Guidelines for
Local Advisory Councils

[Note: This policy was recommended by the Operations Committee and adopted on December 10, 2010 by the Legal Aid of North Carolina Board of Directors.]

Guidelines for Local Advisory Councils (LACs)

Local Advisory Councils(LACs) serve an important role within Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) by assisting local offices with their efforts to respond to specific client needs within their service areas.  LACs meet to discuss the current needs of the low-income communities and available resources to serve those needs.  These local groups are integral to help local staff identify legal issues/problems which require resolution, to recruit private attorneys who will provide pro bono legal representation, to secure community support for our work and to assist with fundraising.

The Local Advisory Councils will advise the LANC Board of Directors about matters pertaining to the local office in order to enable the LANC Board to make informed decisions related to the organization’s operation.  The LANC Board of Directors acknowledges that the LACs play an important role at both local and statewide levels and will actively recruit LAC members to serve as a director on the statewide board.  The Board will assist Managers in each local office to initiate the formation of a LAC by seeking interested attorneys,
low-income community residents, business members, clergy, non-profit agencies and other community groups.  Once the LAC is formed, these guidelines will provide a structure within which it can operate.
 

A.  Membership

1.  The Local Advisory Councils shall have at least five (5) members, and
     an effort shall be made to balance the numbers of attorneys, clients and
     community group representatives.
 
2.  The terms shall be for three (3) years and members may serve additional
     terms, but no more than three (3) consecutive terms unless waived by
     the Chair.
 
3.  Membership should reflect diversity within the local office service area
     related to geography (urban and rural) culture, ethnicity, race, gender,
     sexual orientation and age.
 
4.  Client members shall be recommended by LANC client board members,
     the Client Council, other local community groups, and local office staff.
 
5.  Attorney members shall be recommended by LANC attorney board
     members, local bar groups, other attorney groups and local office staff.
 
6.  Community groups shall be recommended from nonprofit agencies or
     organizations involved with the low income population in the service area,
     from local businesses with a history of, or interest in, serving the needs
     of the low-income population, or from faith based organizations involved
     with the low-income population.
 

B.  Role and Responsibilities

1.  Assist local office management about needs and issues affecting client
     community within the local office’s service area.
 
2.  Discuss case acceptance criteria to ensure that resources are effectively
     maximized to address legal needs of clients in the service area.
 
3.  Assist with local fund raising activities as needed and advise how such
     funds should be used for the benefit of the local office and its service area.
 
4.  Evaluate the effectiveness of the local office in meeting the legal needs of
     financially eligible clients in the local office’s service area.
 
5.  Participate in evaluating the senior managing attorney in the local office.
 
6.  Advise the LANC Board of Directors on matters pertaining to the local
     office and its service area.
 
7.  Perform other responsibilities as delegated by the LANC Board of
     Directors.
 

C. Organization

1.  The Senior Managing Attorney will be an ex-officio member of the LAC.
 
2.  The LAC will select the following officers: Chair to lead and run the
     meetings; Vice Chair to assist Chair and direct local fund-raising; and
     Secretary (who may be the managing attorney) to record the meetings.
 
3.  The LAC will meet at least four times annually.  The meetings will include
     a quarterly report from the local staff about its case work and other
     activities affecting clients and communities within its service area.
 
4.  The LAC Chair will submit an annual report about LAC activities annually
     to the Chair of the LANC Operations Committee, using the attached
     format.  These reports will be due at least two weeks prior to the date of
     the LANC Board meeting listed below:

     a.  February Board Meeting (or First LANC Board Meeting of the
          year) - LACs from Sylva, Greensboro, Pembroke and Ahoskie;

     b.  June Board Meeting (or Second LANC Board Meeting of the year)
          - LACs from Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Wilmington and Wilson;

     c.  September Board Meeting (or Third Board Meeting of the year)
          - LACs from Morganton, Raleigh, Durham and Greenville/New Bern;
          and
 
     d.  December Board Meeting (or Fourth Board Meeting of the year)
          - LACs from Boone, Pittsboro and Asheville.
 

[Note:  This policy was recommended by the Operations Committee and adopted on December 10, 2010 by the Legal Aid of North Carolina Board of Directors.]
_____________________

 
   Guidelines_for_Local_Advisory_Councils_Dec_10_10.pdf

   FormatStyle_for_LAC_Annual_Reports_to_LANC_Dec_10_10.pdf


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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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