16th Annual NCBF 4ALL Statewide Service Day March 3
The 16th installment of the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 4ALL Statewide Service Day will take place on Friday, March 3. Throughout the day, operating in two-hour shifts from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., NCBA members will join together to answer legal questions from North Carolina citizens for free.
The event, which began in 2008 as the signature project of NCBA President Janet Ward Black, has flourished throughout its existence. Even through the pandemic, when 4ALL was an exclusively virtual event over the past two years, the calls came through and thousands of individuals received valuable information.
Jeremy Wilson, who is serving as co-chair of the 4ALL Statewide Service Day Committee this year alongside Stephanie Crosby, was a first-year law student at UNC School of Law when 4ALL started. Shortly thereafter, however, he began volunteering, and in 2017 joined with fellow members of the NCBA Leadership Academy to answer calls in conjunction with their leadership training.
Jeremy Wilson, far left, volunteered at the Wilmington call center in 2018.
“I have been doing 4ALL for quite a while,” Wilson said. “I began volunteering shortly after law school. We also volunteered with the Leadership Academy at WRAL in Raleigh, where we had the fun experience of being on television together. 4ALL is a program that I have so much respect for, and have really enjoyed over the years. The North Carolina Bar Foundation team does an amazing job, which makes it easy for our committee. It’s also an honor to co-chair the committee with Stephanie, who is amazing and has done such important work with 4ALL for years.
“I am really excited to be able to help organize 4ALL this year and keep it rolling, as we provide such an important service to thousands of people across North Carolina.”
Wilson proclaims that 4ALL is his favorite volunteer effort.
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“We have such a gap in access to justice, and the ability of people across North Carolina to access the legal system,” Wilson said. “One day certainly doesn’t fix it. But, 4ALL is a small thing we can do that makes a real difference. For no cost, anyone can call a lawyer to get questions answered, receive information about legal resources, and get pointed in the right direction.
“So many folks just don’t know what to do when they have a legal issue, and they aren’t able to access legal resources. Lawyers are expensive. And there are real limitations on the services available through Legal Aid and other places where they might be able to get help. 4ALL is such an important service we can provide to the community to help close this gap just a bit. And, it’s a lot of fun to talk with people, discuss their different legal questions, and to try to help as much as we can.
“I’ve really enjoyed volunteering with 4ALL from the first time I did it. I look forward to it every year, and I know this year is going to be an amazing experience.”
Jeremy Wilson participated in virtual-only 4ALL in 2021.
And the biggest reason this year’s 4ALL Statewide Service Day will be no different than the 15 that proceeded it comes down to one word: volunteers.
“We can’t do it without the volunteers,” Wilson said. “We are all so busy, and we know it’s a commitment to give up even just a few hours on a Friday. But, it’s an incredibly important event, and we do so much good in just one day. Everyone I’ve talked to who has volunteered says they get so much out of it.
“We make real differences in people’s lives. It’s incredibly rewarding. The volunteer lawyers and paralegals are what make it happen. 4ALL works because of the many lawyers and other volunteers who are willing to step up across North Carolina and spend a few hours making a difference.”
The 2023 4ALL Statewide Service Day will again rely heavily on technology and the virtual participation it has afforded volunteers over the past two years, but limited in-person participation will be available at the following call centers:
- Asheville – Blue Ridge Public Radio
- Charlotte – Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
- Fayetteville – Hutchins Law Firm
- Greensboro – Volunteer Center of Greensboro
- Greenville – WNCT-TV
- Raleigh – WRAL-TV
- Wilmington – WECT-TV
Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.