Our Work

The Expungements Project assists individuals with criminal record expungements. In partnership with various North Carolina nonprofits, such as Legal Aid of North Carolina, students review client records to determine whether criminal charges or convictions may be removed from their criminal record. The Expungements Project’s goal is to offer members of the community a path towards a clean slate, creating better access to employment and housing opportunities.

Project Coordinators: Abigail Emory, Bailey Fortenberry, Heidi Keiderling

The Funeral and Cemetery Law Project explores the legal landscape surrounding human remains, the death care industry, and cemetery ownership and operations. Students have the opportunity to serve a broad, national community by conducting legal research on the handling of deceased persons and human remains on a state-by-state basis, helping provide greater transparency to funeral consumers. On a local level, the project partners with the Wake Forest Department of Archaeology, allowing participating students to conduct title searches under the supervision of licensed attorneys to track the historic boundaries of a local Winston-Salem cemetery. More recently, the project has been developing an educational series to help Winston-Salem residents understand their right to determine how their remains will be disposed of.

Project Coordinators: Abigail Wulff, Ethan Rummage, Roxy Sawyer

The Healthcare Advocacy Project educates individuals and their families on the importance of healthcare documents for end-of-life care. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, law students, working with partner organizations such as Legal Aid of North Carolina, assist individuals in creating healthcare powers of attorney and living wills. Students also provide educational presentations to community groups about preparing themselves and family members for important medical care choices.

Project Coordinators: Kirsten Corrigan, Kathleen Kerr, Kailyn Meier

The Housing Project serves tenants in the greater Winston-Salem area as they face a surge in predatory landlord practices and unfit housing. The project partners with Legal Aid of North Carolina and other community organizations to provide legal advice and assistance to low-income tenants throughout North Carolina.

Project Coordinators: Olivia Lara, JC Montoni, Nyima Sanneh

The Know Your Rights (KYR) Project provides free legal information to Forsyth County youth. Through educational presentations at local middle and high schools, law students provide information on constitutional rights, law enforcement, and immigration. KYR’s goal is to empower young people to feel more confident in their actions and to promote safer interactions with law enforcement.

Project Coordinators: Max Hafner, Sydney Howard, Teresa Ribeiro

The Prison Letters Project assists incarcerated individuals in detention facilities seeking legal resources and information. Individuals can request specific legal resources, such as cases or statutes, to facilitate a better understanding of the relevant law to their case. Students conduct research and send the information back to the individual for their review. This Project not only provides incarcerated individuals with much-needed legal resources, but also allows law students to sharpen their legal research skills.

Project Coordinators: Alyssa Nekritz, Jamie Tell, Phil Whitten

Teen Court holds simulated court sessions that give first-time juvenile offenders the opportunity to turn their lives around, avoid a future criminal record, and gain exposure to the legal system. Wake Forest Law students serve as mentors and co-counsel to teen attorneys as they prosecute and defend these cases. In each case, the respondent has admitted guilt and agrees to abide by the jury’s sentence, which may include community service, educational seminars, tutoring, jury service in future Teen Court proceedings, a letter of apology to the injured party, or a personal apology. Teen Court is held every other week at the Forsyth County Courthouse.

Project Coordinators: Jordyn Brown, Thomas DeLay

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provides free tax preparation assistance for low-income individuals and families. VITA volunteers become certified through the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) training program prior to participating. Beginning in the spring semester, students can volunteer as greeters, tax preparers, and quality reviewers in partnership with Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR), a non-profit with the goal of reducing poverty in Winston-Salem, NC.

Project Coordinators: Lottie Johnson, Kelly Mahon, Chris Schulz, Lindsay Tito

The Wills Project helps low-income individuals obtain essential estate planning documents. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, law students work with clients provided by our partner, Pisgah Legal Services, to draft wills that reflect each client’s wishes and circumstances. Law students meet with each client twice: first to begin drafting the will, and then to review the final document. Through this work, students gain practical experience in estate planning while helping expand access to important legal services. The Wills Project seeks to provide clients with peace of mind by ensuring their wishes regarding the distribution of their assets are clearly documented for their loved ones.

Project Coordinators: Gillian Lancaster, Sienna Martinez, Tanner Thompson