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Legal Aid Bureau—At a glance
- More than 7,500 clients contacted Metropolitan Family Services' Legal Aid Bureau in 2006 to receive critical legal help relating to family and elder law issues. Services ranged from legal advice, brief services and education to full litigation
Brief Services:
- Brief services including legal assessment and safety planning was provided to 2,520 clients
- Information and referral services were provided to 4,560 clients
"Know Your Rights" Community Legal Education
- 25 workshops on domestic violence were provided to 271 professionals, community residents and victims of domestic violence
- 10 workshops were provided to 281 seniors
Legal Representation:
- 139 Orders of Protection and 120 Judgments for Dissolution of Marriage provided immediate and long-term safety for survivors of domestic violence
- 308 court orders secured safe custody and visitation arrangements for 554 children
- Child Support totaling $615,528 was ordered to help secure economic stability for 158 families. Most orders also guaranteed health insurance coverage for the children
- $201,327 in lump-sum settlements was obtained to protect family assets, provide financial security and stable housing for clients
- 111 seniors received advice and representation on issues such as elder abuse and financial exploitation, orders of protection, support and custody of grandchildren, grandparent visitation, divorce, guardianship, power of attorney, living wills, estate planning and landlord/tenant disputes
Pro Bono Volunteers
- wenty-six volunteer attorneys and student interns contributed 1,499 hours of legal services in 289 cases from July 2006 — December 2006
Volunteer Opportunities with LAB's "Equal Access to Justice" Project
Attorneys
LAB provides training and training materials, screens all clients and has malpractice insurance which covers volunteers. Opportunities include:
- Prove-up program (one court appearance, approximately four hours)
- Uncontested/contested case representation
- Co-counseling with a LAB staff attorney on a contested case
- Panelist on a "Know Your Rights" community workshop
- Domestic Violence Courthouse Project
- Collaborative Law Project
Students
LAB pairs student volunteers with a staff attorney. Opportunities include:
- Interviewing clients
- Preparing pleadings and discovery requests/responses
- Legal research
- Presenting cases at LAB "Case Acceptance" meetings
- Handling status dates in court (711 license required)
- Arguing uncontested or contested motions in court (711 license required)
To volunteer call our Pro Bono Coordinator, Grace Lim, at 312/986-4011
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