by Kathy Para
JBA Pro Bono Committee Chair
Recognizing that for many in our community, legal representation is cost prohibitive, The Jacksonville Bar Association and the Grace and Truth Community Development Corporation have teamed up to offer an “Ask-A-Lawyer” event from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Gateway Town Center, 5000 Norwood Ave. Ask-A-Lawyer will be held in conjunction with the Grace and Truth CDC’s Empowerment and Health Fair.
The need for accessible legal representation far exceeds the available resources. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) and many pro bono attorneys work to counter this unfairness by assisting with representing these people in their civil legal matters.
Ask-A-Lawyer is a relaxed, convenient place for people to come in and talk about their legal problems. In some cases, legal representation may not be required. In some cases, brief counsel and advice from a licensed attorney may be all the assistance a person needs. Herein lies the inspiration for the JBA Pro Bono Committee’s Ask-A-Lawyer event.
“It’s a way for us to take legal guidance into neighborhoods where there are higher numbers of low-income families,” states Courtney Grimm, president of The Jacksonville Bar Association. The Jacksonville Bar Association is committed to bringing legal assistance to our low-income and underserved neighborhoods. The Ask-A-Lawyer event effectively brings legal assistance into neighborhoods free of charge.
During the event, attorneys will conduct individual, 10-to-15-minute consultations. People who participate in Ask-A-Lawyer must sign statements verifying that they understand that the interviewing attorney will not be opening a case. The interviewing attorneys are simply there to provide some legal guidance and information on additional community resources. For matters that may require full representation, persons may be referred to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid or to the Jacksonville Lawyer Referral Service.
The participating attorneys have expertise in many areas of law and can provide direction regarding family law matters, employment, landlord/tenant, wills and estates, criminal law, bankruptcy, and foreclosures to name a few.
“We believe that lawyers have been given a special gift and that they have a responsibility to give back to the community,” states past Jacksonville Bar Association President Dan Bean. “One of the ways that we do this is by reaching out and helping members of our community resolve some of the legal issues they have.“
Attorneys are encouraged to participate in this worthwhile event and can do so by contacting Kathy Para, chair of The JBA Pro Bono Committee, at (904) 356-8371, ext. 363, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Attorneys who are not available to assist on Nov. 6 but who would like to be informed of future events should contact Para.