George Hanna receives the Julius L. Chambers Diversity Champion Award.

Pro Bono & Community Service

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

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:

The Afro-American Cultural Center
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
Arts & Science Council
Boy Scouts of America
Charlotte Emergency Housing
Charlotte Rescue Mission
Citizen Schools
City of Medicine Program
Community Building Initiative
Durham Arts Council
Girl Scouts of America
Hope Haven
Humane Society of Charlotte
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Multiple Sclerosis Society
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Special Olympics of North Carolina
Susan G. Komen Foundation
Teach for America
United Family Services
United Way
YMCA of Greater Charlotte Community Development
Youth Homes, Inc.
YWCA-Women in Transition Program

Please click here to view MVA's Public Service Annual Report

Public Service Committee

Moore & Van Allen’s Public Service Committee is committed to "doing" rather than "talking" and to that end, the 19-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:

Volunteer at Eastway Middle School for the Citizen Schools Mock Trial Apprenticeship Program.
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.
Pledge portions of our paychecks to help low-income families have their basic needs covered, including housing and health care.
Pledge portions of our paychecks to help enrich Charlotte's culture, making it a better place to live, work and raise families.

Of Note

Participated in the Citizen Schools Mock Trial Apprenticeship Program and two of our attorneys were awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2010.
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.
Recorded 3,669, hours of pro bono work in 2009.
Participants in the Walk to Cure Diabetes for 20 years and counting.
Hosted the launch of the North Carolina Office for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, 2007.
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.
During the holiday season, the firm donates toys and supplies to Thompson Child and Family Focus, a non-profit organization which runs three campuses that each provide children (birth to 18 years) comprehensive education, treatment and care.
Hosted the launch of the North Carolina Office for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, 2007.

Accolades

Charlotte attorneys John Gilson, Stacey Vandiford and Connor Childress received the Charlotte Business Journal's 2010 Corporate Volunteerism Award in the "Improving our Schools" category.
The Sally and Bill Van Allen Public Service Award - Brian Heslin, 2010
Charlotte attorney, George Hanna, receives the NCBA's 2010 Dr. I. Beverly Lake Public Service Award
Citizen School's President's Volunteer Service Award - John Gilson and Stacey Vandiford, 2010
Mecklenburg County Bar Pro Bono Attorney of the year - Mark Nebrig, 2010
The Jane V. Harper Pro Bono Attorney of the Year - Kimberly Zirkle, 2009
Julius L. Chambers Diversity Champion Award - George Hanna, 2009
Sustainable Award from Clean Air Works!, 2009
The North Carolina Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers Program Award - Sarah Buffett and Kimberly Zirkle, 2008
Large Firm Balanced Life Workplace Award by the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, 2007.
Mint Museum Spirit Award for our commitment to the arts, 2007.
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.

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. MVA member Tony Lathrop served as president of the Mecklenburg County Bar from late 2006 to 2008.

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.

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 while the summer associate acts as the lead on the case. These projects give the associate the opportunity to carry a case from start to finish.