Fitz Barringer Honored for Outstanding Pro Bono Efforts

Fitz E. Barringer received the Outstanding Individual Attorney Award at the Mecklenburg County Bar’s 2020 Pro Bono Awards. The award honors attorneys who have contributed extraordinary pro bono legal services for people, children or nonprofits in need. Barringer’s enthusiastic commitment to pro bono service is evident in his law practice, his involvement within the firm and his leadership in the community.

In 2019 alone, Barringer volunteered more than 175 hours of his time. He has represented clients in a wide range of pro bono matters including defending individuals accused of misdemeanor crimes, helping immigrant children secure legal status in the United States and asserting claims by tenants against landlords. Most recently, Barringer represented an impoverished client through Legal Aid of North Carolina, securing a judgment against the client’s former landlord that requires the landlord to pay the client treble damages and attorney’s fees.

Barringer plays an active role in promoting pro bono work within Robinson Bradshaw. For the past four years, he has coordinated the firm’s summer associate pro bono project, pairing attorneys with a summer associate to work together on a pro bono case from Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and advising them along the way. This program strengthens the firm’s commitment to pro bono service and exposes law students to the difference they can make as lawyers by assisting neighbors in need.

Following several years of board service, Barringer recently served as board chair for Lakewood Preschool Cooperative, a nonprofit, tuition-free preschool located in one of Charlotte’s low-income neighborhoods. He also advises the board and preschool in a pro bono legal capacity on a wide range of issues, including lease agreement negotiations, policy and procedure reviews, and employment matters.

At Robinson Bradshaw, Barringer advises and represents clients in the resolution of complex commercial disputes and employment litigation. He received both his law degree with highest honors and his bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.