As you no doubt have noticed, virtually every batch of opinions from our State appellate courts includes at least one “Rule 3.1” case involving allegations of abuse, neglect, or dependency.  What you may forget is that each of those cases involves an appellate attorney advocating for the best interests of the children.  Although the court system has some attorneys on staff, the children are most often represented by pro bono attorneys as part of the Guardian ad Litem program.

That program is in need of more pro bono attorneys, now more than ever.  If you are looking for additional appellate experience, or if you are looking for meaningful pro bono opportunities to represent some of the most vulnerable in our judicial system, I encourage you to get involved.

If you are interested in learning more, contact Matt Wunsche (Appellate Counsel for the Guardian ad Litem Division):  Matthew.D.Wunsche@nccourts.org.

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