The Advocate
December, 2017
Our Donors are Heroes to low income individuals, vulnerable Veterans and elderly clients, statewide!
    Your Support to LSA's helps:

  • Keep families safe from domestic violence
  • Prevent foreclosures & illegal evictions
  • Advocate for Veterans and the Elderly 
  • Protect the wages of working poor families
  • Empower citizens through community outreach & education
  • Restore Dignity to low income individuals and families 

Be a Hero! Change a life!
Become a Guardian of Justice today!  

Your donation means so much to the almost one million people living in poverty throughout Alabama. Over 90% of LSA's budget is spent directly on services to our clients!
J affe Pickett, Interim Executive Director of Legal Services Alabama, joined other legal aid leaders from around the country at the National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s (NLADA) Annual Conference held in Washington, DC on December 7 th . Mrs. Pickett was also invited to present at a listening session sponsored by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The listening session focused on issues of common interest between the Department of Justice and the legal aid and indigent defense communities. 

"I was honored to have the opportunity to speak about Our services on a national level and share success stories with advocates around the country." Pickett stated.

Congratulations to Mrs. Pickett for highlighting the work being done by Legal Services Alabama!
Staff Spotlight: Pam Barnes, Admin. Assistant, Tuscaloosa Office
Why have you chosen to advocate on behalf of poor people? 
It has been a wonderful experience -- at times challenging, but is rewarding in so many ways! I truly love and enjoy what I do, most of the time. As a divorced mom, I have been there, and I can relate. There are not many days when someone does not say " thank you, I appreciate your help." I feel that I am a valuable asset to our program. Working for Legal Services Alabama takes compassion, understanding the needs of others and what they are going through.

What is your most memorable experience? 
Wow! There are quite a few! First, I was honored that the Managing Attorney for the Tuscaloosa Office personally offered me a position of Executive Assistant. At the time, I had been with the program about 6 months or so. I think back and all I can say is “thank you” for my blessing! The funny part is, I had no legal experience, and definitely none in management! I served in this capacity until the program made official changes in job titles. Secondly, a great memorable experience came when I was nominated for LSA Administrative Assistant of the Year. LSA's Advocacy Management choosing to nominate me for special recognition was a great honor.

What advice can you give attorneys thinking about working with LSA and its offices? 
LSA is like my extended family. For me, it is about having a career that is rewarding, endless possibilities of learning experiences, and working with people that I can relate to and also connect with. It is about the clients we serve, understanding their needs and life’s hardships we face. It is about sacrifices, dedication, commitment, and doing our part to help others that may be less fortunate .

What do you like to do in your spare time?  
My family means more to me than I can say! My off time is spent doing things with family -- mostly my mom of 81 years. I especially love hanging out with my younger sister and other family and friends. It’s not too often, but when the opportunity presents itself, I get to visit my daughter/grands. Also, I really enjoy time at home, watching movies and listening to music. Bigbee Baptist Church is my home church. There, I serve as Church Secretary, and am involved in various auxiliaries. I also serve as a volunteer Board member for Sapps Community Center, Inc., and other volunteer services in my community.
***

* Pablum "Pam" Barnes, has been an Administrative Assistant with LSA's Tuscaloosa office since April 1990. She has also served as an Executive Assistant and Legal Secretary for the organization. A native of Aliceville (Pickens County) Alabama, Pam is the middle of five children. Pam has one daughter and three grandchildren. Pam holds an associate degree in Business from the University of Phoenix.
LSA Client Success Stories:
Birmingham Office

Congratulations to Rae Bolton, Staff Attorney in the Birmingham office who helped an elderly woman recover financially from a longtime scam!

Our advocate met with our client, a 70-year-old woman who had been the victim of a scammer out of Jamaica. The culprit had scammed our client out of roughly $70,000! Our client, over the course of a year, sent the offender so much money that she ended up losing her business, leaving her home in Houston to live with her daughter in Birmingham. Additionally, our client, who has social security as her only income, now takes care of her disabled son fulltime.

Our client had taken out roughly $6,000 from Capital One to pay the scammer, and was unable to pay it back, as she couldn't make ends meet. Over the course of a year, the debt owed had almost tripled due to interest and other fees. Our client was sued for more than $15,000, and came to LSA, seeking help!

Thanks to a hardship claim, Capital One filed a Motion to dismiss the lawsuit! With a simple letter to the creditor, our client no longer has to worry about the issue!

Congratulations to our Birmingham office advocates for protecting the wages of the poor!
Montgomery office

Congratulations to Stephen Last, Staff Attorney in the Montgomery office, who saved a client from wage garnishment!

Our client, a college student, was being garnished by Baptist Medical Center. After payroll deductions and the garnishment, she only took home half of her paycheck. Our advocate filed a Claim of Exemptions, claiming that our client's wages were exempt under the Alabama Constitution.

The Plaintiff's attorney argued that the claim should not be granted because our client receives students loans, which are exempt from garnishment, and exemptions cannot be stacked. LSA replied that this argument wasn't valid because they are completely different exemptions and are treated completely differently. As a result, the Judge agreed with our advocate and ordered the garnishment dismissed and all garnished funds be returned to our client!

Congratulations to our Montgomery office for helping to get a garnishment dismissed and funds returned to our client!

Call Center

Congratulations to James Chipley, Interim Managing Attorney for the Call Center, who assisted a client with information about wage garnishment!

Our client sought LSA for help with a small claims suit. Our Call Center Attorney drafted an answer for the client to file, and assured her that her income was exempt from garnishment.

The client stated in her client survey: "Attorney Chipley was very helpful, and sent forms and advice that will be very helpful to me. I appreciate his help very much! Thank you [LSA]."

Congratulations to our Central Call Center Staff for preventing a wage garnishment!
Legal Services Alabama Celebrates Leadership and Service during end-of-year Board Meeting
LaVeeda Battle, President of the LSA Board of Directors was presented with a Service Award on behalf of management and staff, for her leadership during her term as President from 2015-2017.
LSA Board of Directors President LaVeeda Battle (left) presents Sylvia Mason, longtime Executive Assistant, with a 40 year Service Award during the Board of Directors meeting held Dec. 15 in Montgomery.
Tis the Season for Giving
and Legal Services Alabama is committed to being a Guardian of Justice to low-income individuals and families across the state! We offer free, civil legal aid to: victims of domestic violence, Veterans, those facing eviction or foreclosure or wage garnishment, and so much more! During this season of giving, become a part of our mission and Donate today!

Legal Services Alabama wishes you and your family a Healthy and Happy Holiday!
Happy Holidays from LSA
From L-R: Honorable Maggie Drake (retired, Orrville); Honorable Donald McMillan Jr. (Marion, AL); Honorable JoCeleste Pettway (retired, Alberta, AL); and Honorable Marvin Wiggins (Hale County) pose during the Selma Holiday Open House.
From L-R: Selma Office's Felecia Pettway, Managing Attorney; Elizabeth Hollie, Staff Attorney; Danielle Edwards, Paralegal; and Iris Portis, Administrative Assistant, pose during the Selma Holiday Open House.
Montgomery Office Staff celebrate the Holidays; (below) Birmingham Office Staff
LSA's Call Center Staff; (right photo, From L-R): Attorney Alston Keith Jr. (Selma); Attorney Brenda M. Pompey (Camden, AL); Felecia Pettway, Managing Attorney, LSA Selma Office; Attorney William Pompey (Camden); Attorney Prince D. Chestnut (Selma).
Family Guidance Center of Alabama's Annual Holiday Reception
From L-R: Yolanda Adams, Bridgett and Ryan Donaldson, President of the Board; and Dr. Walter White, Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center of Alabama (FGC).
LSA's support staff TaKenya Rogers and Cathy DeJournette
From L-R: Shauntice Belser, Victoria Sewell, and Dameitra Offutt of the FGC.
Beth Hopkins and Kasia Williams of the FGC.
Booker T. Washington (BTW) Magnet High School band students play Christmas Carols during the reception.
From L-R: Taylor Groves, Anthony Davis, Pernell Jenkins, and Christie Hurst of the FGC.
LSA's Cathy DeJournette shares a laugh with Santa!
Arleere Hubbard and Angela Nixon with FGC.
  Thank you for providing
Help & Hope
to low-income
Alabamians this
Holiday Season! 

Support our Veteran Services 
  LSA provides free, civil legal services to Veterans!   
L SA continues providing legal services to Veterans by providing on site services through a partnership with the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System. LSA is dedicated to providing holistic solutions to the root issues plaguing low-income and homeless Veterans. Perry Myer, Montgomery office Staff Attorney, and a Call Center intake specialist, will be available on Wednesdays at two VA locations to provide legal assistance to Veterans: 

* Montgomery VA Medical Center on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from
9 AM-3 PM.

* Tuskegee VA on the first, third, and fifth Wednesday of each month from 9 AM-3 PM
The Advocate is published monthly by Communications & Community Development Coordinator, Desiree Taylor