For attorneys who want to make a difference in an elder person’s life, The Jacksonville Bar Association, the Northeast Florida Paralegal Association and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid are providing that opportunity.
All attorneys, paralegals and notaries who are interested in helping to prepare advance directive documents for the elderly are encouraged to volunteer for the Advance Directives for Seniors Pro Bono Project.
This important service will be provided 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 28, at Riverside Park Apartments, a HUD-subsidized senior citizen residential facility in Riverside.
These events are held quarterly, so attorneys who are not available July 28 still are encouraged to volunteer by sending an email to Kathy Para ([email protected]). Interested and willing attorneys will be notified as dates are confirmed for future events.
The goal is to help the senior citizens organize and complete Living Wills, Designations of Health Care Surrogates, Durable Powers of Attorney and Designations of Preneed Guardians.
Some seniors might also want to have a simple will created. For the seniors wanting wills, JALA will conduct an intake interview on-site and open a case. If any pro bono attorneys are willing to accept one or more of the will creation cases, that is extremely helpful, but not required.
Attorneys who are interested have webinars available to prepare them for the event and other legal needs of seniors.
Already presented and available online is the topic entitled “Wills and Advance Directives.”
Future webinars include:
• “Special Needs Trusts” will be presented by lawyer Rebecca Berg from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. July 27.
• “Basic Probate” will be presented by lawyer Rebeccah Beller from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 24.
• “Introduction to Guardianship” will be presented, also by Beller, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 14.
All webinars will be free of charge with CLE hours given to attendees.
Interested parties should contact Kathy Para to register at [email protected].
Attorneys interested in pro bono work benefiting senior citizens can participate in this and future Advance Directive events.
Attorneys willing to consider representing a pro bono client with a legal matter are encouraged to visit the JALA website at www.jaxlegalaid.org and click on the link “Cases in Need of Placement with Pro Bono Attorneys.”
From the website, attorneys can email the JALA case placement manager to review the case further prior to acceptance.
Pro bono work changes lives and stabilizes families: One client. One attorney. One promise.
For opportunities throughout the Fourth Judicial Circuit, contact Kathy Para, chairperson, The JBA Pro Bono Committee.