Current Postings
The Pro Bono Program is up and running in the Fall Semester!
If you are interested in signing up for a project listed below, please contact Lauren Felter at UNCProBonoProjects@gmail.com.
Immigrants' Rights Violations
ACLU of North Carolina - Raleigh, NC
The ACLU of North Carolina seeks 1-2 Spanish-speaking law student(s) to assist in investigation related to immigrants' rights violations and racial profiling, as well as some intake of potential clients. Students would have the opportunity to interact with clients.
Contact: Rebecca Headen
Time Commitment: 20 hours during the fall semester
Location of Work: Visit Raleigh office a few times during the semester; hours are flexible, within 9 am - 7 pm weekdays.
Area of Law: Civil Rights
Skills emphasized: Investigation, Document Review, Interviewing, Client-Intake, Research
Requirements: Must be fluent in Spanish. Must have completed Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and RRWA.
Legal Researcher - First Amendment
N.C. Department of the Secretary of State - Raleigh, NC
The NC Lobbying Act provides transparency in government. Disclosure promotes the public interest by enabling the public and governmental decision makers to more thoroughly know: (1) who the paid lobbyists are; (2) who employs them to lobby; and, (3) what amount is being expended to influence the legislative and executive branches of State government. As the Department enforces the Act, more serious 1st Amendment issues arise.
This project would involve a student:
- Researching, analyzing and updating the Division's resources on both North Carolina and federal 1st Amendment cases, with an emphasis on new media forms such as blogs.
- Researching, analyzing and updating the Division's resources on cases under Sections 12 and 14 of Article I of the NC Constitution, with an emphasis on new media forms such as blogs.
- Researching 1st amendment cases involving federal as well as other states' lobbying laws.
- Updating the Division's resource lists with regard to law journals and other significant commentary on topics related to 1st amendment rights and lobbying, as well as online resources.
Contacts: Joal Broun, Ann Wall
Where: Initial on-site meeting required. After that, on-site as needed/desired; weekly update of supervisor re: progress
Time Commitment: 20-40 hours total
Requirements: 2Ls or 3Ls; Constitutional Law required. Administrative Law and 1st Amendment Law courses would be helpful, but are not required.
Skills to be developed: Research and analysis
Research Assistant - Admin Law
N.C. Department of the Secretary of State - Raleigh, NC
1-2 volunteer 2L or 3L law student interns/externs to for both fall & spring semesters to:
- Coordinate mailing to organizations with current educational exemption. May include data entry, verification organization still exists, mail merge of data, & production of mailing with CSL staff assistance.
- Respond to inquiries from mailing recipients, with assistance from CSL Attorney.
- Review responses received to determine next action.
- Under CSL Attorney guidance, produce correspondence communicating final decision re exemption status and/or need for licensure.
- Maintain complete & accurate records of activities related to the Ed. Exemption Project.
Contacts: Heather Black, Ann Wall
Where: Initial on-site meeting required. After that, on-site as needed/desired; weekly update of supervisor re: progress
Time Commitment: 100-120 hours total, minimum 8 hours/week in the office (prefer in at least 1/2 day segments; 1-2 days per week). No specific due date for completion of project.
Requirements: 2Ls or 3Ls; Administrative Law and Nonprofit Organizations Law classes would be helpful but are not required.
Skills needed: strong oral and written communication, analytical and organizational skills; Excel database experience; ability to work independently and manage project within timelines. Experience in Excel/ Word mail merge preferred, but not required.
Legal Researcher - Securities
N.C. Department of the Secretary of State - Raleigh, NC
The Securities Division seeks to create and/or revise form pleadings under Chapters 78A, 78C and 78D of the General Statutes. Pleadings will be used to seek equitable relief including disgorgement of unlawfully collected sales commissions and fees from unlicensed persons. Project will also involve research and development of memoranda of law regarding disgorgement and equitable actions. As cases are later filed by the Division, memoranda developed by the volunteer attorney will be revised to include case specific information.
Contact: Heather Black
Where: Research may be done on site or remotely; however, attorney will need to at least initially spend time in the office. If off site, regular updates will be required with at least weekly in-person or telephonic conferences.
Time Commitment: This project is anticipated to last 4-6 weeks.
Requirements: Strong preference for student with Securities related work or courses. Administrative Law work or courses would be helpful. Remedies course would be helpful for this project.
Skills to be developed: Draft and revision of pleadings; Research and Memo development
Legal Research & CLE Preparation - Notaries
N.C. Department of the Secretary of State - Raleigh, NC
Licensed NC Attorneys may become commissioned notaries public without either taking the NC Notary Public course or obtaining the Notary Handbook. Attorneys who do not themselves become notaries public often supervise those who are notaries. The Department has found that there are many misconceptions about notaries and notarizations among attorneys who have not taken the course or reviewed the handbook. The student working on this project will:
- interview Notary Division staff, review files and case law to determine common attorney errors and misconceptions regarding notaries and notarizations;
- through agreed upon means, interview or survey practitioners who either are themselves notaries, supervise notaries or have encountered notarization issues in their practices;
- prepare attorney FAQs for the Department's website;
- write one or more short articles for legal publications such as NCBA Section newsletters, e.g., Top 10 Attorney Notarization Mistakes; and
- develop a CLE course outline for attorneys regarding notaries and notarizations, a recommendation as to the number of hours of CLE, and written course materials.
Contacts: Haley Haynes, Ann Wall
Where: Work will be a mix of on site and off site. Initially, there will be more on site work.
Time Commitment: Project can be broken into phases and is expected to last approximately 6-8 weeks.
Requirements: 2Ls or 3Ls; Constitutional Law required. Administrative Law and 1st Amendment Law courses would be helpful, but are not required.
Skills to be developed: Research and analysis; interviewing; develop CLE course materials
Civil Rights and Property
UNC Center for Civil Rights - Carrboro, NC
Interview two potential clients regarding heirs' property matter; collect information and follow-up with title research, identification of other owners, and emerging legal issues. Prepare memo to be submitted to the Heirs Property Resource Coalition.
Date: ongoing
Time Commitment: 15-20 hours
Requirements: 2L or 3L
Intern for Small District Court Practice
Patrick E. Morgan, Esq. - Carrboro, NC
I handle criminal and traffic cases in Orange, Chatham, Durham and Alamance counties, including court-appointed cases in Orange and Chatham. My office is located at 209 Lloyd St., Suite 120 in Carrboro. I am looking for an intern (or two) to help me with research and case preparation. Research would involve finding and briefing cases relevant to the criminal charges my clients face (DUI, drug possession, weapons, assault, larceny, and others), as well as statutory interpretation. Case preparation would involve formulating arguments for negotiation and trial, as well as preparing materials. The intern could accompany me to court, but would not be able to go before the judge. There would also be opportunities to learn about the business side of running a small district court practice.
- Spanish fluency is preferred as the majority of our clients are native Spanish speakers.
- This internship is unpaid, but it is a great opportunity to gain real world experience.
- 2Ls and 3Ls preferred.
Interested candidates should send a resume to patrick@pemorganlaw.com and should include in the e-mail an informal explanation of why they want to do this internship and what they hope to get out of it. Position will be open until filled.