Dorothy Bernholz, director of Student Legal Services, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her distinguished legal service to the state Wednesday.
Rep. Joe Hackney, speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives, presented the prestigious award on behalf of Gov. Bev Perdue at a meeting of the Orange County’s Bar Association.
Bernholz’s husband, Steve Bernholz, said she has always avoided the spotlight and he was thrilled she received the honor despite never promoting herself.
He said Hackney told him about the award after a fundraiser event, and they decided to keep it a secret until Wednesday’s meeting.
Dorothy Bernholz said she was surprised and honored to receive the award, but she was quick to turn the attention away from herself.
“Probably the best thing is that at least the governor of North Carolina understands that a student legal service is of value,” she said.
In 1976, the student body president tried to hire Dorothy Bernholz as the founding director of Student Legal Services, she said.
Her position was contested by the state, so she sued and won, arguing that under the first amendment, students have the right to meaningful access to the courts.
This suit created one of the first nonprofit public interest law firms in the country. Since its foundation, Student Legal Services has advised and represented 80,000 UNC students.
