WardBlackLaw, protecting people's right

The North Carolina Bar Association was selected as the 2009 recipient of the “Harrison Tweed Award” and the 2009 “Excellence in Public Service Award” by the American Bar Association. These awards recognize the “4ALL” program, which was created during Attorney Janet Ward Black’s presidency of the NCBA, to promote free legal services to the poor.  This program was the centerpiece of her presidency in 2007-2008 and remains a central focus of the NCBA. 

One aspect of the 4ALL program is to organize at least one service day each year providing free legal advice to residents of North Carolina.  Call-in centers were set up at various television stations and law firms across the state in the spring of 2008 and 2009. There were toll free numbers anyone could call to speak directly with a lawyer at no charge.  The next 4ALL “Ask a lawyer” day is scheduled for March 5, 2010.

Other focuses of the program include recruiting attorneys to participate in pro bono activities and educating the public, the legislature and the legal community of the tremendous need for lawyers to help those who cannot afford a lawyer to handle their matters.

Another goal is to retain experienced staff attorneys at Legal Aid of North Carolina, the only statewide provider of free legal services for the poor, by eliminating or at least significantly reducing their law school debt. Attorneys often have college and law school loans which can exceed $100,000.  Many staff attorneys cannot remain with LANC simply because they cannot afford to work at a non-profit indefinitely.  A loan repayment assistance program allows these attorneys to remain on staff and in turn provide free legal representation for the poor on critical issues such as housing and domestic violence.  Funds raised by 4ALL and others will help make this possible.  Lawyers so far have raised $875,000 through the efforts of 4ALL to benefit LANC.

Each year since 1956, the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants (SCLAID) and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) select a winner for the Harrison Tweed Award.  It is awarded to a state or local bar association that has made outstanding efforts to improve the availability of legal services to poor persons in their communities.

The presentation of the awards was made at the annual luncheon of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, the National Association of Bar Executives, and the National Conference of Bar Foundations on July 31, 2009 during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.  As the originator of the program, Past-President Janet Ward Black had the honor of accepting the Harrison Tweed Award for the North Carolina Bar Association.  President-Elect Gene Pridgen accepted the Excellence in Public Service Award on behalf of the NCBA Foundation. 

Charles Becton, former president of the NCBA, said, “This is thrilling news for the North Carolina Bar Association and everyone who has been involved with this important endeavor.”  He added, “There are so many people who deserve credit for this award, which is a true testament to Janet Ward Black for her vision and leadership.”

Many people and organizations were involved in a making the 4ALL campaign a success.  Several television stations across the state, including WFMY Channel 2 in Greensboro and WBTV in Charlotte, offered facilities and staff to man the call-centers on the service days.  More than 1400 attorneys, law students and paralegals have volunteered their time for the service days. 

Janet Ward Black had this to say about the awards:  “This truly is the story of the turtle on top of the fence-post.  If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he did not get there by himself.  From the initial groundwork and ongoing strategy that the first 4ALL Task Force put into place … to our being recognized nationally and copied by others, including the Tennessee State Bar this year, this has been a team effort.

“Everyone who has played a part thus far is responsible for the NCBA winning these awards.  That includes the firms and individual lawyers who have contributed to the Legal Aid of North Carolina Fund, for which we have raised close to $900,000, and more than 1,000 members who have committed their time and expertise to answer phones or otherwise serve on our service days.

“These are good works that deserve recognition, and we hope it will be a model for the rest of the country.”