UNC School of Law, Duke University School of Law, and North Carolina Central University School of Law were recognized with the 2024 North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) Law School Pro Bono Award for their collaborative project, “Better Together.” The initiative, carried out in partnership with Legal Aid of North Carolina, aimed to provide expunction services to residents of Durham.
Meghan Moran ’19, Carolina Law’s director of pro bono initiatives, provided insight into the project’s structure and goals. “It is a pro bono project that’s a collaboration between Carolina Law, North Carolina Central Law (NCCU), and Duke Law,” she explained. “Students from all three law schools are involved in the project, essentially working on expunctions for Durham residents.”
The geographic proximity of the three law schools facilitated a productive collaboration, allowing the project to have a broader impact on the community. Moran shared her thoughts on the project’s success, saying, “I think everyone enjoyed the chance to work with law students from other law schools on a pro bono project. There was a sense that everyone was working together to make a difference. That was the goal of it – we are better together. So, we make more of an impact when all three of these law schools work together on pro bono projects– we expand the reach of the project by working together.”
Participating students not only provided crucial legal services to Durham residents but also had the opportunity to work alongside their peers from other law schools. This collaborative experience fostered a sense of unity and shared purpose among the students, as they worked towards a common goal of assisting those in need.
The success of the “Better Together” project has inspired plans for future collaborations between the three law schools. Moran expressed enthusiasm for these partnerships, saying, “There’s such a great need for a lot of different services. I see there can be collaborations beyond expunction work. In the future, there will be many great opportunities to collaborate on multiple projects with the other two law schools.”
The project’s recognition by the NCBA highlights the significance of collaborative efforts in addressing the legal needs of underserved communities. By pooling resources and expertise, the three law schools demonstrated the power of working together to create a more significant impact.
This collaborative approach garnered praise from legal professionals in the state. Ashley Campbell ’03, executive director of Legal Aid of North Carolina, shared her thoughts on the project:
“Legal Aid of North Carolina is always proud to work with the law schools in our state to provide legal services to members of our community. Working with law school pro bono programs allows our legal aid attorneys to expand our reach. I am proud of the outstanding commitment to pro bono from my alma mater.”
Drawing from her experience in both academia and legal aid, Campbell added, “Before I came back to Legal Aid as CEO, I was a law professor myself and know the extraordinary impact of pro bono on both the clients served and the law school students who participate.”
The award ceremony on June 21 at the NCBA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, celebrated the “Better Together” project’s achievements and honored the dedication of the students and organizations involved. Representatives from Carolina Law, Duke Law, NCCU Law, and Legal Aid of North Carolina attended, underlining the strong partnerships formed through this collaborative endeavor.
As the three law schools continue to explore new opportunities for collaboration, the “Better Together” project serves as a model for future initiatives aimed at addressing the diverse legal needs of North Carolina residents. By working together, these institutions are paving the way for a more interconnected and effective legal community, one that is better equipped to serve the public.
