Wake Forest University School of Law Opens Smith Anderson Office of Community Outreach

Winston-Salem, N.C. – Wake Forest University School of Law has officially opened the Smith Anderson Office of Community Outreach within the newly transformed Worrell Professional Center. The Office houses the Law School’s Pro Bono Project and Public Interest Law Organization. The opening of the Office was made possible through the financial generosity of Smith Anderson and many of its attorneys.

“The lawyers of Smith Anderson have set high standards not only in the practice of law but also in service to their communities and to the organizations that enrich the lives of everyone,” said Law School Dean Suzanne Reynolds. “I am proud to see the name of that fine firm on the space in Worrell that we devote to connecting students to people who need their help. Our students couldn’t have better mentors for this work than the great lawyers at Smith Anderson.”

The Raleigh, North Carolina, law firm has a long relationship with Wake Forest University. Smith Anderson attorneys and Wake Forest alumni Gerald Roach and Sarah Fox both serve in leadership roles with the University. Roach was recently elected vice chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, and Fox serves on the Law School’s Board of Visitors. “Our firm, at its core, is deeply committed to promoting a culture of pro bono service and the betterment of our community,” said Roach. “Our lawyers devote thousands of pro bono hours each year to a vast array of needs. We are honored to help establish and lend our name to this worthwhile effort.”

The Pro Bono Project began as a concentrated effort to provide legal information to a community that was underserved and, in some cases, uninformed about the legal process. Under the guidance of Outreach Director Professor Beth Hopkins and Pro Bono Project Coordinator Denise Hartsfield, students involved in the Pro Bono Project and the Public Interest Law Organization gain hands-on experience vital to their development as citizen lawyers, and continue to seek new horizons to reach individuals in need of legal assistance.

The Public Interest Law Organization promotes Wake Forest’s tradition of training lawyers who serve not only their clients, but also their communities, state and nation. PILO works with the Office of Career and Professional Development to create an easy-to-access repository of information for students seeking internships, externships and fellowships.

Visit http://law.wfu.edu/ for more information about the Wake Forest University School of Law. For more information about Smith Anderson, visit www.SmithLaw.com.

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About Smith Anderson

Founded in 1912, Smith Anderson has grown to become the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle region and one of the largest in North Carolina. We provide a full range of legal services to a diverse and dynamic group of regional, national and international companies. Over 100 years of practicing law has grounded our Firm’s culture, informed our perspective, and provided us the insight necessary to help our clients succeed. Over time, our core principles have remained unchanged. We remain personally dedicated to the success, prosperity and betterment of our clients and the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.SmithLaw.com.

About Wake Forest University School of Law

The formal study of law has been part of Wake Forest since 1894. Over the years, Wake Forest has evolved as a small Baptist college for men located just north of Raleigh, North Carolina, to an independent, multi-dimensional, nationally recognized university located in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest Law has grown along with and at times led the development of the institution of which it is a part. The Law School, which has worked to meet the needs of a changing legal profession as well as the changing needs of students, continues to be a leader in legal education. Visit http://law.wfu.edu/ for more information.