By Kathy Para
The JBA Pro Bono Committee chair
It was all hands on deck June 10 to serve the underserved.
Attorneys Laura Gapske, William Blume, Melina Buncome, Susannah Collins Robinson, Logan Mc Ewen, Rusty Mead, Robert Ellis and Tiane Sommers; law students Holly Mathews, Carla Grant, Dominque Greene, Odell Brown, Allison Van Fleet, Bianca Leon, Shea Peterson and Tamla Lloyd; and advisory board members Helen Watson and Bobby Bell spent the morning together at the Ask-A-Lawyer event at the offices of the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corp.
They provided nearly 40 people an opportunity to “pick the brain” of an attorney for guidance and reassurance concerning their legal matters.
For the past eight years, the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corp. has hosted an annual Health and Neighborhood Day. Also for the past eight years, Ask-A-Lawyer has been one of the services offered at the event.
Local nonprofits provide information on ways they offer assistance in the community, health screenings are offered and attendees have the opportunity to speak to attorneys who provide guidance free of charge.
This year’s event was under the direction of Paul Tutwiler, executive director of the community development corporation, and an army of committed volunteers.
Spanish speaker and community volunteer Leonor Santis was available to provide translations when needed.
The attorneys counseled people in one-on-one interviews. They advised in the areas of family law, probate, guardianship, criminal law, bankruptcy, collections, foreclosure, contracts, real estate, landlord/tenant, immigration and personal injury.
Each Ask-A-Lawyer event aims to provide legal guidance and direction, as well as information about community resources for people in need. Attendees may be referred to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, The Jacksonville Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service and Three Rivers Legal Services or to a community service agency.
The events are made possible with help from The JBA, Florida Coastal School of Law and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
Ask-A-Lawyer was established in 2009 by the City Council, The JBA, and JALA. The events are scheduled quarterly in locations that are easily accessible to low-income people and the under-served and are open to the public.
The volunteers served each person who came seeking information with respect and compassion. They answered questions, provided information on legal options and community resources, and in many cases offered hope and direction.
Facing a problem takes courage and energy. Taking the first step toward solving a problem requires even more. For many of the attendees, the Ask-A-Lawyer event provided the information needed to enable them to take that first step toward stability and resolution.
The goal of Ask-A-Lawyer is to offer information and guidance to members of the community who may not otherwise be able to access the expertise of an attorney.
We know that, as attorneys, we don’t always tell people what they want to hear. However, we know that with sound information and direction, people are better equipped to get the help they need and/or resolve their matters themselves.
Access to the legal community must not be limited to those who can afford to pay for representation. It is informed advocacy on both sides that protects the integrity of our system of justice. Ask-A-Lawyer events empower and encourage people to effectively resolve their legal issues and the barriers they face.
The efforts of the volunteer Ask-A-Lawyer team are applauded and appreciated. The remaining 2017 Ask-A-Lawyer dates are Sept. 16 at the Florida State College at Jacksonville Downtown Campus and Dec. 2 at the Johnson Family YMCA.
Attorneys interested in pro bono opportunities in the 4th Judicial Circuit are encouraged to contact [email protected].