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LANC News
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
Legal Aid of North Carolina Offices
LANC is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to eligible, low-income people in all 100 counties in
North Carolina through 24, geographically located offices.
The Newsletter of Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Ahoskie
y
WinstonWinston-Salem
y
Morganton
y
Sylva
y
Celeste Harris, Esq., Chair
y
Boone
y
y
Durham
Greensboro

y
Asheville
Gastonia
y
Concord
Charlotte
y
y
Monroe
y
y
y
Pittsboro
Raleigh
y
Sanford
Maynard & Harris, Attorneys At Law, PLLC
Winston-Salem
Rocky Mount
Wilson
y
y
Goldsboro
y
Smithfield
Barbara Knotts, Vice Chair
King
y
Greenville
New Bern
Wanda Allen-Abraha, J.D.
Human Relations, City of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem
y
Professor Luellen Curry, Esq.
y
Fayetteville
Wake Forest University School of Law
Winston-Salem
y
Pembroke
Vernal Gaston
Winston-Salem
Wilmington
y
Tammy Gore
Winston-Salem
DeWanna Hamlin
Family Services, Inc., Winston-Salem
Hada Haulsee, Esq.
Thank you Summer 2009 Law Clerks!!!
Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
Winston-Salem
Paul Shepard, Esq.
Winston-Salem
Garry C. Wadell
Human Relations, City of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem
Diana Williams-Cotton
Legal Aid of NC-Winston-Salem Office
102 West Third Street, Suite 460
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Winston-Salem
The Honorable William Z. Wood, Jr.
Superior Court
Winston-Salem
Gloria Woods, Esq.
Assistant County Attorney
Winston-Salem
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Liberty Plaza
102 West Third Street, Suite 460
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-725-9162; 866-219-LANC (toll-free)
R. Yvette Stackhouse, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Providing free legal services in civil (non-criminal) matters
to low-income people primarily in
Davie,www.legalaidnc.org/winstonsalem
Forsyth, Iredell, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin Counties.
LANC News, August 2009
Page 8
LANC News, August 2009
Our Mission:
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.
LANC-Winston-Salem Office Special Edition
August 2009
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Reflections of 2009 Summer Law Clerks
by Liza Baron
This summer, our office has
been flowing with the energy of
seven bright, young, energetic
law clerks.
Every summer we look
forward to their arrival. And
again our summer was
enhanced by the unique
personalities each of the law
clerks, their strong work ethic
and special approaches that
each utilized while working on
their cases.
Our law clerks worked
full-time for ten weeks and
2009 Summer Law Clerks, LANC-Winston-Salem Office
were exposed to all three areas (l-r) Jeffrey Kowalski (Wake Forest University School of Law); Megan Pinkney (Wake Forest
of law in our office: Family University School of Law); Daniel Joyce (Elon University School of Law); Becky Cacaci (Elon
Law Unit, Benefits Law Unit University School of Law); Jonathan Williams (Wake Forest University School of Law);
and the "HEEC Unit" (Housing, Beverley Smith (NC Central University School of Law); Kyle Fountain (Wake Forest
University School of Law).
PHOTOS BY DAVID SOBIE
Education, Employment and
greatly
for
the
help
they
maze
that
often
confronts our
Consumer law Unit).
Two
provide
with
our
cases.
Our
clients
on
various
forms of
clerks at a time were assigned
to each unit, and they rotated clerks have conducted client government assistance.
In this, our second annual
between the units every 3-4 interviews, researched critical
legal
issues
for
our
cases
that
"Special
Edition" newsletter,
weeks. That gave them an
are
stories
from our clerks
opportunity to work
“Our clerks have conducted client interviews,
in each area of the researched critical legal issues for our cases themselves about what they've
law, and also to work that helped decide the issues at hearings, learned and experienced this
with every advocate helped us prepare for hearings, represented summer.
We hope you will enjoy
clients and helped us and our clients work
in our office.
through the bureaucratic maze that often their stories as much as
From
e a c h confronts our clients….”
we have enjoyed reading
advocate they learned
- Liza Baron
them.
different
sk i l l s ,
_______________________________
helped
decide
the
issues
at
tactics, tips and approaches to
the cases and the clients. In hearings, helped us prepare for Liza Baron is the managing attorney
of the HEEC (Housing, Education,
addition to assisting attorneys hearings, represented clients Employment and Consumer) Unit in
and
helped
us
and
our
clients
and paralegals with their cases,
Legal Aid of North Carolina’s
the clerks also attended court work through the bureaucratic Winston-Salem Office.
with the advocates. They also
attended and assisted with the Inside this issue: “Reflections of 2009 Summer Interns”
pro se clinics that our office
provided to the public.
f Becky Cacaci, Rising 3L, Elon University School of Law………………..….2
Some of the clerks even
represented clients in hearings f Kyle Fountain, Rising 3L, Wake Forest University School of Law……….…..2-4
themselves, with supervision
f Daniel Joyce, Rising 2L, Elon University School of Law……………......…...4-5
from attorneys. Also, one of
our law clerks was assigned to f Jeffrey Kowalski, Rising 2L, Wake Forest University School of Law…......5
LANC’s state-wide Mortgage
Foreclosure Project (MFP) f Megan Pinkney, MLK & Rising 3L, Wake Forest University School of Law...5-6
throughout the summer.
f Beverley Smith, Rising 3L, NC Central University School of Law……..…...6-7
Not only are our law clerks
fun company and enthusiastic f Jonathan Williams, Rising 2L, Wake Forest University School of Law.......7
learners, we also value them
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
LANC NEWS
is the newsletter of Legal Aid of
North Carolina (LANC). Send comments to: LANC News,
Legal Aid of NC, 224 South Dawson St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
Editor: Dock Kornegay.
Executive Director: George R. Hausen, Jr., Esq.
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 law firm that
provides free legal services to low-income persons in North
Carolina through 24 field offices and six statewide projects.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lisa Morgan, Esq., Chair
North Carolina Central University, Durham
Celeste M. Harris, Esq., Vice-Chair
Maynard & Harris, PLLC, Winston-Salem
Thomas S. Berkau, Esq., Treasurer
Attorney at Law, Smithfield
Phillip Leigh, Secretary
Client Representative, At Large, Creswell
Glenn A. Barfield, Esq.
Barnes Braswell & Haithcock, PA, Goldsboro
Susan Perry Cole
NC Association for Community Development, Raleigh
Helen Cook
Client Representative, Southeast Region, Fayetteville
Auley M. “Lee” Crouch, Esq.
Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP, Wilmington
Mary Flowers
Client Representative, Statewide, High Point
Sharon Greig
Client Representative, Pantego
Charles R. Holton, Esq.
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, Durham
Samuel B. Johnson, Esq.
Samuel B. Johnson, Attorney, PLLC, Greensboro
Shirley Jones
Client Representative, Rocky Mount
Nellie Kearney
Client Representative, Triangle Region, Henderson
Gregg E. McDougal , Esq.
Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, Raleigh
Derllarene Myers
Client Representative, West Region, Wilkesboro
Raymond E. Owens, Jr., Esq.
Kennedy Covington Lobdell Hickman, LLP, Charlotte
Kristoffer B. Shepard, Esq.
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., Charlotte
Paul C. Shepard, Esq.
Attorney at Law, Winston-Salem
Ellen Shepperd
Client Representative, Northeast Region, Williamston
James M. Talley, Jr., Esq.
Horack, Talley, Pharr & Lowndes, PA, Charlotte
Mary Ann Tally, Esq.
Center for Death Penalty Litigation, Durham
Alice Tejada, Esq.
Scrudder & Hedrick, Raleigh
John R. Wester, Esq.
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, PA, Charlotte
Diana Williams-Cotton
Client Representative, Triad Region, Winston-Salem
S. Kyle Woosley, Esq.
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP, Greensboro
LANC News, August 2009
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
questions I would ask during the hearing.
Several days before the hearing, I met with
the client and the supervising attorney to
prepare her for the hearing and go over the
During my time at questions that would be asked during the
Legal Aid of North hearing. In addition to the direct
Carolina (LANC), I have examination, I prepared a closing statement
been fortunate to have and learned about the procedures to be used
been exposed to the during the hearing.
Although my hearing is still a couple of
events that make up the day-to-day life of an
attorney that you do not get to experience days away at this point, I feel that this
experience so far will help me to become a
while in law school.
I have interviewed clients, prepared successful attorney once I graduate from
briefs, attended hearings and trials and dealt law school in the spring. It was my first
with a variety of governmental agencies. hands-on experience with a client, as well as
Many of our clients' stories have left an my first time doing all of the preparatory
impact on me that I “Many of our clients' stories have left an work that goes into
know I will keep impact on me that I know I will keep representing a client in a
hearing or trial.
with me when my with me when my summer is over….”
- Becky Cacaci
I truly believe that this is
summer is over.
This summer, I have represented one one of the benefits of working at LANC.
such client in an appeal regarding her While many of my classmates are only
Unemployment Insurance Benefits. The doing research this summer, I get to work
client had actually been approved by the on my research and writing skills, while also
Employment Security Commission for her learning other hands-on practical skills by
benefits, but the employer appealed that interacting with clients and actually having
decision. She then contacted LANC to the opportunity to represent clients in
represent her during her appeal hearings.
hearing, and I was assigned to represent her
with a supervising attorney.
Kyle Fountain
Her case was rather strong, as indicated
Rising 3L
by the initial approval of her benefits. She
Wake Forest University
School of Law
had worked as a mental health specialist for
My story may be a bit
almost nine years, spending the past year
different from the rest, as
and a half at the job from which she was
my experience here was
terminated. The company for which she
a bit different. Rather
was working was rather new and kept
than doing the normal
changing its procedures in an effort to find
the best way to run efficiently. However, rotation through the benefits, family and
the constant change in protocols affected the HEEC units, I had the privilege of working
client, and she was unable to keep up with exclusively with the Mortgage Foreclosure
Project throughout the summer. While this
the demands being made by her employer.
Additionally, they switched her from assignment did not afford the time to
salaried to hourly work, and she was only experience the wide variety of cases and
paid for the hours she spent in face-to-face issues that the other interns may have dealt
time with her clients. This meant she did with, this focus allowed me both to “dig in”
not receive any wages for the time she spent and watch how a client’s case develops over
on administrative work, traveling, etc. She time and to develop my understanding of a
would spend 50 hours a week on the job, particular facet of the law.
Much of my work involved contacting
while only getting paid for the 40 hours of
hands-on client time. And as a single mom, lenders and other agencies in order to find
she had to take care of her child as well. alternatives to foreclosure for our clients.
She fell behind on her administrative work, To meet this goal, I usually worked to
and received a disciplinary letter. A week obtain loan modifications, which involved
later, without receiving any further warning discussing financial information with both
clients and lenders. I also assisted with
or plan of correction, she was terminated.
I had just under two weeks to prepare for some bankruptcy cases by researching
the Unemployment Insurance Benefits specific issues and preparing documents for
hearing.
With the guidance of the filing with the local bankruptcy court. In
supervising attorney, I did a preliminary addition, I also assisted with cases involving
interview over the phone with the client, and short sales and loans.
(Continued on page 3)
based on that interview, created the
Becky Cacaci
Rising 3L
Elon University
School of Law
Page 2
My next task was to search for assets
owned by the adverse party. After a search on
the Register of Deeds' website, I learned that
the adverse party had transferred title of his
property to another person within days of the
judgment against him. I asked my supervisor
about the transfer, and he told me that if the
adverse party legally divested himself of his
interest in the property, we could not challenge
the property transfer. The arrangement was
suspect enough for me to keep digging. I
found North Carolina's version of the Uniform
Fraudulent Transfers Act and researched when
the court can find that a transfer was
fraudulent and what remedies creditors had
against such a transfer.
Our facts looked promising. I happily
informed my supervisor of my discoveries. I
had a unique case, as this area of law doesn't
come up often at LANC. And again, I had the
opportunity to learn practical skills.
While I could have done the legal
Jonathan Williams research anywhere, my internship allowed me
Rising 2L
the opportunity to research and interpret
Wake Forest University
indices and registers and their documents. I
School of Law
Working in Legal Aid cross-referenced my deed research with the
of North Carolina’s county tax office, further expanding my
(LANC’s) Winston-Salem knowledge of how to be a successful lawyer.
Currently, we are waiting to see if the
office has been a wonderful
experience, and a chance to Sheriff's office will execute the writ and
learn on several levels. “I've had the opportunity...to learn by collect on the judgment.
I've had the opportunity to watching Legal Aid advocates in action. Should our client fail to
practice my legal research Their example has taught me a lot about collect, our office then
attorney….”
has the opportunity either
and writing skills, client how to be a -successful
Jonathan Williams
to represent her in an atinteraction skills and,
most importantly, to learn by watching LANC tempt to void the possibly fraudulent
advocates in action. Their example has taught transaction, or at least to advise her of her
me a lot about how to be a successful attorney. right to do so with the help of a private
My learning began with my very first attorney. It is rewarding to have a chance to
assignment. LANC attorneys had helped help people like our client.
I am grateful to LANC for the opportunity
obtain a judgment against a used car dealer
who had unlawfully repossessed her car. Her to help both its advocates and its clients. I am
case was different from other LANC cases in grateful for the opportunity to hone my
that we were attempting to enforce a judgment research and writing skills. I am especially
in favor of our client rather than helping a grateful for the opportunity to learn how an
client assert her exemption rights against an attorney works — how he/she interacts with
clients, judges, clerks, case workers and
adverse judgment.
My first task was to serve a notice of rights adverse parties. Thank you Legal Aid of
and exemption forms on the adverse party North Carolina!!!
(whereas later in the summer I helped our
clients fill out the same forms, as judgment
debtors on the opposite end of the process). In
addition to being a primer in enforcement of
Interested in
judgments and exemptions, the process was an
Summer Internships?
introduction to the legal system itself.
I was astounded at what I didn't know: to
See the column (page 4 of this newsletter);
whom to direct the forms, how many copies,
“About Summer Internships
how many return envelopes, whom to call, etc.
at
Legal Aid of North Carolina”
Learning the mechanics of getting something
done between the clerk's office and the OR, visit the Legal Aid of North Carolina website:
sheriff's office was as useful as anything I
www.legalaidnc.org
learned all summer.
(Reflections, continued from page 6)
this case law research, and the action was
dismissed a second time.
Overall, my experience with LANC has
helped me to better define my career
aspirations upon completion of law school. I
enjoyed the opportunity to explore the myriad
of legal issues confronting LANC clients, such
as landlord/tenant issues, employment,
domestic violence, consumer problems, and
benefits.
Prior to this internship, I was apprehensive
about the prospect of litigating; however, this
fear has subsided as a result of observing the
LANC attorneys model confidence and
preparation when litigating a case.
I believe this internship has exposed me to
invaluable lessons that are not always included
in a law school curriculum. I value all of the
lessons I take away from this experience.
LANC News, August 2009
Units & Areas of Law
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Family Law Unit
Family Law: Domestic Violence
Protective Orders; No Contact Orders for
Stalking or Non-consensual Sexual
Conduct; Emergency/TemporaryChild
Custody.
Housing, Education, Employment,
Consumer (HEEC) Unit
Housing (private & subsidized): Illegal
padlocking; illegal utility shut-off; repair
issues; evictions; denial of subsidized
housing; foreclosure on rental property.
Education: Personal Education Plans
(PEP); school suspensions and
expulsions.
Employment: Unemployment
compensation hearings; wage and hour
claims; discrimination claims;
expungement of criminal records;
wrongful termination; FMLA claims; ADA
claims; retaliatory termination.
Consumer: Repossession of vehicles;
contract disputes; debt collection defense;
judgment collection (exemptions);
bankruptcy (Chapters 13 and 7 only);
mortgage foreclosure defense; predatory
lending; unfair trade practices and other
consumer matters.
Public Benefits Unit
Disability: SSI/SSDI and Medicaid
denials and benefits; overpayment,
reduction and termination issues.
Food Stamps/Work First: Food stamp
denials, reduction, and overpayment issues; Work First termination,
non-compliance issues.
For questions, call the LANC-WinstonSalem Office, 336-725-9162, or visit the
LANC-Winston-Salem Office webpage at:
www.legalaidnc.org/winstonsalem
Page 7
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
Staff
The staff of the Legal Aid of North Carolina —
Winston-Salem Office provides legal assistance in
civil matters (non-criminal matters) to eligible,
low-income clients who have problems with their
basic needs and live in the six-county area
surrounding Winston-Salem, NC: Davie County,
Forsyth County, Iredell County, Stokes County,
Surry County or Yadkin County.
R. Yvette Stackhouse
Managing Attorney
Liza A. Baron
Managing Attorney (HEEC Unit)
Valene K. Franco
Managing Attorney (DV Unit)
Keith T. Clayton
Staff Associate, MFP
Samantha Davis
Paralegal
Lisa L. Brace
Staff Attorney
Louella W. Brannan
Office Administrator
Emma Clark
Staff Attorney
Marcella L. Farmer
Staff Attorney, DVPI
Stephanie M. Goldsborough
Staff Attorney
Susan W. Gottsegen
Staff Attorney
Linda L. Graham
Paralegal
Gricel Guerrero
Paralegal
Charles F. Hall, IV
Staff Attorney
Romany H. Hines
Paralegal
Kristin R. Kelly
Staff Attorney
John R. Lawson
Staff Attorney, MFP
Kenneth Love
Staff Attorney
Joanne B. Martin
Paralegal
Jeanna G. McCullers
Staff Attorney
Harrietta E. Mickle
Paralegal
Margaret A. Moll
Intake Specialist
Tracy M. Nicholson
Paralegal
David A. Sobie
Paralegal
Jean L. Witherspoon
PAI Coordinator
Nikki A. Worthy
Paralegal
LANC News, August 2009
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
an invaluable opportunity to reinforce what I
chance to experience while in law school. I learned from my first year of law school,
realized that each area of law is unique and while also receiving exposure to the role of an
brings with it its own unique set of clients and attorney and the practice of law.
issues.
Often LANC’s clients confront a variety of
The Family Law Unit’s domestic violence challenging issues in their lives. In order to
cases can be very emotional and draining, but adequately serve these compounding issues,
can be very rewarding when you know you LANC attorneys must be knowledgeable about
helped your client take a stand against their a wide range of legal areas and assist clients in
abuser.
The “As I began to prepare for the hearing, a holistic manner. LANC attorneys
Benefits Unit I realized that I was truly helping m u s t b e a b l e t o a d a p t a n d
provided a way some one who felt helpless and did accommodate a spectrum of diverse
for clients to not have anyone to turn to….”
clients and apply innovation, flexibility
- Megan Pinkney
fight to get
and patience since legal solutions are
benefits they need to survive. Without LANC, not always apparent.
our clients would not have a voice.
I observed that attorneys are not restricted
The most fulfilling experiences thus far to legal research or litigating in court. The
have been my interactions with clients. This attorneys must also collaborate with various
reminded me of why I decided to go to law agencies, organizations, and colleagues for the
school.
benefit of the client.
One day this summer I came to the office to
Moreover, the practice of law is not
find a file laying on my desk. I met with the confined to clients under a legal
LANC attorney who assigned me the file. She retainer. LANC attorneys work for the benefit
informed me that this would be my case, my of their community by providing advice and
very own client, and that she would be there counsel to individuals and offering the
for supervision. I began to hear a loud noise, different LANC pro se clinics. These clinics
only to realize that it was my own heartbeat.
help empower individuals because participants
After I left her office, I immediately sent leave the clinics with a better understanding of
my parents an E-mail screaming, “Ahhhhhh I their legal rights under North Carolina law and
have my very own client, save me, I am not how to proceed on their own.
ready.” I followed my dad’s advice and got a
One of the most rewarding experiences
grip.
during my tenure as a summer law clerk was
I had once heard the activist Angela Davis when I was able to observe my legal research
say that it angered her to see inaction and put into action for the benefit of a client.
silence in the face of injustice. I “Overall, my experience with LANC Specifically, I was
learned that someone must speak has helped me better define my asked to assist with a
career aspiration upon completion case in the HEEC Unit
for the voiceless.
As I began to prepare for the of law school….”
related to a subsidized
- Beverley Smith
hearing, I realized that I was truly
landlord/tenant issue.
helping someone who felt helpless and did not
The landlord filed a summary ejectment
have anyone to turn to. After I met with the action against the client based on non-payment
client she said, “Thank you so much of rent. Neither the client nor the housing
Ms. Pinkney. I appreciate everything you are authority knew their respective rental obligadoing for me.” When I heard those words tions to the landlord because the housing
from my client, it hit me that I was fulfilling subsidy application was not processed timely,
my dream and purpose.
and the client's rent amount was adjusted due
Hearing my client’s appreciation reminded to the changing circumstances in the client's
me of the reason why I went to law school and life. The summary ejectment action was
why I chose to work at LANC this summer. dismissed with prejudice since the landlord
All of my nervousness went out the door. could not specify the exact rental arrears owed
And at the hearing, the client received her by the client.
restraining order and temporary custody of her
Three days following the dismissal with
children.
prejudice, the landlord filed a second
summary ejectment action against the client
based on non-payment of rent. The assigned
Beverley Smith
attorney asked that I conduct legal research
Rising 3L
pertaining to res judicata and summary
NC Central University
School of Law
ejectment. My research supported our legal
argument that the landlord was barred by
My summer internship
res judicata to raise the second claim related to
with Legal Aid of North
non-payment of rent. The attorney relied on
Carolina’s (LANC’s)
(Continued on page 7)
Winston-Salem office was
(Reflections, continued from page 5)
Page 6
receptionist, to the screener, to the paralegal
or attorney, that client's story is heard and
has value. Our advocates dig in, creatively
fight hard and willingly stand with our
clients.
R. Yvette Stackhouse, Esq.
Managing Attorney, LANC-W/S Office
Teaching these lessons to those who are
with us for a short time can be challenging.
Last year was the first "Special Edition" In order to learn them, the students must be
newsletter our office printed. The 2008 willing to ask the right questions, actively
summer law clerks' articles generated so listen while suspending judgment and fight
much positive response that we decided to to find resolution. When they do all of that,
do it annually. I hope that all who read the their cups begin to fill up and they are soon
reflections by our 2009 summer law clerks ready to practice law.
are as moved as I am. I can hear their
Frankly, our clients are the real teachers.
excitement and wonder; I can feel their Almost every article that you read by our
compassion; but most of all, I can see their clerks tells the story of a client who had a
growing determination
very real need and tells
“Practicing law isn't done in a sterile
and confidence.
how that clerk was moved
vacuum. It's compassionate people
Every summer, our listening to real people with real to help.
staff watches a new crop problems and creatively applying the
Practicing law isn't
of law clerks come into law in order to stand for justice….”
done in a sterile vacuum.
- Yvette Stackhouse
our office, like empty
It's compassionate people
cups wanting to be filled up with all the listening to real people with real problems
unique experiences our office can provide. and creatively applying the law in order to
We have the honor of representing very stand for justice — that's the practice of law.
deserving clients.
Legal Aid of North Carolina has been
Our staff uses each day's experiences to fortunate to have had the assistance of some
make up the lesson plans from which we very wonderful students who are going to be
teach the clerks. We don't have to create great attorneys. I'm extremely happy to
them. Our clients provide them. And while know that our entire staff, from the
many of their cases are meritorious, too receptionist to the most senior attorney, has
many times their voices are not heard. had an opportunity to help them on their
Their lack of money and knowledge causes journey. We thank them for their service
them to stand alone. However, from the and we’d be happy to one day call
time the client enters our office through the them colleagues!!!
Update from Yvette...
Thank you 2009
Summer Law Clerks!
obtain a new home loan in order to
On the first day of my clerkship, at redeem an existing mortgage. Within days
approximately 3:30 in the afternoon, I of the anticipated closing date, the new
received my first assignment. The attorney lender delivered a property inspection that
handed me a four-inch-thick file and told included a long list of repairs that would be
me, “This is a bankruptcy case that was required in order to agree to the loan. As a
dismissed; I need you to research and write result, I had to find contractors who could
a memorandum in support of our motion to submit estimates as soon as possible in
reconsider that dismissal. The hearing is on order to ensure that the loan closing could
Wednesday
at
occur before the
10:00.” I will admit “All in all, this summer has been an immensely
previous mortgage
experience, and I cannot imagine a
that I started to rewarding
wa s
f or ec l o sed
better preparation for a future career in law....”
wonder what exactly
upon.
This was
- Kyle Fountain
I had signed up for,
made more difficult
as, at the time, I did not even know the as some contractors failed to follow up and
difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter became difficult to contact. Eventually, we
13 bankruptcies! About a day later, we had reached the point of physically driving a
a memo to submit to the court and I had contractor to the repair site. Although it
learned more about bankruptcy law than in took significantly longer than expected, we
my two years of law school. Although this were able to obtain and submit the required
motion was unsuccessful, this case became estimates, and the client appears to be on
one of the defining parts of my time here as track towards keeping her home.
we continued to work in other ways to save
The most dramatic event, however, was
our client’s home.
not a mortgage case, but instead involved a
Another particularly memorable case mechanic who had allegedly performed
(Continued on page 4)
was one that involved a client who sought to
(Reflections, continued from page 2)
LANC News, August 2009
About Legal Aid of NC
As the only Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
funded program in North Carolina,
Legal Aid of North Carolina
(LANC) provides free, community-based, civil
legal services in all 100 counties of North
Carolina to those whose income falls below
125% of the federal poverty guidelines:
Size of
Family Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Maximum
Income Level*
$ 13,538
$ 15,613
$ 22,888
$ 27,563
$ 32,328
$ 36,913
$ 41,588
$ 46,263
* [The figures in this table represent 125% of the
poverty guidelines by family size as determined
by the US Department of Health & Human Services.]
LANC provides legal representation and
counseling in civil (non-criminal) cases only.
Because of limited resources, LANC’s cases
are generally limited to those that impact
clients’ basic needs, including housing, access
to medical care, protection from domestic
violence, consumer protection and subsistence
income.
LANC of NC receives funding from LSC
(45%), the NC General Assembly (27%), and
IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts)
(11%). The remaining funds come from Title II
funds for Older Americans, United Way, local
governments, individual attorneys, foundations
and other grants.
Legal Aid of North Carolina offices also recruit
and coordinate private attorney (pro bono)
volunteers through local volunteer lawyers
programs (VLP’s).
For additional information on Legal Aid of
North Carolina (LANC) and its offices, visit the
LANC Internet website:
www.legalaidnc.org.
Page 3
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
About Summer Internships
at Legal Aid of North Carolina
Internships are available at Legal Aid of North
Carolina (LANC) 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.
Summer 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 LANC offices/projects
in which they are placed.
LANC typically seeks opportunities for its
interns to experience direct client contact, participate in administrative hearings (for those
certified), draft pleadings and/or work on a
case (under supervision).
Types of Internships
ΠMartin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Internships
Summer, paid internships for current law
students (usually 2L's) to participate in the
work of LANC over the traditional 10-week
summer internship period.
ΠWork/Study Internships
Summer internships that are made possible
through partnerships with law schools who
offer work/study programs and who allow
internship performance at LANC to displace
loan obligation.
ΠVolunteer Internships
Summer internships performed entirely on a
volunteer (without pay) basis by law
students.
ΠOtherwise funded Internships
Summer internships for which the law
student is paid through a source with the
understanding that the internship is
performed at LANC.
Law students may indicate their interest in
serving as a LANC summer intern by sending
a letter (expressing your interest and preferences), resume, a writing sample (no more
than 10 pages) and names/contact information
of three (3) references to:
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Summer Internships
224 South Dawson Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
LANC News, August 2009
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
being there for the client to comfort her and
repairs to a client’s car without her consent ease her mind about her grandchild's safety
and demanded payment before returning was very rewarding.
possession of her car to her. After
I was proud to be a small part of assisting
successfully obtaining a temporary this client. Her life is a bit easier by putting
restraining order, the LANC attorney and I in place protections for her grandchild. I
traveled with the client to deliver the order was proud to be on a team that showed deep
to the mechanic and retake possession of the compassion for what our client was
car. The mechanic flatly refused to return experiencing, while providing excellent
the car, despite the court order, and again legal representation at the same time.
demanded payment. We had to contact the
The trial was far from easy, and the
police for assistance, and the mechanic was protective order was difficult to obtain
eventually persuaded to comply.
because direct evidence from the deceased
After he finally gave the client her key, daughter was unavailable. Our client was
the mechanic verbally threatened both the forced to go through the painful recollection
client and the LANC attorney in front of the of events but managed to establish grounds
police! When we returned the car to the for the protective order to the satisfaction of
client’s home, we noticed extensive damage the judge. We successfully secured a
to the vehicle. An independent mechanic protective order for the client.
later described the poor quality of both the
Seeing all our work turn into a good
parts and repairs, including that some of the outcome that really helped our client in a
repairs had not even been performed, and time of real tragedy was very rewarding.
the brakes were inoperable “My time at LANC showed me how much While we could not
in their current condition. need there is in our community and change the past, we
Despite all of these gave me a glimpse of opportunities to were able to help our
problems, the client had a make a difference….”
client move toward a
- Daniel Joyce
look of both joy and relief
better future for the
upon the return of her car. That look will family.
stay with me for some time.
Attending and assisting with the office's
All in all, this summer has been an clinics impacted me as well. With its
immensely rewarding experience, and I limited resources, LANC cannot take on all
cannot imagine a better preparation for a clients that need its services. Empowering
future career in law. I was able to learn not clients with helpful information that will
only about the substantive law, but I also allow them to secure the legal outcome they
learned important lessons about dealing need without hiring an attorney is a
with opposing parties, due diligence and wonderful service available to the
“going the extra mile” for clients.
community. I met many clients that were
Finally, I would like to thank all of the able to learn about their rights and how they
attorneys and staff for the wisdom and can protect their rights in court, without
assistance (not to mention patience!) that having to hire an attorney and pay
they gave throughout this summer.
significant legal fees. The clinics showed
them how to file court documents and
present evidence to help their case. They
Daniel Joyce
also prevented clients from being taken
Rising 2L
advantage of because they did not know
Elon University
their way around the court system. It was a
School of Law
great learning experience that will stick with
Clerking at Legal Aid
me throughout my career.
of North Carolina
My time at LANC showed me how much
(LANC) this summer
need there is in our community and gave me
was a great opportunity
a glimpse of opportunities to make a
to learn and gain
difference after I graduate from law school.
valuable experience. I had the chance to
My ultimate goal is to work with
work with and assist clients who had
low-income
clients, and the opportunity to
complicated legal problems.
work
at
LANC
this summer is an experience
One specific experience that deeply
I
will
not
forget.
impacted me was assisting our staff
(Reflections, continued from page 3)
attorneys with a domestic violence case.
Our client needed to get a protective order
on behalf of her grandchild against his
father. The father was charged with the
murder of her daughter, and our client was
obviously emotionally distraught. Simply
(Continued on page 5)
Page 4
me a chance to write a memo not only in
of our client's position, but also for
Jeffrey Kowalski support
the
purpose
of putting a stop to the law
Rising 2L
collection
agency's
illegal practices. I hope
Wake Forest University
the impact of my research and writing will
School of Law
As a rising 2L with not only aid our client, but will also prevent
an undergraduate degree the creditor from taking advantage of
in Parks, Recreation, and people in the future.
The third and final rotation came in the
Tourism Management, I
did not have any legal Family Law Unit. These are often the most
experience entering my first summer sensitive cases, with dramatic custody and
internship. As a result, I sought out a domestic violence issues.
In addition to the day-to-day activities in
well-rounded experience that would give
me a chance to apply my first-year of legal each of these areas of the law, there were
education to real world legal issues. Legal plenty of other unique opportunities at
Aid of North Carolina (LANC) turned out LANC. These included intake interviews,
to be the perfect place to gain exposure to in which I got a chance to sit down with
actual practice and engage in a variety of new clients to pull out the facts of their case
to see how LANC could resolve their
legal duties.
I was immediately tackling benefits issues. I also assisted attorneys at their
cases the first day “Legal Aid of NC turned out to be the clinics, in which the LANCof work. I worked perfect place to gain exposure to Winston-Salem Office invites
with a client who actual practice and engage in a anyone from the community to
come and learn about a specific
was shot in the variety of legal duties….”
- Jeffrey Kowalski
area of the law.
spine and had been
There was also plenty of opportunity to
confined to a wheelchair for many years.
He lived a very active lifestyle and was a shadow attorneys during hearings and
football coach at a local high school. watch litigation. I watched the attorneys
Unfortunately, he had few family members argue for domestic violence protective
to drive him around, so he relied on the orders, and defend against fraud and
help of a subsidized nursing program to wrongful denial of unemployment
travel to activities. When the government compensation.
The summer internship greatly expanded
cut off his transportation service, a staff
my
substantive knowledge of the law, as
attorney came to us to figure out how we
well as giving me an idea of what real
could get this benefit back.
In the following weeks, I worked on lawyers do. In addition, it was great to see
dozens of other cases in which clients had lawyers in practice making a positive
been wrongfully denied food stamps. I also impact on the individual lives of their
wrote drafts of two briefs that helped a staff clients and on society.
attorney argue before an Administrative
Law Judge that her clients should be
Megan Pinkney
provided disability benefits. Each case was
MKL Intern & Rising 3L
promising and LANC's assistance should
Wake Forest University
School of Law
provide the clients with a steady future
income and thousands of dollars in back
As a Martin Luther
pay.
King, Jr. (MLK) summer
I was exposed to a variety of new tasks
intern with Legal Aid of
and a whole new area of the law as I moved
North
Carolina’s
into the HEEC unit on week four of the
Winston-Salem office
internship. The types of cases I saw this summer, my LANC clerkship provided
inc lud ed mor tg ag e f or ecl o sur e s, a unique experience that law school does
landlord/tenant disputes, expungements, not provide. At LANC, you never know
unemployment compensation cases and what you are going to get. One day you
unfair debt collections.
may feel like trying to lead your client in
My major project dealt with a client who the right direction to get their life in order.
was denied due process of the law when his The next day you may be zealously
bank account was drained by a creditor advocating for them in court. LANC has
without prior notice. It was the result of a opened my eyes to the public interest field.
routine practice by a major debt collection
This clerkship exposed me to various
agency that had been manipulating the law areas of law that I would not have had a
and ignoring legal procedures in order to
(Continued on page 6)
collect on debts. The staff attorney gave
(Reflections, continued from page 4)
LANC News, August 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK)
Summer Internships
An opportunity to make a difference…
Each summer, Legal Aid of North Carolina
(LANC) awards paid internships to current law
students to participate in the legal services
work over the traditional 10-week summer
internship period.
The summer internship program is named in
honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is
funded in part by contributions from IOLTA,
Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company
and the NC Bar Association Foundation.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Internship is
an integral part of the LANC's dual goals to:
(1) reduce the inequities in our legal system by
ensuring that poor people, minorities and
victims of domestic violence receive equal
justice; and (2) to initiate new lawyers to the
lifelong commitment of providing access to
justice for all individuals regardless of their
ability to pay.
The MLK program places talented law
students into the real world of legal aid
advocacy in order to work on actual cases.
MLK interns experience client contact,
courtroom participation and legal research and
writing on actual cases under the supervision
of seasoned legal aid attorneys. Each day of
the internship, MLK interns are challenged to
put classroom training and talent to work on
behalf of the many needy individuals that
LANC serves and to work creatively to reduce
the barriers to a more just society. Each MLK
intern is treated as a valuable member of the
legal staff and is expected to participate in
case strategy and contribute to overall case
management.
LANC typically places summer MLK interns in
each of the 24 LANC field offices and in the
offices of Advocates for Children Services
(Durham) and the Farmworker Unit (Raleigh).
Applications for MLK Summer Internships:
Initial review of applicants typically begins
October 30th prior to the summer of
employment. For additional information, visit
the “Internships” webpage of the LANC
Internet website:
www.legalaidnc.org/public/participate/
internships.aspx
Page 5
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
About Summer Internships
at Legal Aid of North Carolina
Internships are available at Legal Aid of North
Carolina (LANC) 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.
Summer 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 LANC offices/projects
in which they are placed.
LANC typically seeks opportunities for its
interns to experience direct client contact, participate in administrative hearings (for those
certified), draft pleadings and/or work on a
case (under supervision).
Types of Internships
ΠMartin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Internships
Summer, paid internships for current law
students (usually 2L's) to participate in the
work of LANC over the traditional 10-week
summer internship period.
ΠWork/Study Internships
Summer internships that are made possible
through partnerships with law schools who
offer work/study programs and who allow
internship performance at LANC to displace
loan obligation.
ΠVolunteer Internships
Summer internships performed entirely on a
volunteer (without pay) basis by law
students.
ΠOtherwise funded Internships
Summer internships for which the law
student is paid through a source with the
understanding that the internship is
performed at LANC.
Law students may indicate their interest in
serving as a LANC summer intern by sending
a letter (expressing your interest and preferences), resume, a writing sample (no more
than 10 pages) and names/contact information
of three (3) references to:
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Summer Internships
224 South Dawson Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
LANC News, August 2009
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
being there for the client to comfort her and
repairs to a client’s car without her consent ease her mind about her grandchild's safety
and demanded payment before returning was very rewarding.
possession of her car to her. After
I was proud to be a small part of assisting
successfully obtaining a temporary this client. Her life is a bit easier by putting
restraining order, the LANC attorney and I in place protections for her grandchild. I
traveled with the client to deliver the order was proud to be on a team that showed deep
to the mechanic and retake possession of the compassion for what our client was
car. The mechanic flatly refused to return experiencing, while providing excellent
the car, despite the court order, and again legal representation at the same time.
demanded payment. We had to contact the
The trial was far from easy, and the
police for assistance, and the mechanic was protective order was difficult to obtain
eventually persuaded to comply.
because direct evidence from the deceased
After he finally gave the client her key, daughter was unavailable. Our client was
the mechanic verbally threatened both the forced to go through the painful recollection
client and the LANC attorney in front of the of events but managed to establish grounds
police! When we returned the car to the for the protective order to the satisfaction of
client’s home, we noticed extensive damage the judge. We successfully secured a
to the vehicle. An independent mechanic protective order for the client.
later described the poor quality of both the
Seeing all our work turn into a good
parts and repairs, including that some of the outcome that really helped our client in a
repairs had not even been performed, and time of real tragedy was very rewarding.
the brakes were inoperable “My time at LANC showed me how much While we could not
in their current condition. need there is in our community and change the past, we
Despite all of these gave me a glimpse of opportunities to were able to help our
problems, the client had a make a difference….”
client move toward a
- Daniel Joyce
look of both joy and relief
better future for the
upon the return of her car. That look will family.
stay with me for some time.
Attending and assisting with the office's
All in all, this summer has been an clinics impacted me as well. With its
immensely rewarding experience, and I limited resources, LANC cannot take on all
cannot imagine a better preparation for a clients that need its services. Empowering
future career in law. I was able to learn not clients with helpful information that will
only about the substantive law, but I also allow them to secure the legal outcome they
learned important lessons about dealing need without hiring an attorney is a
with opposing parties, due diligence and wonderful service available to the
“going the extra mile” for clients.
community. I met many clients that were
Finally, I would like to thank all of the able to learn about their rights and how they
attorneys and staff for the wisdom and can protect their rights in court, without
assistance (not to mention patience!) that having to hire an attorney and pay
they gave throughout this summer.
significant legal fees. The clinics showed
them how to file court documents and
present evidence to help their case. They
Daniel Joyce
also prevented clients from being taken
Rising 2L
advantage of because they did not know
Elon University
their way around the court system. It was a
School of Law
great learning experience that will stick with
Clerking at Legal Aid
me throughout my career.
of North Carolina
My time at LANC showed me how much
(LANC) this summer
need there is in our community and gave me
was a great opportunity
a glimpse of opportunities to make a
to learn and gain
difference after I graduate from law school.
valuable experience. I had the chance to
My ultimate goal is to work with
work with and assist clients who had
low-income
clients, and the opportunity to
complicated legal problems.
work
at
LANC
this summer is an experience
One specific experience that deeply
I
will
not
forget.
impacted me was assisting our staff
(Reflections, continued from page 3)
attorneys with a domestic violence case.
Our client needed to get a protective order
on behalf of her grandchild against his
father. The father was charged with the
murder of her daughter, and our client was
obviously emotionally distraught. Simply
(Continued on page 5)
Page 4
me a chance to write a memo not only in
of our client's position, but also for
Jeffrey Kowalski support
the
purpose
of putting a stop to the law
Rising 2L
collection
agency's
illegal practices. I hope
Wake Forest University
the impact of my research and writing will
School of Law
As a rising 2L with not only aid our client, but will also prevent
an undergraduate degree the creditor from taking advantage of
in Parks, Recreation, and people in the future.
The third and final rotation came in the
Tourism Management, I
did not have any legal Family Law Unit. These are often the most
experience entering my first summer sensitive cases, with dramatic custody and
internship. As a result, I sought out a domestic violence issues.
In addition to the day-to-day activities in
well-rounded experience that would give
me a chance to apply my first-year of legal each of these areas of the law, there were
education to real world legal issues. Legal plenty of other unique opportunities at
Aid of North Carolina (LANC) turned out LANC. These included intake interviews,
to be the perfect place to gain exposure to in which I got a chance to sit down with
actual practice and engage in a variety of new clients to pull out the facts of their case
to see how LANC could resolve their
legal duties.
I was immediately tackling benefits issues. I also assisted attorneys at their
cases the first day “Legal Aid of NC turned out to be the clinics, in which the LANCof work. I worked perfect place to gain exposure to Winston-Salem Office invites
with a client who actual practice and engage in a anyone from the community to
come and learn about a specific
was shot in the variety of legal duties….”
- Jeffrey Kowalski
area of the law.
spine and had been
There was also plenty of opportunity to
confined to a wheelchair for many years.
He lived a very active lifestyle and was a shadow attorneys during hearings and
football coach at a local high school. watch litigation. I watched the attorneys
Unfortunately, he had few family members argue for domestic violence protective
to drive him around, so he relied on the orders, and defend against fraud and
help of a subsidized nursing program to wrongful denial of unemployment
travel to activities. When the government compensation.
The summer internship greatly expanded
cut off his transportation service, a staff
my
substantive knowledge of the law, as
attorney came to us to figure out how we
well as giving me an idea of what real
could get this benefit back.
In the following weeks, I worked on lawyers do. In addition, it was great to see
dozens of other cases in which clients had lawyers in practice making a positive
been wrongfully denied food stamps. I also impact on the individual lives of their
wrote drafts of two briefs that helped a staff clients and on society.
attorney argue before an Administrative
Law Judge that her clients should be
Megan Pinkney
provided disability benefits. Each case was
MKL Intern & Rising 3L
promising and LANC's assistance should
Wake Forest University
School of Law
provide the clients with a steady future
income and thousands of dollars in back
As a Martin Luther
pay.
King, Jr. (MLK) summer
I was exposed to a variety of new tasks
intern with Legal Aid of
and a whole new area of the law as I moved
North
Carolina’s
into the HEEC unit on week four of the
Winston-Salem office
internship. The types of cases I saw this summer, my LANC clerkship provided
inc lud ed mor tg ag e f or ecl o sur e s, a unique experience that law school does
landlord/tenant disputes, expungements, not provide. At LANC, you never know
unemployment compensation cases and what you are going to get. One day you
unfair debt collections.
may feel like trying to lead your client in
My major project dealt with a client who the right direction to get their life in order.
was denied due process of the law when his The next day you may be zealously
bank account was drained by a creditor advocating for them in court. LANC has
without prior notice. It was the result of a opened my eyes to the public interest field.
routine practice by a major debt collection
This clerkship exposed me to various
agency that had been manipulating the law areas of law that I would not have had a
and ignoring legal procedures in order to
(Continued on page 6)
collect on debts. The staff attorney gave
(Reflections, continued from page 4)
LANC News, August 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK)
Summer Internships
An opportunity to make a difference…
Each summer, Legal Aid of North Carolina
(LANC) awards paid internships to current law
students to participate in the legal services
work over the traditional 10-week summer
internship period.
The summer internship program is named in
honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is
funded in part by contributions from IOLTA,
Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company
and the NC Bar Association Foundation.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Internship is
an integral part of the LANC's dual goals to:
(1) reduce the inequities in our legal system by
ensuring that poor people, minorities and
victims of domestic violence receive equal
justice; and (2) to initiate new lawyers to the
lifelong commitment of providing access to
justice for all individuals regardless of their
ability to pay.
The MLK program places talented law
students into the real world of legal aid
advocacy in order to work on actual cases.
MLK interns experience client contact,
courtroom participation and legal research and
writing on actual cases under the supervision
of seasoned legal aid attorneys. Each day of
the internship, MLK interns are challenged to
put classroom training and talent to work on
behalf of the many needy individuals that
LANC serves and to work creatively to reduce
the barriers to a more just society. Each MLK
intern is treated as a valuable member of the
legal staff and is expected to participate in
case strategy and contribute to overall case
management.
LANC typically places summer MLK interns in
each of the 24 LANC field offices and in the
offices of Advocates for Children Services
(Durham) and the Farmworker Unit (Raleigh).
Applications for MLK Summer Internships:
Initial review of applicants typically begins
October 30th prior to the summer of
employment. For additional information, visit
the “Internships” webpage of the LANC
Internet website:
www.legalaidnc.org/public/participate/
internships.aspx
Page 5
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
Staff
The staff of the Legal Aid of North Carolina —
Winston-Salem Office provides legal assistance in
civil matters (non-criminal matters) to eligible,
low-income clients who have problems with their
basic needs and live in the six-county area
surrounding Winston-Salem, NC: Davie County,
Forsyth County, Iredell County, Stokes County,
Surry County or Yadkin County.
R. Yvette Stackhouse
Managing Attorney
Liza A. Baron
Managing Attorney (HEEC Unit)
Valene K. Franco
Managing Attorney (DV Unit)
Keith T. Clayton
Staff Associate, MFP
Samantha Davis
Paralegal
Lisa L. Brace
Staff Attorney
Louella W. Brannan
Office Administrator
Emma Clark
Staff Attorney
Marcella L. Farmer
Staff Attorney, DVPI
Stephanie M. Goldsborough
Staff Attorney
Susan W. Gottsegen
Staff Attorney
Linda L. Graham
Paralegal
Gricel Guerrero
Paralegal
Charles F. Hall, IV
Staff Attorney
Romany H. Hines
Paralegal
Kristin R. Kelly
Staff Attorney
John R. Lawson
Staff Attorney, MFP
Kenneth Love
Staff Attorney
Joanne B. Martin
Paralegal
Jeanna G. McCullers
Staff Attorney
Harrietta E. Mickle
Paralegal
Margaret A. Moll
Intake Specialist
Tracy M. Nicholson
Paralegal
David A. Sobie
Paralegal
Jean L. Witherspoon
PAI Coordinator
Nikki A. Worthy
Paralegal
LANC News, August 2009
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
an invaluable opportunity to reinforce what I
chance to experience while in law school. I learned from my first year of law school,
realized that each area of law is unique and while also receiving exposure to the role of an
brings with it its own unique set of clients and attorney and the practice of law.
issues.
Often LANC’s clients confront a variety of
The Family Law Unit’s domestic violence challenging issues in their lives. In order to
cases can be very emotional and draining, but adequately serve these compounding issues,
can be very rewarding when you know you LANC attorneys must be knowledgeable about
helped your client take a stand against their a wide range of legal areas and assist clients in
abuser.
The “As I began to prepare for the hearing, a holistic manner. LANC attorneys
Benefits Unit I realized that I was truly helping m u s t b e a b l e t o a d a p t a n d
provided a way some one who felt helpless and did accommodate a spectrum of diverse
for clients to not have anyone to turn to….”
clients and apply innovation, flexibility
- Megan Pinkney
fight to get
and patience since legal solutions are
benefits they need to survive. Without LANC, not always apparent.
our clients would not have a voice.
I observed that attorneys are not restricted
The most fulfilling experiences thus far to legal research or litigating in court. The
have been my interactions with clients. This attorneys must also collaborate with various
reminded me of why I decided to go to law agencies, organizations, and colleagues for the
school.
benefit of the client.
One day this summer I came to the office to
Moreover, the practice of law is not
find a file laying on my desk. I met with the confined to clients under a legal
LANC attorney who assigned me the file. She retainer. LANC attorneys work for the benefit
informed me that this would be my case, my of their community by providing advice and
very own client, and that she would be there counsel to individuals and offering the
for supervision. I began to hear a loud noise, different LANC pro se clinics. These clinics
only to realize that it was my own heartbeat.
help empower individuals because participants
After I left her office, I immediately sent leave the clinics with a better understanding of
my parents an E-mail screaming, “Ahhhhhh I their legal rights under North Carolina law and
have my very own client, save me, I am not how to proceed on their own.
ready.” I followed my dad’s advice and got a
One of the most rewarding experiences
grip.
during my tenure as a summer law clerk was
I had once heard the activist Angela Davis when I was able to observe my legal research
say that it angered her to see inaction and put into action for the benefit of a client.
silence in the face of injustice. I “Overall, my experience with LANC Specifically, I was
learned that someone must speak has helped me better define my asked to assist with a
career aspiration upon completion case in the HEEC Unit
for the voiceless.
As I began to prepare for the of law school….”
related to a subsidized
- Beverley Smith
hearing, I realized that I was truly
landlord/tenant issue.
helping someone who felt helpless and did not
The landlord filed a summary ejectment
have anyone to turn to. After I met with the action against the client based on non-payment
client she said, “Thank you so much of rent. Neither the client nor the housing
Ms. Pinkney. I appreciate everything you are authority knew their respective rental obligadoing for me.” When I heard those words tions to the landlord because the housing
from my client, it hit me that I was fulfilling subsidy application was not processed timely,
my dream and purpose.
and the client's rent amount was adjusted due
Hearing my client’s appreciation reminded to the changing circumstances in the client's
me of the reason why I went to law school and life. The summary ejectment action was
why I chose to work at LANC this summer. dismissed with prejudice since the landlord
All of my nervousness went out the door. could not specify the exact rental arrears owed
And at the hearing, the client received her by the client.
restraining order and temporary custody of her
Three days following the dismissal with
children.
prejudice, the landlord filed a second
summary ejectment action against the client
based on non-payment of rent. The assigned
Beverley Smith
attorney asked that I conduct legal research
Rising 3L
pertaining to res judicata and summary
NC Central University
School of Law
ejectment. My research supported our legal
argument that the landlord was barred by
My summer internship
res judicata to raise the second claim related to
with Legal Aid of North
non-payment of rent. The attorney relied on
Carolina’s (LANC’s)
(Continued on page 7)
Winston-Salem office was
(Reflections, continued from page 5)
Page 6
receptionist, to the screener, to the paralegal
or attorney, that client's story is heard and
has value. Our advocates dig in, creatively
fight hard and willingly stand with our
clients.
R. Yvette Stackhouse, Esq.
Managing Attorney, LANC-W/S Office
Teaching these lessons to those who are
with us for a short time can be challenging.
Last year was the first "Special Edition" In order to learn them, the students must be
newsletter our office printed. The 2008 willing to ask the right questions, actively
summer law clerks' articles generated so listen while suspending judgment and fight
much positive response that we decided to to find resolution. When they do all of that,
do it annually. I hope that all who read the their cups begin to fill up and they are soon
reflections by our 2009 summer law clerks ready to practice law.
are as moved as I am. I can hear their
Frankly, our clients are the real teachers.
excitement and wonder; I can feel their Almost every article that you read by our
compassion; but most of all, I can see their clerks tells the story of a client who had a
growing determination
very real need and tells
“Practicing law isn't done in a sterile
and confidence.
how that clerk was moved
vacuum. It's compassionate people
Every summer, our listening to real people with real to help.
staff watches a new crop problems and creatively applying the
Practicing law isn't
of law clerks come into law in order to stand for justice….”
done in a sterile vacuum.
- Yvette Stackhouse
our office, like empty
It's compassionate people
cups wanting to be filled up with all the listening to real people with real problems
unique experiences our office can provide. and creatively applying the law in order to
We have the honor of representing very stand for justice — that's the practice of law.
deserving clients.
Legal Aid of North Carolina has been
Our staff uses each day's experiences to fortunate to have had the assistance of some
make up the lesson plans from which we very wonderful students who are going to be
teach the clerks. We don't have to create great attorneys. I'm extremely happy to
them. Our clients provide them. And while know that our entire staff, from the
many of their cases are meritorious, too receptionist to the most senior attorney, has
many times their voices are not heard. had an opportunity to help them on their
Their lack of money and knowledge causes journey. We thank them for their service
them to stand alone. However, from the and we’d be happy to one day call
time the client enters our office through the them colleagues!!!
Update from Yvette...
Thank you 2009
Summer Law Clerks!
obtain a new home loan in order to
On the first day of my clerkship, at redeem an existing mortgage. Within days
approximately 3:30 in the afternoon, I of the anticipated closing date, the new
received my first assignment. The attorney lender delivered a property inspection that
handed me a four-inch-thick file and told included a long list of repairs that would be
me, “This is a bankruptcy case that was required in order to agree to the loan. As a
dismissed; I need you to research and write result, I had to find contractors who could
a memorandum in support of our motion to submit estimates as soon as possible in
reconsider that dismissal. The hearing is on order to ensure that the loan closing could
Wednesday
at
occur before the
10:00.” I will admit “All in all, this summer has been an immensely
previous mortgage
experience, and I cannot imagine a
that I started to rewarding
wa s
f or ec l o sed
better preparation for a future career in law....”
wonder what exactly
upon.
This was
- Kyle Fountain
I had signed up for,
made more difficult
as, at the time, I did not even know the as some contractors failed to follow up and
difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter became difficult to contact. Eventually, we
13 bankruptcies! About a day later, we had reached the point of physically driving a
a memo to submit to the court and I had contractor to the repair site. Although it
learned more about bankruptcy law than in took significantly longer than expected, we
my two years of law school. Although this were able to obtain and submit the required
motion was unsuccessful, this case became estimates, and the client appears to be on
one of the defining parts of my time here as track towards keeping her home.
we continued to work in other ways to save
The most dramatic event, however, was
our client’s home.
not a mortgage case, but instead involved a
Another particularly memorable case mechanic who had allegedly performed
(Continued on page 4)
was one that involved a client who sought to
(Reflections, continued from page 2)
LANC News, August 2009
About Legal Aid of NC
As the only Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
funded program in North Carolina,
Legal Aid of North Carolina
(LANC) provides free, community-based, civil
legal services in all 100 counties of North
Carolina to those whose income falls below
125% of the federal poverty guidelines:
Size of
Family Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Maximum
Income Level*
$ 13,538
$ 15,613
$ 22,888
$ 27,563
$ 32,328
$ 36,913
$ 41,588
$ 46,263
* [The figures in this table represent 125% of the
poverty guidelines by family size as determined
by the US Department of Health & Human Services.]
LANC provides legal representation and
counseling in civil (non-criminal) cases only.
Because of limited resources, LANC’s cases
are generally limited to those that impact
clients’ basic needs, including housing, access
to medical care, protection from domestic
violence, consumer protection and subsistence
income.
LANC of NC receives funding from LSC
(45%), the NC General Assembly (27%), and
IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts)
(11%). The remaining funds come from Title II
funds for Older Americans, United Way, local
governments, individual attorneys, foundations
and other grants.
Legal Aid of North Carolina offices also recruit
and coordinate private attorney (pro bono)
volunteers through local volunteer lawyers
programs (VLP’s).
For additional information on Legal Aid of
North Carolina (LANC) and its offices, visit the
LANC Internet website:
www.legalaidnc.org.
Page 3
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
LANC NEWS
is the newsletter of Legal Aid of
North Carolina (LANC). Send comments to: LANC News,
Legal Aid of NC, 224 South Dawson St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
Editor: Dock Kornegay.
Executive Director: George R. Hausen, Jr., Esq.
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 law firm that
provides free legal services to low-income persons in North
Carolina through 24 field offices and six statewide projects.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lisa Morgan, Esq., Chair
North Carolina Central University, Durham
Celeste M. Harris, Esq., Vice-Chair
Maynard & Harris, PLLC, Winston-Salem
Thomas S. Berkau, Esq., Treasurer
Attorney at Law, Smithfield
Phillip Leigh, Secretary
Client Representative, At Large, Creswell
Glenn A. Barfield, Esq.
Barnes Braswell & Haithcock, PA, Goldsboro
Susan Perry Cole
NC Association for Community Development, Raleigh
Helen Cook
Client Representative, Southeast Region, Fayetteville
Auley M. “Lee” Crouch, Esq.
Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP, Wilmington
Mary Flowers
Client Representative, Statewide, High Point
Sharon Greig
Client Representative, Pantego
Charles R. Holton, Esq.
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, Durham
Samuel B. Johnson, Esq.
Samuel B. Johnson, Attorney, PLLC, Greensboro
Shirley Jones
Client Representative, Rocky Mount
Nellie Kearney
Client Representative, Triangle Region, Henderson
Gregg E. McDougal , Esq.
Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, Raleigh
Derllarene Myers
Client Representative, West Region, Wilkesboro
Raymond E. Owens, Jr., Esq.
Kennedy Covington Lobdell Hickman, LLP, Charlotte
Kristoffer B. Shepard, Esq.
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., Charlotte
Paul C. Shepard, Esq.
Attorney at Law, Winston-Salem
Ellen Shepperd
Client Representative, Northeast Region, Williamston
James M. Talley, Jr., Esq.
Horack, Talley, Pharr & Lowndes, PA, Charlotte
Mary Ann Tally, Esq.
Center for Death Penalty Litigation, Durham
Alice Tejada, Esq.
Scrudder & Hedrick, Raleigh
John R. Wester, Esq.
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, PA, Charlotte
Diana Williams-Cotton
Client Representative, Triad Region, Winston-Salem
S. Kyle Woosley, Esq.
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP, Greensboro
LANC News, August 2009
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
questions I would ask during the hearing.
Several days before the hearing, I met with
the client and the supervising attorney to
prepare her for the hearing and go over the
During my time at questions that would be asked during the
Legal Aid of North hearing. In addition to the direct
Carolina (LANC), I have examination, I prepared a closing statement
been fortunate to have and learned about the procedures to be used
been exposed to the during the hearing.
Although my hearing is still a couple of
events that make up the day-to-day life of an
attorney that you do not get to experience days away at this point, I feel that this
experience so far will help me to become a
while in law school.
I have interviewed clients, prepared successful attorney once I graduate from
briefs, attended hearings and trials and dealt law school in the spring. It was my first
with a variety of governmental agencies. hands-on experience with a client, as well as
Many of our clients' stories have left an my first time doing all of the preparatory
impact on me that I “Many of our clients' stories have left an work that goes into
know I will keep impact on me that I know I will keep representing a client in a
hearing or trial.
with me when my with me when my summer is over….”
- Becky Cacaci
I truly believe that this is
summer is over.
This summer, I have represented one one of the benefits of working at LANC.
such client in an appeal regarding her While many of my classmates are only
Unemployment Insurance Benefits. The doing research this summer, I get to work
client had actually been approved by the on my research and writing skills, while also
Employment Security Commission for her learning other hands-on practical skills by
benefits, but the employer appealed that interacting with clients and actually having
decision. She then contacted LANC to the opportunity to represent clients in
represent her during her appeal hearings.
hearing, and I was assigned to represent her
with a supervising attorney.
Kyle Fountain
Her case was rather strong, as indicated
Rising 3L
by the initial approval of her benefits. She
Wake Forest University
School of Law
had worked as a mental health specialist for
My story may be a bit
almost nine years, spending the past year
different from the rest, as
and a half at the job from which she was
my experience here was
terminated. The company for which she
a bit different. Rather
was working was rather new and kept
than doing the normal
changing its procedures in an effort to find
the best way to run efficiently. However, rotation through the benefits, family and
the constant change in protocols affected the HEEC units, I had the privilege of working
client, and she was unable to keep up with exclusively with the Mortgage Foreclosure
Project throughout the summer. While this
the demands being made by her employer.
Additionally, they switched her from assignment did not afford the time to
salaried to hourly work, and she was only experience the wide variety of cases and
paid for the hours she spent in face-to-face issues that the other interns may have dealt
time with her clients. This meant she did with, this focus allowed me both to “dig in”
not receive any wages for the time she spent and watch how a client’s case develops over
on administrative work, traveling, etc. She time and to develop my understanding of a
would spend 50 hours a week on the job, particular facet of the law.
Much of my work involved contacting
while only getting paid for the 40 hours of
hands-on client time. And as a single mom, lenders and other agencies in order to find
she had to take care of her child as well. alternatives to foreclosure for our clients.
She fell behind on her administrative work, To meet this goal, I usually worked to
and received a disciplinary letter. A week obtain loan modifications, which involved
later, without receiving any further warning discussing financial information with both
clients and lenders. I also assisted with
or plan of correction, she was terminated.
I had just under two weeks to prepare for some bankruptcy cases by researching
the Unemployment Insurance Benefits specific issues and preparing documents for
hearing.
With the guidance of the filing with the local bankruptcy court. In
supervising attorney, I did a preliminary addition, I also assisted with cases involving
interview over the phone with the client, and short sales and loans.
(Continued on page 3)
based on that interview, created the
Becky Cacaci
Rising 3L
Elon University
School of Law
Page 2
My next task was to search for assets
owned by the adverse party. After a search on
the Register of Deeds' website, I learned that
the adverse party had transferred title of his
property to another person within days of the
judgment against him. I asked my supervisor
about the transfer, and he told me that if the
adverse party legally divested himself of his
interest in the property, we could not challenge
the property transfer. The arrangement was
suspect enough for me to keep digging. I
found North Carolina's version of the Uniform
Fraudulent Transfers Act and researched when
the court can find that a transfer was
fraudulent and what remedies creditors had
against such a transfer.
Our facts looked promising. I happily
informed my supervisor of my discoveries. I
had a unique case, as this area of law doesn't
come up often at LANC. And again, I had the
opportunity to learn practical skills.
While I could have done the legal
Jonathan Williams research anywhere, my internship allowed me
Rising 2L
the opportunity to research and interpret
Wake Forest University
indices and registers and their documents. I
School of Law
Working in Legal Aid cross-referenced my deed research with the
of North Carolina’s county tax office, further expanding my
(LANC’s) Winston-Salem knowledge of how to be a successful lawyer.
Currently, we are waiting to see if the
office has been a wonderful
experience, and a chance to Sheriff's office will execute the writ and
learn on several levels. “I've had the opportunity...to learn by collect on the judgment.
I've had the opportunity to watching Legal Aid advocates in action. Should our client fail to
practice my legal research Their example has taught me a lot about collect, our office then
attorney….”
has the opportunity either
and writing skills, client how to be a -successful
Jonathan Williams
to represent her in an atinteraction skills and,
most importantly, to learn by watching LANC tempt to void the possibly fraudulent
advocates in action. Their example has taught transaction, or at least to advise her of her
me a lot about how to be a successful attorney. right to do so with the help of a private
My learning began with my very first attorney. It is rewarding to have a chance to
assignment. LANC attorneys had helped help people like our client.
I am grateful to LANC for the opportunity
obtain a judgment against a used car dealer
who had unlawfully repossessed her car. Her to help both its advocates and its clients. I am
case was different from other LANC cases in grateful for the opportunity to hone my
that we were attempting to enforce a judgment research and writing skills. I am especially
in favor of our client rather than helping a grateful for the opportunity to learn how an
client assert her exemption rights against an attorney works — how he/she interacts with
clients, judges, clerks, case workers and
adverse judgment.
My first task was to serve a notice of rights adverse parties. Thank you Legal Aid of
and exemption forms on the adverse party North Carolina!!!
(whereas later in the summer I helped our
clients fill out the same forms, as judgment
debtors on the opposite end of the process). In
addition to being a primer in enforcement of
Interested in
judgments and exemptions, the process was an
Summer Internships?
introduction to the legal system itself.
I was astounded at what I didn't know: to
See the column (page 4 of this newsletter):
whom to direct the forms, how many copies,
“About Summer Internships
how many return envelopes, whom to call, etc.
at
Legal Aid of North Carolina”
Learning the mechanics of getting something
done between the clerk's office and the OR, visit the Legal Aid of North Carolina website:
sheriff's office was as useful as anything I
www.legalaidnc.org
learned all summer.
(Reflections, continued from page 6)
this case law research, and the action was
dismissed a second time.
Overall, my experience with LANC has
helped me to better define my career
aspirations upon completion of law school. I
enjoyed the opportunity to explore the myriad
of legal issues confronting LANC clients, such
as landlord/tenant issues, employment,
domestic violence, consumer problems, and
benefits.
Prior to this internship, I was apprehensive
about the prospect of litigating; however, this
fear has subsided as a result of observing the
LANC attorneys model confidence and
preparation when litigating a case.
I believe this internship has exposed me to
invaluable lessons that are not always included
in a law school curriculum. I value all of the
lessons I take away from this experience.
LANC News, August 2009
Units & Areas of Law
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Family Law Unit
Family Law: Domestic Violence
Protective Orders; No Contact Orders for
Stalking or Non-consensual Sexual
Conduct; Emergency/TemporaryChild
Custody.
Housing, Education, Employment,
Consumer (HEEC) Unit
Housing (private & subsidized): Illegal
padlocking; illegal utility shut-off; repair
issues; evictions; denial of subsidized
housing; foreclosure on rental property.
Education: Personal Education Plans
(PEP); school suspensions and
expulsions.
Employment: Unemployment
compensation hearings; wage and hour
claims; discrimination claims;
expungement of criminal records;
wrongful termination; FMLA claims; ADA
claims; retaliatory termination.
Consumer: Repossession of vehicles;
contract disputes; debt collection defense;
judgment collection (exemptions);
bankruptcy (Chapters 13 and 7 only);
mortgage foreclosure defense; predatory
lending; unfair trade practices and other
consumer matters.
Public Benefits Unit
Disability: SSI/SSDI and Medicaid
denials and benefits; overpayment,
reduction and termination issues.
Food Stamps/Work First: Food stamp
denials, reduction, and overpayment issues; Work First termination,
non-compliance issues.
For questions, call the LANC-WinstonSalem Office, 336-725-9162, or visit the
LANC-Winston-Salem Office webpage at:
www.legalaidnc.org/winstonsalem
Page 7
LANC News
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
Legal Aid of North Carolina Offices
LANC is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to eligible, low-income people in all 100 counties in
North Carolina through 24, geographically located offices.
The Newsletter of Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Ahoskie
y
WinstonWinston-Salem
y
Morganton
y
Sylva
y
Celeste Harris, Esq., Chair
y
Boone
y
y
Durham
Greensboro

y
Asheville
Gastonia
y
Concord
Charlotte
y
y
Monroe
y
y
y
Pittsboro
Raleigh
y
Sanford
Maynard & Harris, Attorneys At Law, PLLC
Winston-Salem
Rocky Mount
Wilson
y
y
Goldsboro
y
Smithfield
Barbara Knotts, Vice Chair
King
y
Greenville
New Bern
Wanda Allen-Abraha, J.D.
Human Relations, City of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem
y
Professor Luellen Curry, Esq.
y
Fayetteville
Wake Forest University School of Law
Winston-Salem
y
Pembroke
Vernal Gaston
Winston-Salem
Wilmington
y
Tammy Gore
Winston-Salem
Hada Haulsee, Esq.
Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
Winston-Salem
Thank you Summer 2009 Law Clerks!!!
DeWanna Hamlin
Family Services, Inc., Winston-Salem
Paul Shepard, Esq.
Winston-Salem
Garry C. Wadell
Human Relations, City of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem
The Honorable William Z. Wood, Jr.
Legal Aid of NC-Winston-Salem Office
102 West Third Street, Suite 460
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Superior Court
Winston-Salem
Diana Williams-Cotton
Winston-Salem
Gloria Woods, Esq.
Assistant County Attorney
Winston-Salem
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Liberty Plaza
102 West Third Street, Suite 460
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-725-9162; 866-219-LANC (toll-free)
R. Yvette Stackhouse, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Providing free legal services in civil (non-criminal) matters
to low-income people primarily in
Davie,www.legalaidnc.org/winstonsalem
Forsyth, Iredell, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin Counties.
LANC News, August 2009
Page 8
LANC News, August 2009
Our Mission:
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.
LANC-Winston-Salem Office Special Edition
August 2009
LANC-Winston-Salem Office
Reflections of 2009 Summer Law Clerks
by Liza Baron
This summer, our office has
been flowing with the energy of
seven bright, young, energetic
law clerks.
Every summer we look
forward to their arrival. And
again our summer was
enhanced by the unique
personalities each of the law
clerks, their strong work ethic
and special approaches that
each utilized while working on
their cases.
Our law clerks worked
full-time for ten weeks and
2009 Summer Law Clerks, LANC-Winston-Salem Office
were exposed to all three areas (l-r) Jeffrey Kowalski (Wake Forest University School of Law); Megan Pinkney (Wake Forest
of law in our office: Family University School of Law); Daniel Joyce (Elon University School of Law); Becky Cacaci (Elon
Law Unit, Benefits Law Unit University School of Law); Jonathan Williams (Wake Forest University School of Law);
and the "HEEC Unit" (Housing, Beverley Smith (NC Central University School of Law); Kyle Fountain (Wake Forest
University School of Law).
PHOTOS BY DAVID SOBIE
Education, Employment and
greatly
for
the
help
they
maze
that
often
confronts our
Consumer law Unit).
Two
provide
with
our
cases.
Our
clients
on
various
forms of
clerks at a time were assigned
to each unit, and they rotated clerks have conducted client government assistance.
In this, our second annual
between the units every 3-4 interviews, researched critical
legal
issues
for
our
cases
that
"Special
Edition" newsletter,
weeks. That gave them an
are
stories
from our clerks
opportunity to work
“Our clerks have conducted client interviews,
in each area of the researched critical legal issues for our cases themselves about what they've
law, and also to work that helped decide the issues at hearings, learned and experienced this
with every advocate helped us prepare for hearings, represented summer.
We hope you will enjoy
clients and helped us and our clients work
in our office.
through the bureaucratic maze that often their stories as much as
From
e a c h confronts our clients….”
we have enjoyed reading
advocate they learned
- Liza Baron
them.
different
sk i l l s ,
_______________________________
helped
decide
the
issues
at
tactics, tips and approaches to
the cases and the clients. In hearings, helped us prepare for Liza Baron is the managing attorney
of the HEEC (Housing, Education,
addition to assisting attorneys hearings, represented clients Employment and Consumer) Unit in
and
helped
us
and
our
clients
and paralegals with their cases,
Legal Aid of North Carolina’s
the clerks also attended court work through the bureaucratic Winston-Salem Office.
with the advocates. They also
attended and assisted with the Inside this issue: “Reflections of 2009 Summer Interns”
pro se clinics that our office
provided to the public.
f Becky Cacaci, Rising 3L, Elon University School of Law………………..….2
Some of the clerks even
represented clients in hearings f Kyle Fountain, Rising 3L, Wake Forest University School of Law……….…..2-4
themselves, with supervision
f Daniel Joyce, Rising 2L, Elon University School of Law……………......…...4-5
from attorneys. Also, one of
our law clerks was assigned to f Jeffrey Kowalski, Rising 2L, Wake Forest University School of Law…......5
LANC’s state-wide Mortgage
Foreclosure Project (MFP) f Megan Pinkney, MLK & Rising 3L, Wake Forest University School of Law...5-6
throughout the summer.
f Beverley Smith, Rising 3L, NC Central University School of Law……..…...6-7
Not only are our law clerks
fun company and enthusiastic f Jonathan Williams, Rising 2L, Wake Forest University School of Law.......7
learners, we also value them