The N.C. Supreme Court recently recognized 170 attorneys who donated 50 or more hours of legal services last year through the state's inaugural voluntary pro bono reporting effort, and three New Hanover County attorneys made the list.

Ann David, Nicholas Fernez and Paul Mediratta of New Hanover County were among the inaugural inductees into the Pro Bono Honor Society of the N.C. Pro Bono Resource Center.

The center launched in April last year and began collecting responses from attorneys about their pro bono involvement in January this year. 

"In its first few months, the PBRC "cultivated a statewide presence through presentations on the value of pro bono legal service and the launch of a website highlighting more than 30 available pro bono projects across the state," according to an N.C. Judicial Branch news release.

Pro bono legal services are legal services provided without fee or expectation of fee to people of limited means, charitable organizations that are designed to address the needs of people with limited means, or public interest organizations that can't afford to pay.