UNC School of Law Pro Bono Program Earns National ABA Recognition

The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has named UNC School of Law’s Pro Bono program a 2024 Pro Bono Leader for answering 133 questions through the ABA’s Free Legal Answers platform. Carolina Law is the only law school nationwide to receive this recognition — notably, no law schools earned this distinction in 2023. The recognition specifically highlights organizations that collectively answered 75 or more questions in 2024, with UNC School of Law significantly exceeding this threshold.

Pro Bono director Meghan Moran ’19 personally answered over 100 questions from North Carolinians seeking legal guidance through the platform, which connects attorneys with low-income individuals who have specific legal questions.

“These questions become valuable teaching opportunities,” said Moran, who transforms each inquiry into hands-on learning experiences for Carolina Law students.

The program’s innovative “Empower Hour” sessions allow students to work one-on-one with Moran, researching legal issues and drafting responses to community members’ questions. First-year students jump into pro bono service during 1L orientation, working in attorney-supervised pairs to address real legal questions.

During National Pro Bono Week last semester, the program expanded this model by organizing ten students into attorney-supervised teams to tackle questions from North Carolinians seeking guidance.

This recognition celebrates both the program’s direct community impact and its commitment to training future Carolina Law attorneys in pro bono service.

For more information about Carolina Law’s Pro Bono program and opportunities to get involved, please visit Carolina Law’s pro bono program page.