While most of their classmates took spring break off, eight UNC School of Law students spent their break in Greensboro helping families in crisis.  

 Working with the Women’s Resource Center of Greensboro, the students provided free legal assistance to women in need over two days, serving 14 clients and drafting more than 50 documents. Cases covered four areas: initial child custody, non-parent custody, custody modification and simple divorce. Meghan Moran ’19, director of pro bono initiatives, and Cole Voorhies, director of public interest and government advising, supervised the clinic. 

Students arrived prepared, having completed training in family law and client-centered, trauma-informed interviewing. Second-year student Erin Namovicz said the work crystallized something important. “Seeing a mother walk in with jumbled folders of old papers and photographs and walk out with concise legal documents and a plan of action reminded me why I was drawn to public interest law in the first place: to make the protection of the courts accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it.” 

Classmate Tysen Moy said the timing made the experience meaningful. “These are people who can now start getting their lives back on track after some serious disruptions. To be part of that was a great experience.” 

The week included more than clinic work. On the first night, the UNC Law Alumni Association hosted more than 30 area alumni at Joymongers Brewing Co. for a happy hour, giving students a chance to connect with practicing attorneys. The group capped the evening by winning trivia as team “Pro Bono Pros.” The following night, the community showed up again in an unexpected way: a stranger at a local restaurant struck up a conversation with the students, learned what they had spent their week doing, and bought a round of drinks. He was Michael Hunt, a Carolina-trained chemist and double Tar Heel, and he wanted to thank his fellow Tar Heels for the work they were doing in his city. 

Joining Namovicz and Moy on the trip were Gabriella Griffonetti, Rachel Vinarcik, Linzy Mahoney, Amanda Losey, Madeline Reynolds and Reuven Frances. 

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Trips like this are made possible by support from the Carolina Law community. To help fund future pro bono opportunities, donate to the Pro Bono Discretionary Fund.