After 25 years of working in the justice system as a law enforcement official, an advocate, and a paralegal, S.M. Kernodle-Hodges—who goes by Kernodle—is suing the state of North Carolina. At issue in the lawsuit is North Carolina’s broad prohibition on the unauthorized practice of law, which is preventing Kernodle and other non-licensed lawyers from providing legal advice—whether free or paid. 

As a trained community justice worker, Kernodle wears many hats, handling a variety of cases that range from landlord-tenant disputes, consumer protection issues, and family and domestic violence matters. For many people in her community, accessing legal counsel is not a viable option due to cost and deep-seated mistrust of the legal system. Usually, people who need legal help aren’t just dealing with scarce resources, but severe emotional stress, and, in many cases, significant trauma. 

A case that stands out for Kernodle began with the death of a young mother during childbirth. Her grieving mother, who became a caregiver overnight, stepped in to care for the newborn in the absence of any father. Things were difficult enough when a man her daughter dated claimed to be the father, and his mother kidnapped the baby and fled to New Jersey. 

With no resources to afford an attorney or even cover her daughter’s funeral expenses, the grandmother turned to the legal support center where Kernodle worked for assistance. Kernodle and her team worked tirelessly to secure emergency custody for the child, navigating family law and a thorny interstate legal landscape before they were able to bring the child back safely. 

Kernodle is dedicated to ensuring that this critical work is not impeded by legal obstacles, particularly in the context of a significant justice gap. 

“A lot of legal services are not designed for everyday people. As a community justice worker, I am your boot-to-ground person. Most people will talk to me, but they’ll never talk to an attorney because they don’t identify with that as an option.” 

However, Kernodle’s knowledge and expertise of the law as a community justice worker should not be underestimated. It was because of her experience in legal services, and commitment to equity within the justice landscape, that she was contracted by the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission to serve as the inaugural Program Manager and Clerk of the Wake County Legal Support Center, a resource hub for self-represented litigants in Wake County. 

Kernodle describes this work as her flagship project. For two years, she has worked independently, without attorney supervision, assisting pro se litigants, building relationships with community stakeholders, and training law students and new lawyers. Because of her unique background, specialized training, and recent push for reform to North Carolina laws that allow her to provide legal assistance. As a result, Kernodle successfully expanded the services of the Legal Support Center without being a barred attorney. 

A part of the reason why Kernodle’s approach is so effective is because she is intentional about not disassociating from the individuals that she serves, recognizing that she is a part of the same community as those she helps. 

“I’m a justice worker, not a lawyer— and I don’t want people to ever think I’m better than them. I am one decision away from being incarcerated. I am one moment away from being homeless.” 

Kernodle listens and cares, and as a result, she is constantly receiving referrals from others in the community. She empowers people by showing them that there is never a final answer, only different approaches. Her continued investment in closing the disparities within the justice system can be seen in the hundreds of lives she has improved across the states of Virginia and North Carolina. 

“I do what I love doing. I love what I do and I’m result-driven, so if the result is to make a better community for me to live in and that is the thing that’s driving me, I am going to work hard at it.”