Campbell Law launches student-led Pro Bono Project to aid Wake County Legal Support Center

RALEIGH - Campbell Law School has a new, student-led ProBonoProject that will assist the Wake County Legal Support Center, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced.

The new project, which will be operated under the law school's ProBono Council, involves students working in and under the auspices of the Wake County Legal Support Center to assist with preparation of legal documents and identification of legal issues, explained ProBonoCommittee Chair Richard Waugaman '12, who is the director of the law school's Gailor Family Law Litigation Clinic.

"The new project also enables students to develop soft skills related to client counseling and human interaction," Waugaman explained.

The Legal Support Center opened in the Wake County Courthouse in January 2023 and has had more than 10,000 visitors since opening, according to organizers. The Center provides a space and opportunity for individuals to file legal paperwork and obtain basic legal information. The Center does not provide legal advice or representation but allows individuals to overcome procedural and technical hurdles so they can pursue their cases substantively.

Campbell Law students from several of the law school's probonoclinics have volunteered in the Center since its opening and have provided assistance for these services, Waugaman said.

"The proposal to create this ProBonoProject would formalize this arrangement and allow student volunteers to receive probonocredit for volunteer hours performed that are not part of an academic program," he added.

The new project will be supervised by Clinical Professor Laura Clark of the law school's Blanchard Community Law Clinic and Center Director AnhLy Jordan.

To learn more about the Center and its offerings, visit this link.

Assistant Dean of Student Life, Pro Bono Opportunities & Belonging Regina Chavis says the mission of the student-led Pro Bono Council is to educate students on the nature and importance of serving the underserved through:

• Creating a life-long commitment to pro bono work and volunteerism among Campbell Law students;
• Embracing volunteerism and community service partnerships in the Raleigh area;
• Developing alliances and volunteering with organizations providing legal needs to those in need; and
• Assisting lawyers who provide high quality, low-cost legal services to individuals in need.

Learn more about the law school's Pro Bono opportunities at this link.