NC Equal Access to Justice Commission

The North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission (“Commission”), currently chaired by Associate Justice Richard Dietz, was established in November 2005 in recognition of the need to expand civil legal representation and resources for North Carolinians of low income and modest means. The activities of the Commission include an assessment of unmet legal needs, statewide strategic planning, coordination of efforts between legal aid and other legal and non-legal organizations, resource development, encouragement and facilitation of pro bono legal services, and the overall expansion of civil access to justice.

Civil legal needs refer to legal issues or problems that individuals or groups face in non-criminal matters. Common examples include:

• Housing: evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure, or housing discrimination.
• Family Law: divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence.
• Consumer Issues: debt collection, bankruptcy, consumer fraud, and credit reporting.
• Employment: unpaid wages, wrongful termination, discrimination, or workplace safety.
• Health and Disability: Access to healthcare, disability rights, Medicare/Medicaid disputes, and long-term care issues.
• Public Benefits: obtaining or maintaining public assistance like food stamps (SNAP), unemployment benefits, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits.
• Education: special education services, school discipline, and discrimination in schools.