Blog Posts: Winter Break Trip 2013

New Video about Our Pro Bono Winter Break 2013 Trip (Cherokee, N.C.)

UNC School of Law Pro Bono Winter Break Trip 2013 from UNC School of Law on Vimeo.

Reflections on Our Trip - Munashe Magarira

Going into the Winter Break Trip, I had a lot of anxieties. Would the trip participants enjoy themselves? Would we be more of a help or hindrance to the local community? Would we be snowed out? Would one of the participants be attacked by an elk?

Reflections on our Trip - Brandy Barrett

The trip to Cherokee, N.C., like all of my Carolina Law Pro Bono experiences thus far, surpassed my expectations. Because of the nature of a general legal aid clinic, there are many unknowns. Who will your clients be? What legal issue(s) will they bring to you? What type of resolution are they seeking and/or expecting? Yet, with this particular legal aid clinic, there were even more unknowns. How many of the clinic’s clients would be enrolled members of the tribe? How, if at all, would their status as a Cherokee affect their legal issue? Would our clients be open and receptive to discuss the intimate details of their lives (i.e. divorce, child custody, estate planning, etc.) with “outsiders” to the tribe?

Cherokee Trip Final Reflections – Belal Elrahal – Tribal Council

I’d like to reflect briefly on the “special field trip” Judge Saunooke led a few of the students on to witness the Tribal Council meeting. After a morning of meeting with clients and working at the courthouse, a few of us were afforded the opportunity to accompany the Judge to the Tribal Council Meeting, where they were convened in their normal capacity.

Reflections on our Trip - Nate Creger

The Winter Break Trip to Cherokee was amazing. It was the first time I ever sat down face-to-face with a client to discuss their situation, and, even though I didn't realize it until Dean Novinsky congratulated me afterwards, the first time I ever filed papers with a court.

One Group Member's Experience with the Tribal Council - Kathleen Lockwood

The legal clinic was a great honor and learning experience for all of us, and some of us were treated even more when we got a chance to sit in on a Tribal Council meeting. While we were in between clients, Judge Saunooke offered to take five of us to a Tribal Council meeting so we could observe the Eastern Band Cherokee government at work. The Tribal Council is a group of twelve representatives. Representatives are elected based on townships with two each coming from Yellowhill, Big Cove, Birdtown, Wolftown, and Painttown and one each from Snowbird and Cherokee County community.

Pro Bono Winter Break 2013 (Cherokee, N.C.) Blog Day Three

Day Three: You don't have to go home but you can't stay here.

Hey Guys, Today’s blog entry is coming to you from the road. We are about two hours in and passing by Rutherfordton, NC. It has been a great day so far. This morning we packed up our bags and headed over to the courthouse where we met Cory Blankenship, the Treasurer for the Eastern Band of Cherokee.

Pro Bono Winter Break 2013 Day Two Post from Dean Novinsky

It's been an amazing two days. I have the honor of serving as UNC Law's Assistant Dean for Public Service Programs. In that role, I work with our student directed Pro Bono Board to develop pro bono projects. This project developed as a result of our alums who serve on the Cherokee Tribal Court--the question came up: when are you going to bring some law students to Cherokee?

Pro Bono Winter Break 2013 (Cherokee, N.C.) Blog Day Two

Day 2 Final Score:

UNC Law Students and Sylva Legal Aid – 26

Legal Problems – 0

I would argue that today was as good a day as could be had. We arrived at the courthouse in Cherokee at 8:30, set up our interview rooms and by 5:00 had served 26 different clients in some way, shape, or form.

Pro Bono Winter Break 2013 (Cherokee, N.C.) Blog Day One

Day 1: Travel, Training, and Fellowship

Hello from Cherokee, NC! Today is our first day in Western NC and it has been a full one.

I am Samuel Williams and I, along with my partner Joseph Chilton and nineteen of our newest friends, will be leading you through the first-ever Pro Bono Winter Break Trip to Cherokee, N.C. We will be spending the next day and a half running a free legal clinic for members of the reservation in conjunction with Legal Aid of North Carolina.