Finding time to devote to pro bono work is sometimes difficult, but when the scenery is right it might be a bit of a motivator.
Against the scenic backdrop of the Oct. 20 Sea & Sky Spectacular air show, attorneys, paralegals, and students gathered at Pablo Towers in Jacksonville Beach to assist area senior citizens in creating and executing advance directives documents.
As part of The Advance Directives for Seniors Pro Bono Project, a quarterly event that provides many area senior citizens with the opportunity to create important legal documents free of charge, this event brought together local attorneys, paralegals, and law students to serve 14 seniors at the Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidized senior citizen living facility of Pablo Towers.
The project is a collaboration of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Florida Coastal School of Law, The Jacksonville Bar Association and the Northeast Florida Paralegal Association to bring legal resources together to help our community’s seniors.
With the help of eight area attorneys, six paralegals and six law students armed with laptops, template documents and knowledge, 14 seniors were able to prepare and execute documents ranging from powers of attorney to living wills. All senior participants left with their fully executed advance directives and more information about how those documents can help protect them and their families.
Although the main goal of the event is to prepare and execute advance directive documents, participating attorneys also can counsel seniors as to whether a simple will or other document will be beneficial to them, given their personal assets. The goal of the event is to provide participants with legal documents and with the assurance that as they age, individuals they trust will be able to act on their behalf.
Pablo Towers Service Coordinator Lisa Sheek said “Our residents are so very appreciative. It would be impossible for most to get legal services at all and to have the attorneys and other volunteers come to us is a real gift.”
Participating attorneys were Robyn Moore, Catherine Michaud, Rachael Zeitz, Shylie Armon, Robert Morgan, Cynthia Trimmer, Susan Novak and Rusty Mead. Volunteering paralegals were Carin Deitler, Stephanie Burton, Lynn Conway, Claudia Romero, Donna Hoffman and Connie Shoenung.
Participating law students were Steven Croskey, Kirstyn Rau, Matthew Rosenthal, Patricia Ihara, Jess Hoffman and Cecil Grant.
Thanks and appreciation are extended to all those who assisted Oct. 20. These events offer services that provide a greater sense of security for those who are underrepresented and to bring awareness to the needs of those seniors in our community.
Attorneys who would like information about participating in the advance directives or other pro bono events are encouraged to contact Kathy Para, chair, The JBA Pro Bono Committee at [email protected].