Legal aid hits the road with LANCMobile unit

CANTON — Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) unveiled its LANCMobile unit at a launch event held on May 1 at the Haywood County Public Library, Canton Branch.

The event marked a step forward in the organization’s mission to provide vital legal services to underserved communities, particularly in disaster-stricken and rural areas. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured special remarks from LANC staff and Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers.

LANCMobile addresses a critical gap in the American justice system — low-income individuals facing civil legal matters often lack adequate representation. According to recent studies, 92% of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal help.

In North Carolina, approximately two million people — 18% of the population — are eligible for LANC services but face geographical barriers preventing access.

Born out of the pressing need the is exacerbated by natural disasters like Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, LANCMobile was established with a grant from the Legal Services Corporation. The initiative aims to serve disaster-affected areas while also addressing broader issues of legal deserts and rural community neglect.

“Our primary purpose is to get people the assistance they need,” said Alicia Edwards, project director of LANC’s Disaster Relief Project. “We have two fully serviced offices inside where we can meet clients. We can come out to their community, screen them, deal with their legal issues and provide fully serviced assistance right from the bus.”

Scheree Gilchrist, chief innovation officer at LANC, emphasized LANCMobile’s broader mission beyond disaster relief.

“We are going to take the bus and identify the areas that have the most need and work with our community partners to deliver those services,” Gilchrist said.

The event garnered support from Smathers, who highlighted the significance of LANCMobile in bringing hope to communities in need.

“This is where you affect people in the trenches. This is where you make a difference,” Smathers said. “Where y’all go and this bus goes, hope is not too far behind.”

LANCMobile’s impact extends beyond immediate legal aid provision. Through data-driven strategies and community partnerships, LANC aims to identify rural communities most in need and devise tailored solutions to overcome communication, infrastructure and service accessibility challenges.

“This is a crucial step in our commitment to innovation and making a lasting impact in the communities we serve,” said Gilchrist. “LANCMobile not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters a culture of community engagement, empowering rural communities to assert their rights and access legal resources.”

LANCMobile’s schedule can be found at legalaidnc.org/lancmobile.