Campbell Law student helps Blanchard Community Law Clinic client remain in her home
Campbell Law School’s Matt Fields ‘25, through his work with the Blanchard Community Law Clinic (BCLC), has successfully helped a client remain in her home.
As a bar certified legal intern, Fields represented a client, who had a District Court hearing on a preliminary injunction to remain in her home until her scheduled appeal date.
“The clinic was contacted on Feb. 28 by a new client, who had a District Court hearing the next morning,” explained BCLC Assistant Clinical Professor Laura Clark. “The client’s landlord was seeking to have the tenants removed from their rental unit prior to their scheduled appeal court date. During the motion hearing, Fields called and questioned a witness, entered documentary evidence and made legal arguments in favor of the stay of eviction remaining in place. Chief District Court Judge Margaret Eagles ‘00 granted the client’s motion, allowing her family to remain in their home until her scheduled appeal, when the clinic will again represent the client.”
Clark continued, “Matt jumped at the opportunity to represent the clinic’s client at the last minute and he demonstrated great skill and professionalism in the courtroom. We are very proud of Matt!”
In 2022, the City of Raleigh partnered with Campbell Law through the BCLC to create the “City of Raleigh Housing Justice Project” for low-income residents facing eviction and homelessness. Learn more at this link.
The BCLC partners with and receives referrals from non-profit agencies in the community including but not limited to — Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., Oak City Cares, YMCA of the Triangle, and the Wake County Legal Support Center— to provide solutions to legal problems encountered by clients of those agencies.
The clinic, which was launched in September 2016, has made a tremendous impact in the Raleigh community. Legal services are provided by Campbell Law students, under the supervision of Assistant Clinical Professor Laura Clark, Assistant Clinical Professor Kris Parks and Clinic Director Rick Glazier. Students handle cases with a high level of independence and conduct client interviews, prepare motions, oversee case management and make court appearances. Through this experience, students gain important practical legal skills and an appreciation for the challenges faced by citizens living in poverty. This program prepares students to be resourceful and practice-ready upon their entrance into the profession.
The clinic is located off-site downtown’s Warehouse District at 311-200 Martin St., the beautiful and historic former home of Clearscapes, artist Thomas Sayre’s famed architectural firm.
On Feb. 7, 2018, Campbell Law renamed the clinic in honor of legal pioneer and servant leader Charles Fuller Blanchard. “If you dig deep enough, almost every important legal initiative in this community traces back to Charlie Blanchard,” said Dean J. Rich Leonard. “There is no one who has done more for this city, and no one whose name is more appropriate to mark our clinic.”