Executive Director, Pisgah Legal Services
Jim Barrett believes that all people should have access to the legal assistance that is necessary to function in society. He received his law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1983 and has served at Pisgah Legal Services for 34 years. The organization provides free legal help in a total of 17 Western North Carolina counties to those who live in poverty. They assist over 15,000 individuals annually.
“We extend our poverty law expertise and what we have learned about the needs of our clients as far as our limited resources permit,” Barrett says. “It is important and rewarding to solve difficult problems for our neighbors who have the same problems as we all have, but they lack the financial resources to resolve some of those problems.” He adds that, despite the rewarding nature of Pisgah Legal’s work, the sheer numbers involved can seem daunting. “There are more than 100,000 people at any moment in our service area whose incomes are so low that they qualify for our free legal services.”
Barrett credits his parents, Don and Betty Barrett, with instilling in him values that are associated with New Testament Christianity. “Not the kind of faith that you wear on your sleeve, the kind that requires action to help neighbors in need,” he says. “They probably have done much more volunteer work in their lives [than] I have done in my legal aid career for which I have been paid.”
Due to state budget cuts, Pisgah Legal Services suddenly lost funding in June totaling $635,000, or 12 percent of their budget. Obtaining funding to maintain a staff that is stable and building the experience needed to help clients is the most challenging part of Barrett’s job.
“The people that we serve really are our neighbors in WNC. And we never know when we will need such assistance from our neighbors.”
“Unstable funding makes it more difficult for me to add my experience to the advocacy efforts because I spend so much time raising money.
“Working to address the causes of poverty is a rewarding occupation. Having the ability to do that as an attorney is a great thing because attorneys are trained to make laws work for clients and society. There is no substitute for working on the front lines to learn what works and doesn’t work—to build one’s expertise and credibility.”
Barrett enjoys gardening, walking, and following current events in his spare time. One of the more gratifying aspects of his position at Pisgah Legal derives from alleviating the suffering caused by poverty by helping vulnerable people stop domestic abuse, secure stable housing, obtain health care, and increase their incomes so that they can rise out of poverty.
He shares a story he says he will never forget that demonstrates the mission of his organization. “My daughter came home from middle school to report that her friend sitting next to her in class had benefited from Pisgah Legal Services. Her mom had been a victim of extreme physical abuse. The child’s dad had even killed their dog. Pisgah Legal helped the mom separate from her abusive husband and obtain custody. Later, the mom died suddenly in her sleep. My daughter’s friend’s big sister, who was just over 18, needed to adopt her younger siblings and raise them. We were able to help with the adoption.
“The people that we serve really are our neighbors in WNC. And we never know when we will need such assistance from our neighbors.”
Mission
Pisgah Legal Services pursues justice to improve lives
for low-income people in Western North Carolina through legal assistance and advocacy. Vision Statement—Pisgah Legal Services envisions a community where all people have access
to civil legal assistance when they need it to protect their basic rights and secure essentials, such as housing, health care, income, and safety from abuse. We envision a community with policies and services in place that reduce poverty and ease the burdens
of poverty on our neighbors.
Annual budget
$4 million
(approx.; number uncertain with government funding cuts)
Number served annually
15,000+
how do you get funding?
Annual campaign donations: 25%. Competitive government grants & contracts: 23%. Foundations: 23%. State government: 4%. County governments: 10%. United Ways: 5%.
Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts: 10%.
Year nonprofit was founded?
1978
Service area
Asheville, plus offices in Hendersonville,
Rutherfordton, Brevard, and Marshall.
List of board members with titles
President:
Lee Anne Mangone
Vice President:
Bill Wolcott
Secretary:
Ron Curran
Treasurer:
Esther Cartwright
Immediate Past President:
Sarah Corley
Sharon Alexander
Shelley Brown
Frank Castelblanco
Harry Durity
Judy Futch
Myra Grant
Leslie Heywood
Ann-Patton Hornthal
Harris Livingstain
W. Carleton Metcalf
Iindia Pearson
Ann Young
Go HERE for links to our mini-profiles of other heads of nonprofits in Western North Carolina. And go HERE for our 2017 report on regional nonprofits.
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