Volunteer Opportunity: NCBA Pro Se Custody and Family Law Advice Clinic

By the Paralegal Division Pro Bono Committee 

The Paralegal Division has partnered with the Family Law Section to hold a Pro Se Custody and Family Law Advice Clinic for residents of Wake County. This clinic is a pilot program, and while it is currently limited to the Wake County area, the hope is that it can eventually be expanded to other counties around the state several times per year. In order for an individual to be assisted in the clinic, the individual must be a resident of Wake County or the biological parent of a child/children who live in Wake County.

Upon receipt of a client registration form, paralegal volunteers will reach out to the potential client prior to the clinic. This intake session will allow the paralegals to gather information about the client’s needs. The clinic has been tailored to provide advice on the following needs, although each individual’s circumstances will determine whether they are provided with documents ready to file or advice only:

  • Filing a non-emergency custody complaint;
  • Filing an emergency custody complaint;
  • Filing an answer to a custody complaint served on the client;
  • Filing for divorce; or
  • Filing an answer to a divorce complaint served on the client.

On the day of the clinic, paralegal volunteers will be paired with attorney volunteers to assist eligible clients to complete forms specific to their legal need or to provide advice only regarding their legal situation. Individuals who have already filed for custody or who have been served with a custody complaint may attend the clinic to speak with an attorney at no cost about the details of their case. Individuals may also speak with an attorney about divorce, alimony, or equitable distribution. Again, there is no guarantee that any documents will be completed by the clinic volunteers under any of these circumstances. The extent of the scope will be determined by the volunteer attorney who speaks directly with the client at the clinic.

The Paralegal Division and Family Law Section have worked tirelessly to bring this clinic to fruition. If you would like to join as a clinic volunteer or a Spanish-speaking volunteer translator, please click this link to register.

Please share this link with any Wake County residents who may benefit from the clinic. Please also distribute the flyer found at this link to your networks. If you would like to join in on other efforts that the Pro Bono Committee of the Paralegal Division is a part of (or any other Committees of the Division), please consider signing up at this link.

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The Paralegal Division Blog is managed by the Division’s Communications Committee. Via the blog, the Communications Committee provides information written by attorneys, paralegals, and other experts designed specifically for paralegals in the areas of substantive law, ethics, technology, paralegal practice advice, and more. If you are interested in signing up to submit a blog post on a future date, you can do so here. When you are ready to submit a blog post, you can do so by using this form.

You may also wish to participate in the Division by using our virtual suggestion box to submit suggestions/ideas to the Division Council, nominating a paralegal for Paralegal Spotlight, or completing the Paralegal Spotlight Questionnaire if you are nominating yourself. If you are interested in volunteering with the Communications Committee, please contact the Communications Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you are interested in joining other division committees, you can review a list of committees and sign up here.