April 22, 2016 
eBrief


When this client (right) came to the Help Desk with a trial set for the same day, Meg Philips,  from Legal Services Alabama, knew what to do. Philips, who was volunteering with the BBVLP that day, went with the client to  Judge Shera Grant's court. Philips got the case dismissed when she showed that the creditor suing the client did not have proof that the client actually owed the debt. The client, Tiffany Duke, sent an e-mail today to the Volunteer Lawyers Program to thank Philips and BBVLP Staff Attorney Katrina Brown. The client said the attorneys "literally stopped what you were doing... showing that you were concerned and cared about my situation." To read the client's full email click here
 HELP A CLIENT IN NEED

1.  This mother wants to see her children but cannot afford an attorney to help her 

This client, who is living with her parents and trying to become financially independent, is worried her 15- and 11-year-old children will grow up without knowing her. The client's ex-husband refuses to let her see the children in violation of the divorce decree and needs help filing a contempt petition to assist this client. (16-0005675)




2. This hard-working couple needs help getting paid for cleaning a local apartment complex

This couple has been diligently cleaning apartments in a local complex but the owners have not been diligently paying them. With two small children, they want to remain working, and simply need help negotiating with the manager. (16-0005700)




3.  Mom worries that her family cannot continue to live in an apartment with a broken air conditioner

This young mother and her husband, who works at minimum wage, have been living with a broken air conditioner for more than eight months. Now that summer is approaching, the situation has become urgent and she needs help making the landlord fix the problem or being allowed to move.  (16-0005713)

 
 BE A HELP DESK VOLUNTEER
Monday & Thursday Mornings

Greg Rhodes, Sirote & Permutt, meets with a client from the Civil Help Desk on Monday. 

Wednesday Mornings

Attorneys  Meredith Busby and  Houston Smith, Alabama Power, help a client at the Domestic Relations Help Desk.




Homeless Shelter Help Desk
Tuesday Mornings 

John Thomas Carney, Carney Dye, and  Melinda Guillaum assist a client from Pathways.







 ATTORNEYS WHO CLOSED CASES THIS WEEK
Ben Cohn, Williams Elliott & Edwards

Ben helped a women move on with her life by obtaining a divorce for her.
 HELP DESK ATTORNEYS: 60 CLIENTS SERVED
April Bauder,  Merrill Law Firm
Meredith Busby
John Thomas Carney,  Carney Dye
Kathy Collier,  Balch & Bingham
Patricia Doblar
Melinda Guillaume
James Illston
Priscilla Kelley
Barbara Luckett,  Legal Services Alabama
Preston Martin
Ryan Myers,  Cory Watson
Tarackia Phillips-Barge
Tereza Sampaio
Houston Smith,  Alabama Power
Moses Stone,  Stone Law Firm
Pamela Weed


Volunteers:
Jessica Chang,  Cumberland School of Law
Barbara Saurer,  University of Alabama
Rebecca Wadley, YWCA
NEWS TO KNOW

Donate
Donations from the community are the number one funding source for the Volunteer Lawyer Program. Click here to donate.
There are two ways attorneys can choose to help with the Volunteer Lawyer Program. Click here for what you can do.