Heir Property Pro Bono Project lunch and learn

If you volunteer with our Heir Property Pro Bono Project, are interested in volunteering, or simply are interested in the subject, you are welcome to attend our free, virtual lunch-and-learn on Wednesday, May 1, from 12-1 p.m.

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NCBA child custody CLE and clinic

We partnered with the NC Bar Association, with support from the NC Bar Foundation, to hold a CLE and pro bono clinic on April 10 to help domestic violence survivors initiate child custody proceedings.

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Pro Bono Institute conference

Hannah Guerrier and Nicole Mueller, supervising attorneys on our Pro Bono Programs team, attended the Pro Bono Institute Annual Conference last month in Washington, D.C.

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Charlotte Triage updates

We're halfway through the sixth year of the Charlotte Triage Pro Bono Partnership and there is a lot of great news to report. Click the link for the latest updates, courtesy of McGuireWoods.

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Volunteer Wills Program

Serve remotely!

Provide free wills and powers of attorney to low-income NC seniors with property to protect. Interview your clients and prepare their documents remotely—we can handle execution.

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Todd Stillerman · Wells Fargo

Congratulations to Todd Stillerman of Wells Fargo, one of our most dedicated pro bono volunteers, for winning a Leaders in the Law Award from NC Lawyers Weekly! We nominated Todd in large part for his leadership role in the founding and continued success of the Charlotte Triage Pro Bono Partnership.

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Susan D. Brotherton · Solo attorney

We will soon say goodbye to one of our most dedicated pro bono and "low bono" attorneys, Susan D. Brotherton of Statesville. She is leaving her solo practice, which gave her the flexibility to devote so much time to pro bono, to take a position with the public defender's office in Iredell County.

Over the last 20 years, Susan has handled more than 1,000 domestic violence cases at either no or low cost to us, a number that puts her among the most prolific volunteers in the history of Legal Aid NC.

Thanks to her longtime service and commitment to her work, domestic violence survivors throughout Iredell County and surrounding counties have faced their abusers in court with the courage and comfort provided by having the fiercest of advocates at their side.

"Susan is truly amazing," says Leslie Dahlin, Case Coordinator on our Pro Bono Programs team, who works closely with Susan. "She has always been there for our clients and is always willing to go the extra mile. Our clients—and our firm—have been lucky to have her."

Asked what inspired her to start doing this work 20 years ago, Susan says, "One of the reasons I went to law school was to help victims of domestic violence. I know what domestic violence is. I know that it's more than getting beat up on a Friday night after someone's had too much to drink. Abusers try to control their victims' entire lives."

As to why lawyers should do this work, she says, "There is such a need for attorneys to assist victims of domestic violence. The problem is rampant. If the reason you got into law is to make a difference, this is one of the best, quickest ways to do it. What you do can have an immediate impact on your client and their children. Getting a Domestic Violence Protective Order gives them something to take home that day. They can sleep easier that night thanks to you."

Thanks to Susan, thousands of North Carolinians—our clients and their children—will sleep easier tonight and for many, many nights to come. We at Legal Aid of North Carolina extend to her our sincerest thanks and best wishes for the future.

Thank you, Susan!