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Charlotte School of Law Funds Additional Office Space for Legal Services of Southern Piedmont

Donation Supports Pro Bono Services by CharlotteLaw Students

04/26/2010

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (LSSP), a local nonprofit that provides legal assistance to eligible low-income residents in the Charlotte metropolitan area and west-central North Carolina, has gained additional office space thanks to a donation from Charlotte School of Law.

Students from the law school regularly volunteer with LSSP, and the new space is supporting these continuing efforts.  A private reception for LSSP staff and volunteers is scheduled for April 28 in recognition of the close working relationship between CharlotteLaw and LSSP.

"With only 20 full-time employees, LSSP serves approximately 3,000 people each year, and the need is increasing,” said Kenneth Schorr, executive director of LSSP.  "The support we receive from interns, externs and volunteers from Charlotte School of Law is invaluable to our clients, and the additional space funded from the school's donation assures that we have quality workspace for our volunteers and their clients.”

Charlotte School of Law students work with all six of LSSP's programs through the school's pro bono, externship and clinical lab offerings including Family Support and Health Care, Immigrant Justice, Consumer Protection, Legal Services for the Elderly, Employment Law and the Western North Carolina Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

The school's donation has paid to lease approximately 1,700 square feet at 1429 Elizabeth Ave., which is next door to existing LSSP offices.  CharlotteLaw also provided additional funds to up-fit the space, which will provide room for client interviews, board and community meetings, as well as multiple workspaces for law students and other volunteers.

"Volunteer services that our students provide through LSSP are essential in their educations, providing hands-on experience in working with clients with real-life problems,” said Dennis Stone, interim dean of Charlotte School of Law.  "Best of all, our work with LSSP provides a tremendously important community benefit by furthering the LSSP mission of providing quality legal services for those most in need.”

LSSP aids low-income individuals and families through individual advice and representation, community education and outreach, representation of groups and self-help remedies.  LSSP staff utilize pro bono support from area legal professionals and law students to help meet the needs of clients. Since 2005, more than 90 CharlotteLaw students have contributed time to LSSP through externships, internships, clinical labs and pro bono programs.   LSSP is supported by a total of more than 200 volunteers annually, including practicing attorneys.

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About Charlotte School of Law

Charlotte School of Law (CharlotteLaw), Charlotte, N.C.'s only law school, has a student-centered orientation designed to advance student success in law school, on the bar exam and in their career. The school aims to establish itself as a regional center of excellence with a rigorous, practice-readying curriculum. Charlotte School of Law received provisional American Bar Association approval in June 2008.

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