NCSB Journal Spring 2026

can provide further support across a range of services—direct referrals to Legal Aid of NC but also Wake County organizations providing housing support and domestic violence resources, for example.” New and expanded services The center’s success has led to new and expanded services. In June 2025, LyJordan and team rolled out the Legal Hand Call-In Center, a first-of-its-kind resource in the state offering free legal information, live assis tance, and referrals via phone, text, or email to people living anywhere in the state. The resource provides a critical serv ice at a time when nearly half of NC’s counties—most of them rural—are experi encing a shortage of attorneys. “In the first six months, we had 721 calls from 48 different counties, and that’s with no real advertising,” LyJordan said. “The statewide reach of the call center has helped us understand the issues facing access to justice across North Carolina.” The call-in center is also a boon for Wake County residents for whom trans portation, parking, and accessibility are

concerns. “Coming to the courthouse is a barrier for so many people,” LyJordan said. “Even people who’ve been to the Wake County Legal Support Center [before] can use the call center to avoid having to return down town.” Staff continue to expand the center’s offerings to improve access to justice for self-represented litigants in Wake County and beyond—including projects funded in part by a 2025 NC IOLTA grant. “As demand grows, our responsibility to meet people where they are becomes even more urgent,” LyJordan said. “We’re expanding Lawyers in Your Library to a monthly schedule so more residents can connect with volunteer attorneys in their own communities. We’re also using IOLTA-supported resources to upgrade our website and translate key materials into additional languages, making it easier for people to get reliable legal information fromhome. “Every step is about ensuring that rising need is met with real, practical access to justice.” n

state’s new e-filing system. In its first two years, the center served more than 22,000 residents—demand so great that earlier this year the center expanded its hours of operation to match those of the courthouse. “The center is bustling,” said its direc tor, attorney Anh LyJordan. “We’re seeing an average of 70 visitors a day. Those numbers really drive home just how many Wake County residents are facing serious legal problems without the means to hire a lawyer.” Community outreach programming makes these resources available to even more county residents. Staff work with volunteer attorneys from the Wake County Bar Association and students from nearby Campbell Law School to host clin ics in family law, which makes up nearly 70% of the cases that bring visitors to the center. The bimonthly drop-in program Lawyers in Your Library, also staffed by pro bono attorneys, provides another layer of convenient support throughout the county. “We’re a frontline resource to people in need,” LyJordan noted. “We can put them in touch with community partners who Other NC IOLTA News Release of 2024-25 Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Act Report. NC IOLTA administered $862,856 in 2024-25 to Legal Aid of NC and Pisgah Legal Services under the Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Act. Read about the services provided under the act in the 2024-25 report released on January 15, available at nci olta.org>Impact>News & Publications. Board Service. NC IOLTA invites interested stakeholders to learn more about serving on the NC IOLTA Board of Trustees. Two vacancies will open in September 2026. Trustees may serve up to two three-year terms. Of the nine-member board, six must be active members of the State Bar. Appointments are made by the State Bar Council, typically at the July coun cil meeting. Learn more and share your interest with us at nciolta.org> About Us>Board of Trustees.

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THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR JOURNAL