“Law experts offering free legal advice as part of ‘National Pro Bono Celebration'”
Published: Friday, October 21, 2011
By Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Free legal advice will be available to needy Staten Islanders beginning Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Tompkinsville.
Domestic violence, divorce, child custody and visitation, consumer debts including bankruptcy and foreclosures, landlord/tenant issues, and immigration matters will be handled by the Free Legal Clinic.
Mobile teams of attorneys and court clerks will travel throughout the five boroughs next week giving free consultations. The clinic is sponsored by the Interfaith Center of New York, the New York State Unified Court System and the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG).
A long-term goal is to bring the Mobile Legal Help Center to communities throughout the city on a regular basis.
The effort is in conjunction with the American Bar Association’s “National Pro Bono Celebration,” which is taking place next week throughout the United States.
The attorneys are all volunteers from NYLAG, which has been providing free legal services for more than 20 years.
The Free Legal Clinic partners with local organizations, which provide locations for the legal consultations and do community outreach.
“In the initial preparation for the Free Legal Clinic, outreach was done to a large number of community organizations throughout Staten Island, and Our Lady of Good Counsel was the first to respond,” said Kevin Childress, interim project associate for Civic Connections.
“We are pleased to be partnering with them, as they are very connected and active leaders in their community.”
The team will be at Good Counsel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are strongly recommended although walk-ins will be accepted. To reserve a time, call Katie Thompson at 718-447-1503.
