Pro Bono & Community Service

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Our attorneys share a deep devotion to the law, but our passions extend far beyond that.  We bring as much enthusiasm to our outside interests as we do to our work.  Whether it’s reading to third-graders at the firm’s adopted school, coaching a little league team, carving out time for our families or presiding over a professional organization, our attorneys have a sense of fulfillment and balance.

Pro Bono

As a firm, we spend numerous hours handling traditional pro bono cases for indigents, children, elderly and non-profit organizations in conjunction with many organizations including:

• Access to Justice
• ACLU
• The Children’s Law Center
• East Carolina Legal Services
• Judicial Pro Se Project
• Legal Services for Charleston County (South Carolina)
• Legal Services for the Elderly
• Legal Services for Southern Piedmont
• National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children
• Mecklenburg County Bar's Volunteer Lawyers Program
• North Central Legal Assistance Program 

Summer Pro Bono Assignments

Each summer we offer a summer associate pro bono program focusing on domestic violence and landlord-tenant cases.  Summer associates are paired with attorney mentors who provide guidance will the summer associate acs as the lead on the case.  These projects projects give the associate the opportunity to carry a case from start to finish.

Community Involvement

Among our attorneys, you will find sports enthusiasts, politicians, arts advocates and others engaged in the community.  Such civic participation is encouraged because, after all, well-rounded attorneys make the best attorneys.

Our attorneys and staff are generous with charitable and community organizations as well, spending countless volunteer hours, serving on boards and making significant financial contributions to organizations including:

• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Arts & Science Council
• Boy Scouts of America
• City of Medicine Program
• Durham Arts Council
• Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Susan G. Komen Foundation
• United Family Services 

Bar Involvement

Moore & Van Allen attorneys are active in the state and local bar organizations.  Our attorneys serve as officers, board members and chairs of various sections and committees.  In 2006, MVA member Tony Lathrop was elected as president of the Mecklenburg County Bar.

The opening of the new courthouse in early 2007 marked the pinnacle of Mr. Lathrop's presidency.  Using the same problem-solving skills that he employs for client matters, he led a group that pushed for greater attorney access to the "back halls" of the new courthouse.  Also during his year-long term, Mr. Lathrop championed a far-reaching diversity initiative, helped resurrect the Corporate Counsel Section, energized young lawyer networking and advanced the continuing education offerings. 

Public Service Committee

Moore & Van Allen’s Public Service Committee is committed to "doing" rather than "talking" and to that end, the 22-member committee initiates projects that serve low-income individuals, often focusing on children.  These volunteer opportunities cater to the schedules of firm employees by varying from long-term commitments to one-time projects.  Here are a few of our long-standing or most recent successes:

• Adopted Devonshire Elementary School to offer a weekly reading program aimed at improving reading and overall academic performance. 
• Fill the wishes of families in the Thompson Child and Family Focus Network through a firmwide holiday donation drive.
• Partner our summer associates and attorneys with Habitat for Humanity to work on a house 
• Helped create the Council for Children's Rights with the merger of two area non-profit organizations. 

Of Note

• Signed on to a 100-hour commitment to the Judicial Pro Se Project, an initiative of the local Judiciary and Court Administrators and supported by the Mecklenburg County Bar and the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation.  Attorneys are devoting this time to the Self  Serve Center at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse.
• Hosted the launch of the North Carolina Office for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, 2007. 
• Accepted 93 pro bono cases from attorney referrals and our non profit legal partners, 2006. 
• Charlotte attorneys and staff recorded 4,377 public service hours; 2,211 pro bono hours; and 967 Bar service hours last year.
• Participants in the Walk to Cure Diabetes for 19 years and counting.  
• Donated 28 cellular telephones, batteries and chargers to the National  Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children for unaccompanied immigrant children who may need to call 911.
• Donated 30 BlackBerries to the Council for Children's Rights for staff atttorneys' use. 
• Annually manages firmwide fundraising campaigns, ranging from “dress down days” to major walk campaigns, including annual fundraisers for the American Heart Association, Arts & Science Council, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and United Way.
• Contributed a combined total over $330,000 to five organizations through firmwide fundraising campaigns last year.
• During the holiday season, the firm donates to six charities that are chosen by a firm-wide vote.  The 2006 holiday beneficiaries were:  Humane Society of Charlotte, Loaves and Fishes, Charlotte Emergency Housing, Nevins Inc., Uptown Men’s Shelter and YWCA- Women in Transition Program. 

Accolades

• Pro Bono Large Firm of the Year, Mecklenburg County Bar’s Volunteer Lawyers Program, 2007.
• Mecklenburg County Bar Pro Bono Attorney of the Year - Rob Fisher, 2006.
• Clean Air Challenge Award, Medium Business, 2006.
• Clean Air Works! Project Leader Award - Clary Hilliard, 2006.
• Multicultural Community Involvement Award, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, 2005.  
• Outstanding Pro Bono Services Award for Large Law Firms, North Carolina Bar Association.