Pro Bono

Womble Carlyle has a long history of providing community service dating back to its beginnings in the late 1800s. Consistent with the Firm’s long term commitment to community service, we have an active Pro Bono program in each of our offices. The Firm encourages its attorneys to fulfill their Pro Bono commitment by providing legal services to persons of limited means or to organizations whose purpose is to assist persons of limited means. In addition to Pro Bono work, many of our lawyers continue to be involved in a multitude of community service projects.

At the core of our Pro Bono program is the belief that law firms such as ours should be at the forefront of increasing access to legal services for the underprivileged. Not only does Pro Bono work provide a valuable public service, but it contributes to the personal and professional development of our attorneys. We are working to enhance the Firm’s Pro Bono commitment and to create an atmosphere in which many of our lawyers will meet or exceed the Pro Bono goals set by the ABA and our local bar associations. The Firm has established a Pro Bono Committee to monitor the Firm’s progress in reaching its Pro Bono goals and to ensure proper supervision and administration of the Pro Bono program.

Womble Carlyle Lawyers - Pro Bono Success

Tum "Rose" Hlei-Sung Gains Political Asylum in U.S.

Tum “Rose” Hlei-Sung survived torment in her native country of Burma that few people could imagine, much less endure. Now, thanks to the pro bono effort of a team of Womble Carlyle attorneys, Rose can build a new life for herself in South Carolina. Read about the firm's pro bono efforts to assist her...

Operation Access

Owning and running your own business has been described as the American Dream. But making that dream a reality isn't easy, even if you have a great idea and willingness to work hard. Legal requirements, from negotiating a lease to obtaining proper business permits, can be challenging for business owners or entrepreneurs. The firm's Operation Access program was developed to provide legal experience from experienced attorneys to members of our community who are or aspire to be business owners. Best of all, this advice is absolutely free of charge to prospective business owners who qualify for this program. Operation Access is designed to help business owners address legal and related business challenges that arise during the life cycles of their entrepreneurial ventures and professional pursuits. Operation Access provides business owners with "access" to legal advice and other resources that can help them resolve problems and overcome challenges. Working in conjunction with law school students who intern at the firm, we offer a broad and deep Operation Access team.

Operation Access provides law school students with an unparalleled experience to collaborate with Womble Carlyle attorneys on a pro bono basis. The firm welcomes the opportunity to include law students on our Operation Access pro bono team.

Operation Access Brochure (pdf)

Operation Access Intake Form (pdf)

Interested entrepreneurs and law students, please contact us at: operationaccess@wcsr.com.

Disabled Veterans Receive Legal Assistance at Pro Bono Clinic

Womble Carlyle has hosted and conducted several extensive training session for attorneys interested in assisting veterans with the filing of disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA"). 

The clinics are part of a pro bono effort to assist disabled veterans called "When Duty Calls." Womble Carlyle attorneys Tripp Greason, and dozens of Womble Carlyle attorneys have organized clinics in Atlanta, Raleigh, Tysons Corner, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Winston-Salem.

John Bowers and Charles Holton Form Pro Bono Partnership with
GlaxoSmithKline to Help Legal Aid of North Carolina

Charles Holton, together with GlaxoSmithKline and Legal Aid of North Carolina's Durham Office, have developed a pro bono program in which WCSR attorneys will team with GlaxoSmithKline attorneys to handle Fair Housing matters for indigent Legal Aid clients. Several teams of WCSR and GSK attorneys have already taken on pending matters, and will continue to partner together as additional cases are referred by Legal Aid.

Jonathon Fligg Recognized for Commitment to Pro Bono Work

Jonathon Fligg, an attorney with the firms Products Liability Practice Area, was recognized by the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) for his outstanding pro bono work over the past several years. Fligg received the organizations Saturday Lawyer Five Year Award for his continued dedication in representing low income clients with civil legal problems.

Landmark Court Ruling Favors Lenape Indians

In a precedent-setting, watershed decision, the Superior Court of New Jersey ruled in favor of both the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians of New Jersey and the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in their long-standing battle to protect a N.J. Register of Historic Places designation for a 10,000-year-old Native American archaeological site. The ruling is a landmark in N.J. state law because it is the first challenge to a N.J. Historic Register listing. Womble Carlyle lawyer Deborah Israel provided pro bono representation to the Lenape tribe throughout the trial's four-year duration -- devoting several thousands hours to the case.

Jim Cooney Exonerates Wrongly Convicted Death Row Inmate

Because of Jim Cooney, Alan Gell became the 113th death row inmate in the United States to be exonerated under the modern death penalty system, and the fifth North Carolina death row inmate to be released since 1990. While simultaneously running his private business litigation practice at Womble Carlyle, Cooney logged more than 1,000 pro bono hours and spent nearly three years working to free a man who he believed was wrongly convicted of a crime he simply could not have committed.