The rain could have been described as torrential on March 29, but that didn’t deter those participating in the Ask-A-Lawyer event scheduled for that Saturday morning.
Local pro bono attorneys counseled 40 people on more than 50 legal matters in one-on-one interviews.
Attorneys advised in the areas of family law, probate, guardianship, tax, criminal law, bankruptcy, collections, foreclosure, social security, contracts, real estate, landlord/tenant, employment, immigration, tax and personal injury. Spanish, French, and Russian speakers were available to provide translation.
The pro bono attorneys included Alessandro Apolito, Rick Lasseter, Will Blume, Kameisha Bailey, Carrington Mead, Swati Amin, Sean Murrell, Jodi Seitlin, Chris Carson, Jackie Green, Jennifer Singh, Tiffany Jones, Jennifer Kifer, Diane Paull, Lucreita Becude, Melina Buncome, Debbie Lee-Clark and Dan Bean.
Florida Coastal School of Law students Benoit Peyret, Julie Miller, Bryan Roach, Gennady Gusak, Stav Bottner and Cara Dickinson provided administrative assistance and observed the consultation interviews.
Each Ask-A-Lawyer event aims to provide legal guidance and direction, as well as information on additional community resources for people in need. Attendees may be referred to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, The Jacksonville Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, Three Rivers Legal Services and/or to a community service agency.
The events are made possible because of the collaboration of The Jacksonville Bar Association, The D.W. Perkins Bar Association, The Hispanic Bar, Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the Jacksonville City Council. The events are held quarterly in locations that are easily accessible to low-income residents and the under-served.
The March 29 event was the first at SOS Academy on Wilson Boulevard.
“We’ve wanted to hold an event in this part of Jacksonville for some time,” said City Council member Reginald Brown. “We’re all very grateful that the staff at SOS Academy was willing to host this valuable opportunity on their campus.”
The leadership team at SOS Academy was Genell Mills, the charter school’s founder and director; Gary Mills, facilities director; and Kaye Hill, financial director. They readied the school cafeteria, helped publicize the event and extended warm welcomes to the volunteers who rushed in from the rain with dripping umbrellas.
“We’re happy to help the community in whatever way we can,” said Genell Mills.
The volunteers treated each person 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 requires courage and energy. Taking a first step toward solving the problem requires even more. For many of the attendees, Ask-A-Lawyer provided the information needed to enable the them to take that first step toward stability and resolution.
Comments heard throughout the morning included:
“What a blessing this is.”
“The attorney I spoke to was very kind and very knowledgeable.”
“I learned so much and feel so much better.”
“Thank you for being here.”
The goal of Ask-A-Lawyer is to take information and guidance directly to members of our 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, with the belief that knowledge is power, 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 that access. 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 entire pro bono Ask-A-Lawyer team of March 29 are applauded and appreciated.
Attorneys interested in these and other pro bono opportunities throughout the 4th Judicial Circuit are encouraged to contact Kathy Para, chair of The JBA Pro Bono Committee, at [email protected].