Oklahoma Bar Association members are encouraged to register to provide pro bono legal services to victims of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene following an Oct. 1 order by the North Carolina Supreme Court allowing out-of-state lawyers to temporarily register with the North Carolina State Bar. Lawyers interested in providing pro bono services under the order are asked to fill out an online registration form and return it to the North Carolina State Bar using the instructions provided.

Experts estimate a full recovery from the storm’s catastrophic flooding and damage could take years. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, “It was close to a worst-case scenario for western North Carolina as seemingly limitless tropical moisture, enhanced by interactions with the high terrain, yielded some of the highest rainfall totals – followed by some of the highest river levels, and the most severe flooding – ever observed across the region.”

“Our hearts go out to the victims of Helene,” said OBA President Miles Pringle. “Oklahomans know all too well the impact of large-scale natural disasters, and our bar members are no strangers to jumping in to help their communities when these crises happen. This North Carolina court order asking out-of-state lawyers for help is an opportunity to not only assist those in dire need but to demonstrate the Oklahoma standard in action.”

The temporary rule, which expires in January 2025, allows lawyers licensed in other states but not in North Carolina to register with the North Carolina State Bar and begin immediately providing pro bono legal services.