2012 Status Report on NC LEAF-Not All the News is Grim! 

After 16 years of support for public interest attorneys by the State of NC, LEAF has been defunded. This loss represents $356,250 in loan repayment assistance no longer available to program participants. The dramatic reduction has resulted in a concentrated fundraising effort by Board and staff. The legal community has been quick to respond with a one time donation of $30,000 approved the NC Bar Association Board of Governors. Thanks to the strong support of current president Martin Brinkley, past presidents Gene Pridgen and Buddy Wester and Executive Director Allan Head the funds were made available through the NC Bar Association and the NC Bar Foundation. The check was presented at LEAF's November board meeting and happily accepted by president Luke Largess and student representatives of the law schools. The affirmation of public interest law was a welcome message to these outstanding law students who plan to follow their passion in their professional careers.

The federal John R. Justice funding has been recommended for continuation (Year 2) with the stipulation funds must be distributed equally between prosecutors and public defenders. This year's allocation is $173,211 down from $265,439 in Year 1. All available funding has been committed to 33 Assistant District Attorneys with a waiting list of 7. Assistance will be provided for 30 Asssitant Public Defenders with 16 waiting for additional help with loan repayments.

The Chief Justice's Equal Access to Justice Commission Foundation has taken a leadership role in supporting the work of NC LEAF on many levels. The latest contribution provides $22,500 in direct assistance for loan repayment this year and $22,500 in 2012. It is gratifying for the vital role of public interest attorneys to be recognized so significantly as part of the Commission's mission to insure equal access to justice by legal services providers.

The NC Association of Defense Attorneys has generously contributed to NC LEAF as well.

NC LEAF continues to administer the loan repayment assistance program for Legal Aid of North Carolina and is very proud of this cost effective partnership.

The Board of Directors kicked off the annual Fellows program this month asking law firms to sponsor a public interest attorney in the NC LEAF program for three years. Firms involved have noted how much they appreciate the opportunity to learn about a different aspect of the law from a local prosecutor, public defender or legal services provider. We hope the legal community will continue to understand the effect of mortgage sized law school debt and the burden it places on those seeking to practice in this area and say yes when contacted for support.

We are gratified by the generousity of the bar in their willingness to sponsor NC LEAF "Fellows" for three years at a level commiserate with the size of their firm.

$1,000 Level: Conference of District Attorneys

   $750 Level:  Kuniholm Group; Ward Black Law; Maxwell, Freeman and Bowman; NC Association of Public Defenders