Wake Up Call: Paralegal Works to Expand Access to Legal Aid

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• A North Carolina paralegal was inspired to challenge restrictive unauthorized practice of law statutes after witnessing a father struggle to secure legal help for his children because of the cost. Her efforts could reshape access to civil justice nationwide by challenging state laws that prevent nonlawyers from offering legal assistance. (Mother Jones)
• The South Dakota Supreme Court approved a new pathway to law licensure, allowing select University of South Dakota law students to complete 500 hours of supervised public service instead of taking the bar exam. The alternative integrates practical experience into students’ final semester, with their portfolios assessed for competence. (ABA Journal)
• Rural Texas faces a growing crisis as the number of criminal defense attorneys declines, leaving many defendants without legal representation. To address this, some counties have formed regional public defender offices, but the state still underfunds indigent defense, covering only a fraction of costs. (Texas Tribune)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Michael Pomeroy joined Cozen O’Connor as a member in its intellectual property practice in Dallas. He joins from Carter Arnett.
• Salim Azzam joined O’Melveny & Myers as a partner in its asset management practice group and private equity industry group in Los Angeles.
• Susan Ormand Berry joined Bracewell as a partner in its finance practice in Houston. She joins from King & Spalding.