Guidelines for Local Advisory Councils

[Note: This policy was recommended by the Operations Committee and adopted on June 27, 2003 by the Legal Aid of North Carolina Board of Directors.]

The LANC Board of Directors recognizes that providing legal services to low income clients statewide requires that local offices have flexibility in addressing specific client needs that may arise in their service areas. The Local Advisory Councils (LACs) will supply the "local control" in order to advise LANC offices about local client needs and to recommend how limited resources can best address those needs. Further, the LACs will advise the LANC Board of Directors about matters pertaining to the local office, including financial matters, to enable the LANC Board to make informed decisions related to the organization’s operation. The LANC Board of Directors acknowledges that the LACs will play an important role at a local and statewide level.

Membership

  • Membership should reflect diversity within the local office service area related to geography (urban and rural) culture, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation and age.
  • Client members shall be recommended by LANC client board members, Clients Council, other local community groups, and local office staff.
  • Attorney members shall be recommended by LANC attorney board members, local bar groups, other attorney groups and local office staff.
  • Client and Attorney members shall then select others to constitute the Council by selecting representatives from non profit agencies or organizations involved with the low income client population in the service area; local businesses with a history of or interest in serving the needs of low income population or faith based organizations involved with the low-income client population.
  • The terms shall be for 3 years and members may serve additional terms but no more than 3 consecutive terms. Initial terms will be staggered so that one third of all members shall serve one-year terms, one third of all members shall serve 2-year terms and one third of all members shall serve 3-year terms.
  • The Local Advisory Councils shall have a minimum of 9 members as follows: 4 client members; 4 attorney members and 1 other. The Local Advisory Councils may have a maximum membership of 18 members as follows: 7 client members, 7 attorney members and 4 others.

Role and Responsibilities

  • Gauge the effectiveness of the local office in meeting the legal needs of financially eligible clients in the local office’s service area.
  • Advise the LANC Board of Directors on matters pertaining to the local office and its service area.
  • Advise local office management about needs and issues affecting the client community within the local office’s service area.
  • Recommend case acceptance criteria to ensure that resources are effectively maximized to address legal needs of clients in the service area.
  • Participate in evaluating the senior managing attorney in the local office.
  • Conduct local fund raising activities and determine how such funds should be used to the benefit of the local office and its service area.
  • Advise LANC Board of Directors about local office budget and financial needs.
  • Report about its activities annually to the Chair of the LANC Operations Committee. These reports will be due at least two weeks prior to the date of the LANC Board meeting listed below:


    • The LAC Chair will submit such reports as follows:

  • Perform other responsibilities as delegated by the LANC Board of Directors.

Constitution

  • Staff Liaison for LAC will be the Senior Managing Attorney.
  • LAC will select the following officers: Chair to lead and run the meetings; Vice Chair to direct local fund-raising; and Secretary to record the meetings.
  • LAC will meet at least four times annually and the meetings will be held at least one month prior to a scheduled LANC Board Meeting.

ADOPTED: June 27, 2003 by Legal Aid of North Carolina Board of Directors.

 

 

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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.

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