LBA and Legal Aid Looking for Volunteers to Serve Legal Needs of Evacuees Relocated to Louisville

KLB received the following press release from the LBA, who together with the Legal Aid Society, is setting up a response to assist the legal needs of evacuees in our area.  They could use local lawyers to volunteer their services.  Here is the press release.

Legal Service Plan Developed to Assist Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
Louisville, Ky., September 9, 2005

 

Evacuees relocated to Louisville, Ky., require assistance on a range of legal issues. The Legal Aid Society and the Louisville Bar Association are joining forces to coordinate legal services for displaced individuals from the Gulf Coast region. The organizations are asking attorneys to volunteer to help meet the legal needs of these individuals.

Legal Aid Director Jeffrey Been explains the complexity of the legal issues, “The evacuees are faced with a variety of pressing legal problems. This morning I spoke with an elderly couple that had some questions about filing insurance claims; later I spoke to a woman who has a court date in New Orleans and needs to know what to do.  Some of these issues can be resolved quickly while others will take more time, but all of them are exceptionally important to the people whose lives have been turned upside down by this catastrophic event.” 

Louisville Bar Association President Cindy Young agrees and notes that LBA members are anxious to support those displaced. When describing membership response to crises, Young explains, “The Louisville legal community is a generous community, particularly when it comes to helping those in need and assuring that relief efforts are supported.”

Legal Aid has set up an intake area at the Family Assessment Center, which has been housed at Louisville Gardens. At the initial intake, Legal Aid will assess the legal needs of the clients, gathering information about them and their legal issues. Legal Aid will work to resolve the issue immediately if possible; if not, the cases will be referred to a staff attorney who will be able to provide further assistance.  Clients whose legal needs are beyond the usual scope of Legal Aid will be referred to the Louisville Bar Association or the Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyer Program.

 

Local attorneys who wish to volunteer their services can be placed on the list by contacting Kate Lindsay at the Louisville Bar Association, 502-583-5314 or email klindsay@loubar.org. 

In addition to visiting the Family Assessment Center at the Louisville Gardens, evacuees may also contact Legal Aid directly at 502-584-1254.

 

The mission of the Legal Aid Society is to provide free civil legal services to low-income families and individuals facing serious threats to their physical and economic well-being. Those assisted include the elderly, children, victims of domestic violence, and other vulnerable groups.  Their website is www.laslou.org.

 

Founded in 1900, The Louisville Bar Association, Inc. has the mission to promote justice, professional excellence and respect of the law; and to improve public understanding of the legal system, facilitate access to legal services, and serve the members of the association.  Their website is www.loubar.org