Through a persistent and energetic bipartisan legislative effort, New Hampshire Legal Assistance received an appropriation in the current state budget that funded the opening of a new NHLA office in Nashua.  Staffed by two attorneys, a paralegal, and a secretary, the office opened for business in mid-September, but was formally dedicated at an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 9. 

The prime sponsor of this legislative effort was Senator Joe Foster of Nashua, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a partner at the McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton law firm.

“Our efforts in the Senate yielded $1.4 million for Nashua’s legal assistance program,” said Foster in a news release issued last month.  “The Legal Assistance office benefits the community as a whole.  For every dollar spent on legal assistance, much more is returned to the community.  We worked hard to establish this office and could not have done it without the help of the House, Senator Majority Leader Robert Clegg and Sen. Lou D’Allesandro.”

State Senator David Gottesman, a partner of the Gottesman & Hollis law firm, also of Nashua, was another strong supporter. “This service will be invaluable to the community.  Those who are not able to afford a lawyer will have one,” said Gottesman.  “Establishing the Legal Assistance office was one of my top priorities this past year.”

In the House, Representatives Joseph Stone, Robert Wheeler, Elizabeth Hager, Ken Weyler, and Mike Whalley all played important roles.  House Speaker Douglas Scamman and then-Senate President Thomas Eaton also supported the appropriation.  State Senator Margaret Hassan, also a member of the Bar, provided important early support in the Senate.  Nina Gardner, Executive Director of the Judicial Council, who has worked closely with NHLA over the past decade regarding the North Country appropriation which funds the Littleton office and the Berlin satellite, played a vital leadership role in this effort.  New Hampshire Bar Association lobbyist John McIntosh provided important advice and contacts at several stages during the legislative process.

Melanie Ryan Chaput, who had been in private practice in Manchester, is the new office’s managing attorney.  She is joined by Michael Perez as the second staff attorney; Abigail Alicéa, an experienced paralegal from Nashua joined the office and Rose Lamerand, the office’s secretary, transferred from NHLA’s Manchester office.  Both Rose and Abigail are fluent in Spanish, and Melanie and Mike have a working knowledge of that language.

The office serves Nashua and the greater surrounding area, including the towns of Amherst, Brookline, Greenville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, New Ipswich, Pelham, Temple, Wilton, Lyndeborough and Sharon.  The staff in Nashua will also be serving a part-time satellite office in Salem that NHLA plans to open in the next few months.  Other towns served by this satellite will be Atkinson, Chester, Danville, Derry, Hampstead, Kingston, Londonderry, Newton, Plaistow and Windham.  The office’s caseload priorities will include housing cases, government benefits and health care cases, domestic violence, and other issues involving clients’ basic needs.

John Tobin is executive director of NH Legal Assistance.

State Senators (and attorneys) Joe Foster (left) and David Gottesman braved a winter storm on Dec. 9 to attend the formal opening of the Nashua office of NH Legal Assistance. The lawmakers helped NHLA secure an additional state appropriation to extend its services in Nashua, Salem and surrounding communities.