On Saturday, May 4, Legal Aid of North Carolina and Ward and Smith attorneys joined forces to host a pro bono wills clinic at the MLK Center in Wilmington, NC.
This partnership aimed to provide vital pro bono legal services to local residents needing assistance with estate planning.
The event brought together Ward and Smith attorneys from various practice areas, including litigation attorneys Isabelle Chammas and Taylor Rodney Marks, real estate attorney Dana Lingenfelser, labor and employment attorney Avery Locklear, trusts and estates attorney Zach Marks, and business attorney Emily Martchek, alongside Legal Aid volunteers. The attorneys conducted client interviews, ensuring that each individual received personalized assistance, and drafted wills for each client. The clients were able to have their wills prepared and executed while at the clinic, giving them peace of mind as to their end-of-life planning.
"Being able to offer our pro bono services to those in need within our community is truly rewarding," said Zach Marks, Ward and Smith trusts and estates attorney, who organized the event in collaboration with Legal Aid.
Mary Cavanagh, Ward and Smith's Pro Bono Committee Chair, highlighted the importance of events like the Wilmington wills clinic. She expressed, "By participating in such initiatives, the firm's younger attorneys can gain hands-on experience, expand their knowledge base, and understand the critical role that pro bono services play in ensuring access to justice for all individuals, regardless of their financial circumstances. We were pleased and excited to partner with Legal Aid on this type of event."
