RALEIGH — At least 45 counties in North Carolina are considered “legal deserts,” which are defined as places where there are less than one lawyer per 1,000 residents.
But thanks to the support from NC IOLTA, three Campbell Law School students will receive stipends in the amount of $10,000 to provide services to counties designated as legal deserts in the summer of 2024, according to April Giancola, the law school’s assistant dean of Career and Professional Development.
The three students who will receive awards are Garrett Anderson ’25 of Raleigh, who will be working for the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of North Carolina; Madison Bennett ’25 of Raleigh, who will be working for N.C. Prisoner Legal Services; and Stephanie Moore ’26 of Greenville, who will be working with the N.C. Public Defender’s Office District 2 in Washington.
The goal of the program is multi-faceted, Giancola explained, with the main goals of exposing law students of all backgrounds to the practice of law in the public interest, particularly in meeting the legal needs of the poor and the underrepresented and promoting the effective administration of justice through the court system; providing an opportunity for law students to have an in-depth educational experience in legal work in the public interest; and supporting law students to secure summer employment in areas of the state with limited access to legal professionals.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to support our students who wish to do this valiant work and experience the delivery of critical legal services to communities who would not otherwise have access,” Giancola said. “Thank you to NC IOLTA for recognizing the needs of our state and engaging our wonderful law students in the process.”
Established in 1983, NC IOLTA has awarded more than $100 million to organizations that provide legal aid to individuals, families and children, according to its website. These grants have supported victims of domestic violence, families facing eviction and property loss, disabled seniors and countless other North Carolinians in need of legal assistance to protect their basic human rights. In the previous year alone, more than 91,000 household members were impacted by cases pursued by NC IOLTA grantees. NC IOLTA, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023, continues to work to improve the lives of North Carolinians by strengthening the justice system as a leader, partner and funder. Learn more in IOLTA’s 2022 Annual Report, “40 Years of Restoring Hope through Justice.”
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law School has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 4,800 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2024, Campbell Law is celebrating 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 15 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.