GOLDSBORO — After a statewide freeze on IOLTA funding forced Legal Aid office closures across rural North Carolina, Wayne County leaders have taken action to ensure residents continue to have access to free civil legal services.
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners partnered with Legal Aid of North Carolina to reopen and sustain a physical office in Goldsboro. Under the agreement, the county is leasing county-owned office space near the courthouse to Legal Aid for $1 for one year.
County officials said the move is aimed at preserving access to justice in a region often described as a legal desert, where low-income residents may otherwise struggle to find affordable legal assistance.
The state’s freeze on IOLTA — Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts — funding significantly impacted Legal Aid’s ability to maintain offices in rural communities. Without local support, many residents would be forced to travel long distances or forgo legal representation in civil matters such as housing disputes, domestic violence protective orders, public benefits issues, and family law cases.
By providing temporary office space at minimal cost, Wayne County leaders say they are helping bridge the gap while broader funding challenges are addressed at the state level.
The reopened Goldsboro office ensures that qualifying residents can continue to receive in-person assistance, maintaining a critical safety net for some of the county’s most vulnerable citizens.
