Charlotte School of Law Honors Outstanding Service Work!!

Sixth Annual CharlotteLaw Public Service Recognition Event and Reception

The 2013 Public Service Recognition Event was held at the law school’s Suttle Avenue location on Wednesday, April 17th.  The event honored the many public service accomplishments of CharlotteLaw students, faculty, and field supervisors. 

Opening remarks by the new CharlotteLaw Dean, Jay Conison, delivered in his absence by Professor Cindy Adcock, captured the importance of public service to the mission of the law school, the extraordinary value of this service, and the distinctiveness of CharlotteLaw’s commitment to serving the underserved: 

A second distinctive feature of CharlotteLaw is its deep commitment to helping the public and in particular serving the underserved. This is what we are celebrating this evening. Many law schools claim to have this commitment, and in fact many do. But I am not aware of any school that has been able to realize this commitment in so many ways, indeed in such profound ways, in such a short time.  

Inspiring stories filled the evening.  Professor Erin Kane, who received the Access to Justice Faculty Award, spoke on how her students improve their writing and rhetoric skills through tutoring inner-city high school students.   Students Richard Groberg and Ronda Webb shared reflections on their pro bono legal service work experiences during Spring Break on the Gulf Coast and in Memphis. 

George Miller of Dozier Miller Pollard & Murphy, LLP, was honored with the Field Supervisor of the Year Award for his work supervising students who assist low-income immigrants who are victims of crime.  Cindy Patton, attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, presented the Pro Bono Student Group of the Year Award to the CSL-Legal Aid Expunction Project for the group’s extraordinary assistance in meeting the high demand for review of expunction requests. 

Individual Student Award recipients included:

• Pro Bono Student of the Year Award – Brandy Hagler, who volunteered over 500 hours of pro bono service over her law school career.
• Practice Readiness Externship Award – Casey Calloway, who was presented the award by the Honorable Lou Trosch, Mecklenburg District Court Judge, describing her as the best extern/intern/clerk he has ever had, beating out students from such top law schools as Harvard. 
• Practice Readiness Clinical Award – Michelle Wallace, whose extraordinary work in the Community Economic Development Clinic helped save a small community organization. 
• 2013 Pro Bono Leadership Awards –Karen Frank, Faith Fox, Nicole Orr, Maria Wilson (for their student leadership with the CSL-Legal Aid Expunction Project), William Flowers (for his student leadership with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance in the community), Gina Ruggieri (for her efforts starting the CSL Re-entry Project for those formerly incarcerated).
• 2013 Pro Bono Student Ambassadors – recognized for promoting pro bono work at the law school and greater Charlotte Community–Christina Adeleke, Stephen Dluzneski, Christian Glista, Latoya Gardner, Porscha Daniels, Kerry Kunai, Gina Ruggieri, Noble Williamson

All CharlotteLaw students provide pro bono legal services.  Since May 2012, students have volunteered approximately 40,000 hours of such services.  In addition, students have earned academic credit through more intensive externships and clinics to provide over 38,000 hours of legal services to underserved persons and organizations. 

 

In total, CharlotteLaw students have provided, since 2006, over 200,000 hours of legal services to those who otherwise would not have been able to hire an attorney and to governmental agencies and the court system.  They have also provided over 20,000 hours of non-legal community service, such as helping in soup kitchens, raising money for non-profits, and tutoring.  

Track 3 ~ Economic Sustainability

While working with the Mississippi Center for Justice my eyes have been opened to the need in small communities such as this.  There is a huge need for legal assistance and even if you can only provide an hour here or there, a lot can be accomplished.   We spoke with a client this morning in order to assist him in establising a Limited Liability Corporation.  He needed help navigating a complex legal system.   We were able to assist him in filing court documents and also finalized them for mailing.  It was such a great feeling to see a corporation forming from beginning to end.  We even assisted in selecting the name for his LLC.  This ultimately will protect him from any type of law suit in the event his tenants or anyone were to pursue legal action.  My first thought was that he didn’t really need help because he was a landlord likely to be well off.  When actually,  he desperately needed help to protect his home because the rental properties were inherited and he has the responsibility to maintain them even if renters don’t pay.  He also works extremely hard being the maintenance man, plumber, electrician and any other role that may be required in order to make his individual scenario work.  He had over 25 grandchildren who he was also concerned about providing for not to mention his children.  The story was just fascinating and it felt so good to be able to really help make a difference in his life. 

 

Also, the weather is just simply beautiful here.  There has not been a single cloud in the sky since we arrived on Monday.  I can’t believe the coastal water, but what is most surprising is how close to the beach some of the homes and resorts are built.  There are no barriers such as the dunes in North Carolina for instance.  When we arrived the first day I was amazed that the Mississippi Department of Transportation formed a “loop” exiting the interstate where the roadway actually extends out into the ocean.  It really brought the point home on how Katrina blasted this area because there wasn’t any real natural protection and how the whole community was directly susceptible to the direct effects of the storm.  Additionally, with the storm this part of the area lost so many historic landmarks it has been difficult to rebuild, but the community here and everyone we have interacted with this week is determined to stay and make the community thrive once again just as before.  The sense of passion has been really insightful.  It makes me want to have a greater pride in the community I live and take more proactive measures to make a difference there as well. 

Right now I’m sitting at a streets side café enjoying the sun and the clear blue sky.  This week has been a time of reflection and self-renewal inspired by the precious individuals who have impacted our lives this week while trying to serve them.  The sense of kindness and overwhelming acceptance is a concept I will try to further in my everyday life upon my return to North Carolina.  It is a great feeling to be able to serve others but it’s amazing how much they give to us in the process.  This experience is irreplaceable and I would not take anything for our time here.  Here’s to Mississippi and the Mississippi Center for Justice for having us.  I will definitely be back!

~Randi 2L

Helping others

This week has been quite the experience. As a group member of the BP Oil Spill tract, I helped canvass low-income apartment complexes to offer free legal help to those that were economically or medically injured by the disaster. I was accepted and rejected all in one week. While I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who feel comfortable answering their door in their undergarments, I have been humbled by the suffering some people have endured. For example, today I met one man who worked on an oil rig and lived on the beach when the oil spill occurred. The smell of the oil became unbearable and he and his family had to move further away from the beach just to breathe comfortably. Soon after their move inland, his wife developed two tumors and several of his children developed severe asthma. After explaining to him that the attorneys at the Mississippi Center for Justice are not expecting a penny out of his pocket for representing him, I watched as his eyes filled with tears. He thanked my group profusely for offering help. I remember him saying, “You have no idea what this means to me.” When we left his apartment, I was extremely humbled by his appreciation and realized how incredibly blessed my life is. I’m in great health with a loving family, which is more than most people can say. I thank God for all of the blessings he has given me and I will keep the Gulf Coast in my prayers.

God Bless,

Grace

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Just helping people in Long Beach, Gulfport, Pass Christian, Bay Saint Louis, and Biloxi, Mississippi get compensation for what they suffered from the BP Oil Spill!

Day 4, Track 1 – Katrina Housing

I have had the privilege of working with three other ladies from CSL alongside a wonderful legal team at the Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ).  Our work thus far, has been focused on helping clients whose homes were damaged by Katrina in 2005 finally obtain funding for their unmet housing repair needs due to the storm.  The funding for such home repairs is through the Federal National Housing Program (NHP).  The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is charged with distributing these funds to qualified applicants.  A barrier to such benefits exists when a person believes himself/herself to be the owner of the home and lot in which they are situated and currently reside; however, due to improper conveyances, inaccurate mortgage recordings, and a whole slew of other title problems the possessor is often found not to be the true owner of the property, which means the applicant is ineligible for assistance.  After reviewing some of these files, adverse possession has taken on a whole new meaning with significantly drastic real life implications!  The MCJ has diligently worked with low-income individuals in order for them to gain clear title to the properties many of the elderly clients have called home for decades, but unbeknownst to them without recognition under the law.    

A person’s home truly is his or her castle and helping these people finally recapture the sanctity and security of their homes that were ravaged by tragedy is a humbling and unforgettable memory in my legal journey.

*Although, sadly, as in this case, some clients will not live to see the finished product — the task before the MCJ is all the more pressing.

- Jennifer Malm, 3L

“Authentic power is service”

Sometimes when we experience something fortunate, or lucky, we say, “Well, it just fell into my lap!” Or maybe that’s just a West Virginia thing? Just in case, it basically means that something unexpected, and often good, happens for no reason in particular – or at least no reason that’s obvious at the time.  

Today, something fell into my lap. I mean that quite literally. While waiting to hear a presentation at the Mississippi Development Authority’s office, I picked up a copy of Time magazine and placed it in my lap. I flipped to a random page containing select quotes from various leaders and celebrities, and one from newly elected Pope Francis immediately stood out to me:

“Authentic power is service.”

Now, I’m the type of person (perhaps to my detriment) that searches for the meaning of things. While this trip to Biloxi and the Mississippi Center for Justice has been a remarkable experience, I hadn’t yet discovered its “meaning.” For some reason, though, Francis’ words stuck with me for the rest of the day.   

As soon as I got back to our hotel, I googled Francis’ quote. For those of you that don’t know, Pope Francis was recently elected after Pope Benedict stepped down – the first Pope to do so in 600 years. Pope Francis’ reputation for humility and a devotion to the poor and underserved was evidenced in his installation address on March 19^th of this year. It was from that address that the aforementioned quote came.

I read the address and, just like the quote in Time, it moved me. In essence, he said that we are all “protectors” – of each other, the environment, and “the poorest, the weakest, the least important.” He believes that we execute this “power” through faithful service to others stating, “Only those who serve with love are able to protect!”

For me, Francis’ quote (and entire address – read it!) sums up the meaning of being here in Biloxi and serving those affected by Hurricane Katrina. During the course of this past week, I’ve had the privilege of assisting MCJ clients in their efforts to have their homes restored to pre-Katrina condition. Though the storm struck Biloxi nearly 8 years ago, these clients – “the poorest, the weakest” – are just now in a position (through the efforts of the MCJ and the MDA) to receive the repairs for which they’ve so patiently waited.

Both the work we’ve done this week and Pope Francis’ message have been conspicuous reminders that “serving the underserved” isn’t just a mission pillar at our school, or some graduation requirement; rather, it’s our opportunity to empower others by serving them. I think that in the midst of trying to attain this grade or that internship or some award, we might (every now and then) forget that our “authentic power” comes from helping those less fortunate attain their goals and dreams.

That’s what this trip meant to me. And it just fell into my lap.

- Lindsey (Hurricane, WV), 3L

Hurricane Katrina

The Louisiana State Museum has an exhibit dedicated to Hurricane Katrina and its stories. The story behind this boat started when the flood waters washed this boat away and it was found by a group of survivors floating along the newly created canals of New Orleans. This boat was then used to evacuate people to safe zones. It is now affixed outside of the museum entrance for all visitors to see.