On March 7, ten Ward and Smith attorneys joined hundreds of volunteers to provide free legal assistance for the 18th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day.
The event, organized by the North Carolina Bar Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association, brought together attorneys, paralegals, and law students to answer legal questions from North Carolina residents.
Business attorney Matthew Jones and personal injury attorney Jeremy Wilson, both based in Ward and Smith's Wilmington office, along with business supervisor paralegal Stephanie Crosby from the firm's New Bern office, served on the 4ALL Statewide Service Day Committee this year. Together, they helped coordinate the event and its operations. Statewide, 348 attorney volunteers handled 7,063 calls, providing guidance in their respective practice areas, while 89 paralegal and law student volunteers assisted with call intake and screening.
This year's numbers surpassed those of 2024, when 345 attorney volunteers and 97 paralegal and law student volunteers answered 6,999 calls. The calls addressed various legal topics, including bankruptcy, business and tax matters, criminal law, elder law, estate planning, family law, housing, immigration, and many other legal needs.
Call centers were set up in key locations, including Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, and Wilmington, where volunteers gathered to take calls from residents seeking free legal assistance. The Wilmington call center was supported by five Ward and Smith attorneys: Chris Edwards, Matthew Jones, Avery Locklear, Emily Sullivan, and Ryal Tayloe.
In addition to the in-person support, Ward and Smith also had five attorneys participating virtually, fielding calls remotely. Those attorneys were Isabelle Chammas, Lynwood Evans, Ryan Simmons, Troy Smith, and Leigh Wilkinson.
The 4ALL Statewide Service Day is an annual tradition connecting North Carolinians with volunteer attorneys who provide free legal answers to various questions. As always, the goal is to make legal assistance more accessible and to give back to the community.
To learn more about the 4ALL Statewide Service Day and how to get involved, visit the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s website.
