29 area lawyers provide 42 free appointments in first quarter

 

 

 

Twenty-nine volunteer attorneys provided 42 free legal advice appointments for low income residents of Madison County between January and March, according to a release from the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee and the Madison County Bar Association.

Volunteers included Brad Allen, Robert Bas, Beth Bauer, Kathy Buckley, Tanja Cook, Eric Carlson, Jack Cranley, Andrew Carruthers, Chris Donohoo, Derek Filcoff, Janel Freeman, M. Joseph Hill, Katie Hubbard, Billie Johnson, David Jones, Chris Kovach, Tom Lech, Terry O’Leary, Kay McClimans, Michael Meehan, Russell Meyer, Rob Pritzker, Jeremy Sackett, Joan Spiegel, Randy Steele, Phillip Theis, Mike Wesley, Ron Williams and Beverly Yang.

In addition to the legal advice clinic appointments, the pro bono committee joined the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation and CSAC of Metro East to host clinics on housing rights in Alton and Granite City.

About 35 residents heard about the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants from attorneys Clarissa Gaff and Tanja Cook.

Also, the Madison County Bar Association held “People’s Law School” in March, where 37 participants attended the first night to learn about small clams cases and legal issues regarding the use of social media.

Fifty-three people participants attended the second night to learn about gun laws from attorney Jeremy Sackett and to hear about mediation in civil and family cases from Gaff.

The pro bono committee offers free 30-minute appointments involving family law or general civil topics, including collection, landlord tenant, small claims or any other civil area of law.

Appointments can be made on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month for eligible Madison County residents. Qualifying information will need to be provided. To make an appointment or volunteer, call (618) 296-5921 or e-mail Betsey Mahoney at bemanoney@co.madison.il.us.