By Samantha Howell | Three Rivers Legal Services
I know start-of-the-year articles often focus on writers wishing good health and fortune on their readers. I want to take another approach, though.
Quoting author Neil Gaiman: “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before and more importantly, you’re doing something.”
Maybe it’s learning a new language, building model airplanes or volunteering. Whatever you do to stretch your wings, I hope it is inspiring and fulfilling.
If you are interested in volunteering, Three Rivers Legal Services is a great place to start. Volunteer attorneys are referred cases in their area of expertise. If you want to try a new area of practice like guardianship or sealing/expunging criminal records, we will provide training and mentorship throughout the case.
We also provide malpractice insurance coverage, reimbursement for some litigation costs and can offer office space to meet with your referred client.
We make every effort to ensure you have a positive experience volunteering with TRLS.
There are several ways to volunteer:
Telephonic Housing Clinic
This advice-only clinic is offered 5-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Appointments are scheduled for 45 minutes.
TRLS staff screen and schedule clients, notifying volunteers of their assignments on the Friday or Monday before the clinic. Issues involve private landlord/tenant issues (eviction, repairs, and security deposits, usually).
Volunteers complete an online form during the call so that TRLS knows what advice was given and if any follow-up by staff is needed.
Pro Se Divorce Clinic
These clinics are offered every three months in Jacksonville and involve a morning session for petitioners with minor children and an afternoon session for petitioners without minor children. Volunteer attorneys participate for the limited purpose of providing counsel and advice. We encourage attorneys and law students to join.
You also can take on a client matter for limited scope or full representation in a variety of areas including bankruptcy, special education, family, housing/property, consumer, income maintenance and trusts and estates.
We are in particular need of attorneys to assist with probate cases, guardianship and guardian advocacy and landlord/tenant. Many of these cases can be done remotely.
A client in Duval County needs assistance in probating their mother’s estate. Decedent passed intestate during the summer of 2022. Client has a sister but no other known heirs. There is a trailer, vehicle and possibly, a 401(k) involved. (Case No. 22-0345230).
We have several clients in Duval and St. Johns counties who need assistance in completing pro se divorce forms. Volunteers can meet with the client at the TRLS Jacksonville office, if desired. Representation is not required/expected.
Volunteers meet with a client and explain to them how to complete the forms required for filing and what to expect throughout the process. We are in particular need of attorneys who are fluent in Spanish.
A client in Duval County was served with a three-day notice in April and a nonrenewal this summer. The client vacated the property, but the landlord refuses to return the security deposit or credit the client’s account with three months' paid rent. We are seeking an attorney to assist the client in small claims. (Case No. 22-0345291).
A client in Alachua County is named as beneficiary of trust. We are seeking an attorney to advise the client on how the trust disbursements may affect their current benefits and advise/assist with special needs trust, if needed. Work can be performed remotely. (Case No. 22-0346069).
A client in Duval County needs a will and power of attorney. Client also has life insurance and a pension that need to be updated. (Case No. 22-0344102).
As attorneys, we are encouraged to provide at least 20 hours of pro bono service each year. Volunteering with TRLS is a great and easy way to take care of this duty while meeting colleagues and learning more about our client communities.
If you have any questions or would like to participate in any of the above cases, contact me at [email protected] or 352-415-2315.
You also can select an available case and learn more about TRLS’s Pro Bono Legal Assistance Program at https://www.trls.org/volunteer/.
