While the jazz band played outside and the aroma of barbecue made its way into the offices on the second floor, pro bono attorneys provided legal guidance to members of the Jacksonville community.
A recent Ask-A-Lawyer event was held June 15 at the offices of the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation.
Ask-A-Lawyer was one part of the organization's annual Health and Neighbor Day, which included music, a farmer's market and community services fair.
Paul Tutwiler, corporation executive director, and the entire staff gave up their space on the second floor of the new multipurpose facility at Myrtle Avenue and Moncrief Road so attorneys could individually speak with those seeking legal guidance.
Local pro bono attorneys counseled almost 50 people on more than 65 legal matters in one-on-one interviews.
Attorneys advised in the areas of family law, probate, guardianship, criminal law, bankruptcy, foreclosure, workers' compensation, contracts, real estate, landlord/tenant, employment, immigration and personal injury.
Spanish speakers were available to provide translation.
Participating pro bono attorneys were Laura Gapske, Will Blume, Eric Roberson, Rick Lasseter, Dan Bean, Markus Sermons and Enrique Barquinero.
Florida Coastal School of Law student Jennifer Henderson attended to provide administrative assistance and observe the consultation interviews.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Client Advisory Board members Phyllis Maxwell, Don Edgecombe and Bobby Bell were there to greet and direct attendees and help register people for appointments.
The aim of each Ask-A-Lawyer event is to provide legal guidance, direction and information on additional community resources for people in need.
Attendees might be referred to Legal Aid, The JBA Lawyer Referral Service, (and/or) to a community service agency.
The events are made possible because of the teamwork of The JBA, the D.W. Perkins Bar Association, The Hispanic Bar Association of Northeast Florida, Florida Coastal, Legal Aid and Jacksonville City Council.
The events are held quarterly in locations in the city that are easily accessible to low-income people and the underserved.
Those who sought information were helped by volunteers with respect and compassion.
Volunteers 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 that first step to be taken toward stability and resolution.
One attendee remarked when leaving, "I feel so much better. I know now what I need to do. Please say a word of thanks to all of the attorneys for me. I just can't thank you enough 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 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 find 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's the informed advocacy on both sides that protects the integrity of our system of justice.
Ask-A-Lawyer events empower and encourage persons to effectively resolve their legal issues and the barriers they face.
The efforts of the entire pro bono Ask-A-Lawyer team of June 15 are applauded and appreciated.
Attorneys interested in these and other pro bono opportunities throughout the 4th Judicial Circuit are encouraged to contact Kathy Para, chairwoman of The JBA Pro Bono Committee at [email protected].