EQUAL JUSTICE
Montana attorneys give back: MLSA begins new monthly General Civil Advice Clinic By Angie Wagenhals
WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Montana Legal Services Association offers General Civil Advice Clinics monthly. Attorneys or firms interested in volunteering through this type of model can reach out to MLSA Pro Bono Coordinator Angie Wagenhals at 442-9830 ext. 148 or by emailing awagenha@ mtlsa.org. Interested clients can schedule an appointment by calling MLSA’s HelpLine at 1-800-666-6899.
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teams of two, working together with attorneys they may not otherwise work with on a day-to-day basis. This teamAt 4 p.m. on a chilly evening late work approach draws on the strengths last fall, just as things were winding of multiple attorneys to tackle complex down in most offices in Montana, the Helena office of Montana Legal Services legal issues that may be unfamiliar to both. For example, the latest clinic Association was bustling with activity. paired Simon with MLSA Executive It was the first in-house General Civil Director Alison Paul to advise on a Advice Clinic put on by MLSA and staffed entirely by MLSA attorneys con- collections issue and a housing issue. Neither attorney practices in those tributing their time pro bono. Because areas of law, and they were able to work MLSA attorneys wanted to offer more together to conduct research and advise pro bono service, MLSA now offers monthly in-house General Civil Advice the clients. MLSA attorneys appreciate the opClinics in both their Missoula and portunity to engage in pro bono service Helena offices. in addition to their day-to-day work. So far, the clinics have served a handful of clients and have been warmly “MLSA is invested in offering pro bono received by MLSA clients and attorneys opportunities for its staff attorneys because we recognize that as attorneys, we alike. have an ethical obligation to provide pro MLSA regularly partners with local bono services to clients in addition to bar associations to support free family our day-to-day jobs,” Paul said. “Doing law clinics throughout the state, staffed so in the clinic setting allows our staff by volunteer attorneys in the private bar. The new clinics at MLSA, however, to work together across practice areas to meet this obligation. As the executive offer advice on many civil legal issues director of MLSA, I don’t often get to other than family law. Attorneys get provide direct legal assistance to our clithe chance to advise clients on issues ents. Volunteering at the clinics allows that MLSA does not usually assist with me to do that and is a fantastic reminder directly, such as employment or wills of the immense difference one hour of and estates issues. The new clinics, affectionately referred to as “Kitchen Sink advice can make in someone’s life.” MLSA will continue to offer General Clinics” by MLSA staff, serve a public Civil Advice Clinics monthly. Interested need while further enhancing attorney clients can schedule an appointment skills and expertise. by calling MLSA’s HelpLine at 1-800“I love volunteering in a clinic set666-6899. Attorneys or firms interested ting because it gives me a chance to in volunteering through this type of meet my pro bono obligation while learning new areas of the law,” said staff model can reach out to MLSA Pro Bono attorney Lindsey Simon. “As the public Coordinator Angie Wagenhals at 4429830 ext. 148 or by emailing awagenha@ benefits attorney for MLSA, I don’t ofmtlsa.org. ten get to provide advice on other legal issues like housing or consumer law. Angie Wagenhals is the pro bono Doing so at the clinic gives me a chance coordinator at Montana Legal to learn a new area of the law and makes Services Association. me a better lawyer.” Staff attorneys meet with clients in
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