Legal issues impacting the elderly comprise some of the areas of greatest need among low-income persons in our community. To help fill the need, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) has launched a three-part Continuing Legal Education series to provide attorneys with the knowledge needed to better serve these older clients.
"Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is receiving requests for legal services in unprecedented numbers," said JALA Pro Bono Development Coordinator Kathy Para. "We're hoping local attorneys will take advantage of this opportunity to improve their knowledge and better serve their own clients as well as assisting low-income clients in NE Florida"
The CLE Training Series is free to any area attorney, though JALA asks that attendees accept at least one Legal Aid pro bono case in the particular substantive area during the following year.
JALA kicked off the series on Friday, April 17, providing 16 attorneys and law students with a two-hour seminar on basic probate. On Friday, May 22, the topic turns to Wills and Advance Directives, followed by Introduction to Guardianship on Friday, June 19.
Jacksonville attorney and JALA Board Member Rebeccah L. Beller is conducting the seminars. She is a practicing attorney in the areas of probate, estate planning, family and consumer law.
"It's our goal to provide participants with the tools and confidence to take that first case," Beller stated. "The seminars walk you through a typical case and provide a forum to discuss basics to best practices."
Attorneys who attend get 2-1/2 CLE hours for each seminar. Since the sessions are offered during the lunch hour, those attending are asked to bring their own brown bag lunch, though JALA provides drinks and dessert.
JALA also provides professional liability insurance for its pro bono attorneys. All seminars are video-taped and available for viewing by JALA pro bono attorneys.
Attorneys wishing to take advantage of these free CLE seminars can contact Para at kathy.para@jaxlegalaid.org or 356-8371, ext. 363.