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2009 News Articles › Bankruptcy Section Leads Service Day Encore
Bankruptcy Section Leads Service Day Encore
Article Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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| Bankruptcy Section members and LANC attorneys field calls at WRAL. |
The recent success of the March 6 Statewide Service Day inspired one of the North
Carolina Bar Association’s call center partners to ask for an encore.
Based on the success of that
effort, which culminated last week with an outstanding seven-hour call-in
program at WRAL-TV 5 in Raleigh spearheaded by the NCBA’s Bankruptcy Section,
it’s only a matter of time before the next public service endeavor will be
scheduled.
The only questions are when and
where.
With NCBA membership numbering approximately 15,000 across the state, and
relationships already established through the 4ALL Initiative with other TV
stations, it’s certainly within the realm of possibility to hope that additional
events will be calendared elsewhere in the state.
The potential for establishing
additional relationships with other TV stations is also inviting, given the
success of existing partnerships and the stations’ ability to get the word out
to their appreciative, responsive viewers.
Meanwhile, don’t be surprised if
WRAL schedules another call-in program in the near future. The success of these
events is built upon teamwork, such as the effort provided on Tuesday, May 12,
by Bankruptcy Section members and volunteers from Legal Aid of North
Carolina.
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| Wilmington attorney Robert Anderson made extra effort to volunteer. |
I have been proud and honored to be a North Carolina lawyer every day of my
career,” stated Lee Hogewood, incoming chair of the Bankruptcy Section who led
the effort to recruit volunteers. “Tuesday, my understanding of how much I gain
personally and professionally from my interactions with the members of our bar
association and this section was palpable.”
The May 12 program focused on
consumer-related topics including bankruptcy, debt collections, foreclosures and
other matters arising out of the ongoing economic downturn. Volunteers came from
as far away as Wilmington to provide free legal information to callers, who kept
10 phones busy throughout every minute of the program, which ran from noon to 7
p.m.
“The calls came fast and furious
with the phone ringing immediately after each call was completed,” Hogewood
added. “It was both draining and a real pleasure to be sitting among my
colleagues from various corners of the bankruptcy bar, working together in a
common effort, and serving the public in a public manner.
“Tuesday’s effort was, of course,
a reflection of the ongoing service that lawyers provide to the people of our
state – sometimes publicly, but mostly in private – in ways that are unknown to
any one other than the clients they serve.”
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| Krista Leonard found time to serve the public and support her Hurricanes. |
A total of 33 volunteer attorneys
fielded 644 calls.
“Tuesday’s effort, while a public
one, is evidence of the professionalism that each of the volunteers display in
their daily work. The financial crisis faced by our country and indeed the world
creates the potential for greater public scrutiny of the work we do and the
competence and integrity with which we do it as bankruptcy lawyers.
“Based on the excellent public
service provided by my colleagues on Tuesday, I am confident that our Bankruptcy
Section will not only survive the crisis, but thrive in the sunlight generated
by it.”
Members of the N.C. Bar Center
staff joined with host WRAL to facilitate the event. Michelle Cofield, director
of public service and pro bono activities, and Julie Fink, assistant director of
sections and divisions who serves as staff liaison to the Bankruptcy Section,
worked closely with 5 On Your Side anchor/reporter Monica Laliberte and producer
Lori Lair. NCBA staff members Jessica Griffin and Stephanie McGee also provided
vital support in advance of and throughout the call-in program.