain government fees.   A North Carolina law authorizes the Administrative Office of the Courts to send Legal Aid of NC a portion of each court fee paid.  This is also referred to as a type of "state funding" (funds received by action of the state legislature).

Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) - a nonprofit, legal assistance organization that practices exclusively in the field of mental disability law and serves individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities throughout North Carolina.  The DRNC office is located in Raleigh, NC.  DRNC was formerly "Carolina Legal Assistance."

Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI) - a statewide project of Legal Aid of NC that focuses on a specific area of the law.  DVPI provides legal assistance to battered women and/or domestic violence victims and strives to strengthen the working relationships between legal aid and domestic violence programs throughout the state.

Equal Access to Justice Commission (also referred to as the "Equal Justice Commission") - The 25-member Commission was established by an 11/03/05 order of the NC Supreme Court and Court Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr. in recognition of the need to expand access to civil legal representation for people of low income and modest means in North Carolina.  The Commission is chaired by the Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court, meets quarterly and files written annual reports to the Supreme Court, the NC State Bar (NCSB) and the NC Bar Association (NCBA).  The Commission provides oral reports at the NCSB Council meetings and the NCBA Board meetings.  LANC has two appointments to the NC's Equal Access to Justice Commission

Equal Justice - a term frequently used in regards to the concept of providing legal services to the poor in the United States, i.e., to ensure that all people in the United States have an opportunity to have the advice and counsel of an attorney, such that s/he has the same (or similar or "equal") chances to have justice in the legal system as those who are able to pay a private attorney for representation.  [NOTE: Also see "Collected Quotes Pertaining to 'Equal Justice' ."]

Equal Justice Alliance (formerly the "Planning Council" or "Legal Services Planning Council") – a collaborative planning entity made up of the executive directors of various legal services providers in North Carolina.  Originally this collaborative was involved in the statewide planning process to develop a comprehensive system of providing legal services to low-income persons in North Carolina.   Legal Aid of NC is a member of the Equal Justice Alliance. 

EEO  Policy (Equal Employment Opportunity policy) – an organization’s policy to ensure that no discrimination occurs in any employment terms and conditions as well as in the training, hiring or promotion of Legal Aid of NC staff. 

Environmental Poverty Law Project (EPLP) – a statewide project unit of Legal Aid of NC that focuses on a specific area of the law. EPLP provides free legal representation to low-income residents of North Carolina on environmental issues.

Ervin Fellowship (Judge Samuel J. Ervin, III Fellowship) - a one-year fellowship awarded to an attorney to work in the LANC-Morganton Office, which provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income persons in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and McDowell Counties of northwest North Carolina.

Expansion Budget (or "Expansion Request") – detailed request to the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors that identifies additional resources (money) to finance new positions, improve or expand existing services or provide new services. The expansion budget can be continuing or temporary in nature. The executive director may submit an expansion budget to the Legal Aid of NC Board for review and approval.

Farmworker Unit (FWU) – a statewide project unit of Legal Aid of NC that focuses on a specific area of the law.  The Farmworkers Unit provides free legal assistance to migrant workers who are working in North Carolina.

Grants – a generic term referring to various funding provided to Legal Aid of NC. The three major sources of grants are LSC, IOLTA and the State of North Carolina ("Access to Civil Justice Act").  Other grants are received from United Ways, VOCA, VAWA, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and private foundations.

Hotline – initial screening and interviewing of clients by telephone.  Some "hotlines" may also be referred to as "centralized intake," but many hotlines serve a small geographic area.

Income guidelines – Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations state that the maximum gross income for a person or household cannot exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. These guidelines are determined by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and are revised annually. Under certain circumstances, a client whose income is greater than 125% of these guidelines but does not exceed 187.5% of the federal poverty guidelines may still be financially eligible and qualify to receive services. These circumstances may include excessive debts and obligations, medical bills and consequences to the client if no services are provided.

Intake – the process for determining client eligibility and can also include interviewing a client about a legal problem.  Intake can occur by telephone or in-person.

Internships - temporary employment opportunities during the summer months for law students who want to gain experience working in a public interest setting and desire an opportunity to do more than just legal research. Internships offer unique situations through which one might better understand the special legal issues facing people who live in poverty and low-income communities.  In turn, the summer interns provide valuable and necessary service to the Legal Aid of NC offices/projects in which they are placed.  Legal Aid of NC welcomes opportunities to mentor such interns through its MLK Fellowships program or through work study programs, volunteer internships and/or otherwise funded internships.

IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts) – established in 1984 by the North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Supreme Court to generate income from lawyers' trust accounts in order to fund programs for the public's benefit.  IOLTA accounts are comprised of short-term interest earned on escrow accounts established by lawyers to hold their clients' real estate transactions and other matters. Client funds that are too small in amount or held for too short of a time to earn interest for the client, net of bank charges or administrative fees, are placed in a pooled, interest-bearing trust account. In so doing, the interest earned is used to provide legal aid for low-income people. IOLTA provides significant financial support (grants) to Legal Aid of NC and other legal services programs in the North Carolina.  The IOLTA Board of Trustees is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors.

Land Loss Prevention Project - a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the family farm in North Carolina.  The LLPP office is located in Durham, NC.

LANC (Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., but preferably referred to as "Legal Aid") – 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.  LANC provides such legal services to eligible clients in all 100 counties of North Carolina through its 24 geographically located offices and six statewide project units.  LANC receives part of its funding from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and is subject to the restrictions imposed by LSC.  Legal Aid of NC’s website is www.legalaidnc.org.

LANC News – the newsletter of Legal Aid of NC that provides updates on its major events and projects.

Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina (or "Legal Aid Society") (LASNNC) – the oldest legal services organization in the North Carolina (incorporated in 1962) to provide legal representation to low-income clients in the Winston-Salem area.  On July 9, 2007, the LASNNC Board of Directors approved a consolidation of operations with Legal Aid of NC (LANC).

Legal Files – the case and office computer software that is Internet- or web-based. This computer technology, case management system allows all Legal Aid of NC’s offices to be electronically connected and provides the ability to manage cases and other office functions.

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (LSSP) -  a nonprofit, "unrestricted" (i.e., does not receive LSC funding and not subject to LSC regulations) organization that provides legal services to low-income clients in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.  LSSP is the third oldest legal services organization in North Carolina (incorporated in 1976). LSSP became an independent/unrestricted program on July 1, 2002.

Local Advisory Councils – groups of clients and attorneys in communities, who serve as advisors to the 24 Legal Aid of NC offices across the state. 

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) - a private, nonprofit corporation established by Congress to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing legal assistance in civil matters to low-income individuals. LSC receives funds annually from Congress and makes grants to state and local legal aid programs run by independent boards of directors. The LSC Act, LSC Appropriations Statutes and LSC Laws & Regulations provide guidance on the operation and responsibilities of LSC and its grantees, and designates specific restrictions on the utilization of funds by grantees.   In recent years, LSC has required its grantees to develop state plans to address how a full range of legal services will be provided to low-income clients.  Legal Aid of NC is presently LSC’s only grantee in North Carolina.

Management Information Exchange (MIE) - a nonprofit organization that provides consulting, training and resources information to more than 300 subscriber programs from throughout the legal services community that provides legal representation, advice and information to low-income clients. Subscribers include federally funded, IOLTA-funded, pro bono, protection and advocacy, elder and other legal services programs.  Office located in Boston.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Summer Internships (MLK Internships) –  summer internships named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Each summer, Legal Aid of NC awards approximately 22 paid MLK internships to current law students to participate in legal services work over the traditional 10-week summer internship period.  Summer interns are provided training and the opportunity to work directly with clients and lawyers. MLK interns are given preference for hiring at the entry level for staff attorneys, as well as for Clifton Everett Fellowships and Judge Ervin Fellowships.

Mission Statement (Legal Aid of NC) - "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."  [Approved by the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors on December 12, 2003.]

Mortgage Foreclosure (Prevention) Project (MFP) - a statewide project unit of Legal Aid of NC that focuses on Helping working poor and working families to keep in possession of their homes and their equity.  The MFP includes a "team" of attorneys and staff who specialize in foreclosure defense and predatory lending law.  The MFP team acts on referrals from Legal Aid of NC offices and community organizations throughout North Carolina, with a focus on cases from low-income families who live in Eastern North Carolina.

MSR (Matters Service Report) – a report required by LSC to document action that contributes to the overall delivery of program services, but does not involve direct legal advice to or legal representation of one or more specific clients. Some examples of "matters" are development of written materials that explain legal rights and responsibilities; and indirect services, such as training, continuing legal education, general supervision of program services, preparing and disseminating desk manuals, PAI recruitment, intake when no case is undertaken, and tracking substantive law developments.  Matters are not legal cases involving direct client representation.

National Legal Aid and Defenders Association (NLADA) – a nonprofit membership association that represents legal aid and defender programs, as well as individual advocates. It provides products and services to its members and is involved in national policy and legislative debates that affect the equal justice community. NLADA is located in Washington, DC.

NC Academy of Trial Lawyers (NCALT) – a voluntary, professional organization that is primarily comprised of attorneys. This organization "protects people’s rights through education, advocacy and a community of professionals dedicated to preserving the right to trial by jury." NCATL’s office is in Raleigh, NC.  The NCALT is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors. 

NC Association of Black Lawyers (NCABL) - a voluntary, professional organization that strives to be the principle advocate for the interests of black lawyers, judges and law students in North Carolina.  The NCABL office is located in Durham, NC.  The NCABL is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors.

NC Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) - a voluntary, professional organization that brings together civil litigation attorneys to promote the exchange of information, ideas, and litigation techniques, and to strengthen the practice, improve the skills, and enhance the knowledge of lawyers defending individuals and businesses in North Carolina.  NCADA's office is in Cary, NC.  The NCADA is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors.

NC Association of Women Attorneys (NCAWA) - a voluntary, professional organization that is established to increase the effective participation by women in the justice system, in public office, and within the legal profession, promote the rights of women under the law, and promote the welfare of the women attorneys of North Carolina.  The NCAWA office is located in Research Triangle Park, NC.  The NCAWA is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors.

NC Bar Association (NCBA) -  a voluntary, professional membership organization with more than 13,500 members that serves the professional needs of lawyers. NCBA’s mission is "to serve the public and the legal profession by promoting the administration of justice and encouraging the highest standards of integrity, competence, civility and well being of all members of the profession." The North Carolina Bar Association is entirely separate from the mandatory N.C. State Bar. NCBA’s office is housed at the NC Bar Center in Cary, NC.  The NCBA is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors.

NC Gay And Lesbian Attorneys (NC GALA) - a voluntary state-wide non-profit attorneys' organization, providing visibility, support, and advocacy for LGBT communities. The NC GALA office is located in Durham, NC.  NC GALA is represented on the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors.

NC Housing Coalition - a nonprofit membership organization working for decent, safe and affordable housing that promotes self-determination and stable communities for low-income North Carolinians.  Incorporated in 1988, the Coalition today includes a network of housing and service providers, members of the faith community, civic and elected leaders, representatives of business and industry and other advocates who believe that housing is a basic human need and the cornerstone of vibrant communities.  The NC Housing Coalition office is located in Raleigh, NC.

NC Justice Center (or "The Justice Center") – an "unrestricted" (i.e., does not receive LSC funding and not subject to LSC regulations) nonprofit organization that has as its mission "to reduce and ultimately eliminate poverty in NC by ensuring that low-income, working poor and minority individuals and communities have the resources and services they need to move from poverty to economic security." Its staff (which includes lawyers) employs a multi-forum advocacy model that uses litigation, research and policy development, public policy advocacy and grassroots empowerment and community capacity building.  The Justice Center is located in Raleigh, NC.

NC Legal Education Assistance Foundation (NC LEAF or "LEAF") – a foundation that helps North Carolina lawyers pursue careers in public service by providing them with an educational loan repayment assistance program.  [The NC LEAF Loan Repayment Assistance Program serves attorneys who:  * Have graduated from law school within the last 10 years; * Are employed full-time in a law-related public service position within North Carolina; * Have current law school educational debt obligations and are not in default on any loan; * Have a current eligibility income below the qualifying levels.   Money provided during the first three years of eligible public interest employment is an interest-free loan that must be paid back over time IF the participant leaves eligible employment.  At the end of the third year, the loans extended under the program will begin to be forgiven.  Details of eligibility criteria, applications, and all required forms are available online at NC LEAF’s website, www.ncleaf.org, or call 919-845-6089.]  NC LEAF’s office is located in Raleigh, NC.

NC Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (NC LEAP) - A project of the NC Bar Association and the NCBA Foundation, working in conjunction with the NCBA's Business Law and Corporate Counsel sections, to provide low-wealth, small business owners with legal assistance in starting or growing their businesses by matching clients with a pro bono attorney.  NC LEAP plans also to provide regional legal clinics and seminars and develop self-help legal materials to educate small business owners on specific legal issues.  Clients must apply for NC LEAP services and must meet income and asset guidelines.

NC Prisoner Legal Services (NCPLS) - a nonprofit, public service organization that serves a population of more than 32,500 prisoners and 10,000 pre-trial detainees, providing information and advice concerning legal rights and responsibilities, discouraging frivolous litigation, working toward administrative resolutions of legitimate problems, and providing representation in all State and federal courts to ensure humane conditions of confinement and to challenge illegal convictions and sentences.  NCPLS primary office is located in Raleigh, NC.

North Carolina State Bar (State Bar) - the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of law in North Carolina.  These responsibilities include licensing qualified individuals to practice law as well as disciplining lawyers for ethical or professional misconduct.  With few exceptions, all attorneys must be licensed by the NC State Bar in order to practice law in North Carolina.

Non-Discrimination Policy (LANC) - a policy of LANC that states the LANC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, or any basis prohibited by law. The LANC Policy of Non-Discrimination was adopted by the LANC Board of Directors on July 26, 2002.

Non-LSC funds – grants or other funding sources that are not provided by LSC.  LSC regulations require that LANC subject non-LSC funds to the same requirements and restrictions as those required for LSC funds.

OCE (Office of Compliance and Enforcement) – an office within the federally funded LSC that is charged to oversee whether or not recipients of LSC funding (such as Legal Aid of NC) comply with LSC regulations. The OCE’s responsibilities include investigation of complaints and review of case service reports (CSR).

Offices – refers to the facilities at which potential clients may contact Legal Aid of NC regarding legal services. Legal Aid of NC has 25 geographically based offices across the state.

OIG (Office of Inspector General) – the federal agency charged with ensuring that federal money is not misspent or inappropriately used.  As part of its duties, this federal agency is charged with ensuring program integrity for LSC grantees, such as Legal Aid of NC.

OIM (Office of Information Management) – an office of LSC that is responsible for Internet development, programming systems analysis and database as well as websites.

OLA (Office of Legal Affairs) – the LSC office that address legal matters between LSC and its recipients, such as Legal Aid of NC. The OLA serves as the "attorney" for LSC.

OPP (Office of Program Performance) – the office within LSC that is responsible for technology, state planning and delivery of services by its recipients, such as Legal Aid of NC.

Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) – refers to the Legal Services Corporation requirement that organizations such as Legal Aid of NC involve private attorneys in the delivery of legal assistance to eligible clients.  LSC requires that Legal Aid of NC devote an amount equal to at least twelve and one-half percent (12½%) of the recipient’s LSC annualized basic field award to the involvement of private attorneys in such delivery of legal services (PAI requirement).  LANC has PAI coordinators on staff in most of the local offices to encourage and coordinate pro bono services for LANC.

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) - a nonprofit, "unrestricted" (i.e., does not receive LSC funding and not subject to LSC regulations) organization that provides legal services to low-income clients in Asheville, NC, and surrounding counties (Buncombe County, Henderson County, Madison County, Rutherford County and Transylvania County).  Founded in 1978, PLS became an independent/unrestricted program on 1998.

Priorities – the primary legal areas that Legal Aid of NC has identified as those where its staff and resources will provide services to eligible clients. These priorities are not required to be statewide and may vary by region.

Pro Bono (Latin phrase: "for the good") – refers to private attorneys and others who provide free or low-cost legal representation or other services to low-income clients.  LANC has PAI ("Private Attorney Involvement") coordinators on staff in most of the local offices to encourage and coordinate pro bono services for LANC.

Pro Se (Latin phrase: "on one's own behalf") - typically refers to materials/information that are available either to help individuals represent themselves or to help individuals understand legal processes.  People who are representing themselves before the Court are referred to as doing their legal work "pro se" (on one's own behalf). 

Program – a term used by LSC to refer to its grantees.  North Carolina now has one LSC-funded "program" (Legal Aid of NC) which serves all 100 counties of the state.

Program Integrity – LSC requirement that its grant recipients, such as Legal Aid of NC, maintain objective integrity and independence from organizations that engage in unrestricted activities. This means that Legal Aid of NC must keep its operations separate from other unrestricted organizations.

Regions – the five (5) geographic areas of Legal Aid of NC (LANC) are:

• Northeast Region
     Offices in Ahoskie, Goldsboro, Greenville, New Bern,
                 Rocky Mount and Wilson.

• Southeast Region
     Offices in Fayetteville, Pembroke and Wilmington.

• Triangle Region
     Offices in Durham, Pittsboro, Raleigh, Sanford and Smithfield.

• Triad Region
     Offices in Concord, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

• Western Region
     Offices in Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Gastonia, Monroe,
                Morganton and Sylva
  
          [Click here for a North Carolina map that shows
            LANC's offices .]

Reserve for Capital Outlay – money approved by the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors to be spent on such items as building purchase or repairs, office equipment, computers and/or vehicles.

Reserve for Increases in Fringe Benefits – money approved by the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors to be spent on any increase in the costs of fringe benefits. Fringe Benefits include those employee benefits paid by Legal Aid of NC, such as employer matching social security, life insurance, long-term disability, retirement contribution, dental and health insurance, and/or accidental death and dismemberment.

Reserve for Salary Increases and Adjustments – money approved by the Legal Aid of NC Board of Directors to be spent on salary increases and/or adjustments.

Restricted Activities/Programs – LSC-funded programs do not handle criminal cases, nor do they accept fee-generating cases that private attorneys are willing to accept on a contingency basis. In addition, in 1996 a series of new limitations were placed upon activities in which LSC-funded programs may engage on behalf of their clients, even with non-LSC funds. Among them are prohibitions on class actions, collection of attorneys’ fees, rulemaking, lobbying, litigation on behalf of prisoners, representation in drug-related public housing evictions, and representation of certain categories of aliens. Therefore, Legal Aid of NC is referred to as a "restricted" legal services program.

State Bar (North Carolina State Bar) – the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of law in North Carolina. These responsibilities include licensing qualified individuals to practice law as well as disciplining lawyers for ethical or professional misconduct.  With few exceptions, all attorneys must be licensed by the NC State Bar in order to practice law in North Carolina.

State planning – a planning process required by Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in order to ensure a full range of services is available to clients.

Statewide Projects (LANC) – Legal Aid of NC also operates six (6), statewide project units that focus on specific areas of law:

• Advocates for Children’s Services (ACS)– provides free legal representation for children who are in need of medical, psychiatric, special education and foster care/adoption services to which they are entitled under state and federal law.

• Battered Immigrant Project (BIP) - provides comprehensive and culturally appropriate legal services to battered immigrants across the state of North Carolina, such as legal assistance with domestic violence protective orders, family law issues, public benefits and immigration issues.

• Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI )– provides legal assistance to battered women and/or domestic violence victims and strives to strengthen the working relationships between legal aid and domestic violence programs throughout the North Carolina.

• Environmental Poverty Law Project (EPLP) – provides free legal representation to low-income residents of North Carolina on environmental issues.

• Farmworker Unit (FWU)– provides free legal assistance to migrant workers who are working in North Carolina.

• Mortgage Foreclosure (Prevention) Project (MFP) - provides quality legal representation in foreclosure actions, primarily focused on eastern North Carolina.  The MFP saves homes, preserves credit ratings and strives to make prohibitive the cost of conducting business for the unscrupulous brokers and lenders.  The MFP also promotes community education to increase awareness of home finance best practices and the dangers of predatory lending.

Task Forces – voluntary groups of attorneys and paralegals who are interested in a particular legal area (substantive area of the law) and who  provide period training and networking opportunities for advocates throughout the legal services community in North Carolina. The legal services community in North Carolina has the following legal task forces: Community Economic Development (CED), Consumer Law, Education Law, Employment Law, Family Law, Housing Law, Immigrants Advocacy and Public Benefits Law. These task forces provide training for staff, answer questions, provide sample forms and strategize on cases.  Each task force has a coordinator considered an expert in the respective legal area. Also, there are task forces for LANC support staff and private attorney coordinators (PAIs)  that provides ongoing training.

Title III – federal funds that enable certain Legal Aid of NC offices to provide services to clients over the age of 60 without regard to their income or assets.

Trafficking - term used to describe a contemporary form of slavery, involving a variety of acts (recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, receipt of person), actors (several intermediaries are often involved in the trafficking chain)m, means (treat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, etc.) and exploitative purposes (forced labor or services, slavery or slavery-like conditions, sexual exploitation, servitude, etc.).  LANC's Farmworker Unit is and has been involved with cases that involve legal services for victims of trafficking.

Transition Board – the forerunner of Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.  In late 2000, the Legal Services Planning Council suggested the formation of a Transition Board, which would be charged to determine how best to consolidate the four federally funded LSC programs in North Carolina and to create a statewide legal services program. The 16-member Transition Board of Directors was composed of four representatives (two attorneys and two client representatives) from each of the four LSC-funded Legal Services organizations in North Carolina: Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina (LASNNC, in Winston-Salem); Legal Services of North Carolina (16 programs with central office in Raleigh); Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (LSSP, in Charlotte); and North Central Legal Assistance Program (Durham). This Transition Board met monthly from April 2001 to June 2002 to fulfill its charge. The Transition Board created Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.

Unrestricted Activities/Programs – refers to legal aid programs or organizations that do not receive funding from LSC. They can provide legal services without regard to the restrictions imposed by Congress.  Examples of unrestricted programs are the NC Justice Center in Raleigh, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont in Charlotte and Pisgah Legal Services in Asheville.

VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) – federal grant funding programs specifically geared toward eradicating violence against women. These grant programs help state, tribal, and local governments, as well as community-based agencies, to train personnel, establish specialized domestic violence and sexual assault units, assist victims of violence, and hold perpetrators accountable. Currently, only the LANC-Sylva Office receives VAWA funding.

VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) – federal funding provided to state victim assistance and compensation programs. In North Carolina, VOCA funding is distributed through the Governor’s Crime Commission.  Legal Aid of NC received VOCA grants to pay primarily for multiple DVI attorneys across the state.

Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) – a process that is housed in each Legal Aid of NC office and includes staff who recruit local private attorneys to volunteer to represent eligible clients at no cost or reduced cost.

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