McGuireWoods’ Carter Arey and Angela Zimmern received the 2018 Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented by the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, the Council for Children’s Rights and Legal Aid of North Carolina.
The two senior counsel received the honor Oct. 23 during the seventh annual awards program recognizing lawyers and advocates who donate time and legal services to the three organizations, the largest beneficiaries of pro bono services in the Charlotte area.
Arey and Zimmern are co-coordinators of McGuireWoods’ pro bono efforts in Charlotte, serving as liaisons between the firm and local nonprofit organizations. Under their leadership, the firm has received numerous honors for pro bono service in the areas of child advocacy, domestic violence prevention, consumer matters, veterans’ affairs, tax relief and estate planning.
McGuireWoods, in concert with clients Bank of America, Duke Energy and Wells Fargo, recently launched Charlotte Triage, an innovative program to expand pro bono services for low-income residents while easing burdens on local legal aid organizations.
Arey and Zimmern have extensive pro bono experience of their own. Arey recently helped an immigrant from Liberia navigate the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen. Zimmern regularly represents children in high-conflict custody cases through the Council for Children’s Rights Custody Advocacy Program.
Both also volunteer with community organizations that serve vulnerable children and families. Arey serves on the board of directors of Supportive Housing Communities, a nonprofit that provides permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families. Zimmern serves on the board of directors for the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and A Child’s Place, a nonprofit that supports homeless children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.
“One of the privileges of being a lawyer is the opportunity to give legal service to the most vulnerable people in our community,” Arey said. “I am proud that McGuireWoods enthusiastically supports our pro bono efforts.”
“Charlotte is our home and we are pleased to contribute to the community through our pro bono work,” Zimmern added. “When justice is accessible to people without regard to means, Charlotte is a better, fairer home for all of us.”