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Bar News - January 5, 2001 Senior Advice Volunteer: A New Way to Participate in Pro Bono ARE YOU A seasoned practitioner with a developed area of expertise? Would you like to share some of that expertise to benefit some of our state's most vulnerable residents? If so, there is a new way for you to participate in the Pro Bono Referral Program by mentoring and providing guidance to legal services staff as they respond to requests for legal information and advice from needy senior citizens. The Senior Citizens Law Project (SCLP) Advice Line of New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA) is looking for experienced attorneys to provide legal advice over the telephone to its legal staff. The Advice Line is a statewide program available to New Hampshire residents who are at least 60 years old. Since it began operation in March 1999, the Advice Line has served over 3,000 senior citizens. Senior citizens calling the Advice Line look to its staff attorneys to provide legal advice, brief services and referrals on a wide range of civil legal matters much broader than those issues normally handled by New Hampshire Legal Assistance. From income tax issues and estate planning to real estate and contract disputes, when it comes to matters outside NHLA's usual practice areas, program attorneys have looked to the private Bar for guidance on and assistance with a wide range of legal questions. Due to the generosity of the attorneys who have donated their time, the Advice Line has been able to provide its clients with high-quality and effective legal services. "The expertise provided to us by private attorneys has been a very valuable resource for the SCLP Advice Line attorneys and as a result, for New Hampshire senior citizens," said Velma McClure, Advice Line's managing attorney. "I believe there may be a large pool of attorneys who would like to be able to assist low-income and disadvantaged seniors, but who simply don't have the flexibility in their schedules to take full-fledged pro bono cases. These are the attorneys we are looking to recruit for this very specialized Pro Bono program." A number of attorneys have found providing assistance over the telephone to Advice Line attorneys a flexible way to offer their time on a pro bono basis, including David Bailinson, of Abramson, Bailinson & O'Leary in Manchester. "Many of the inquiries are interesting and the staff attorneys are a pleasure to deal with. It has been a rewarding experience to be able to provide legal advice to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it in such a flexible manner." Kathleen Robinson, of Robinson & Boesch in Portsmouth, whose practice is focused on estate planning, is pleased that there is a way she can make a pro bono contribution in her practice area. "Giving my time to the Advice Line is a good way for me to donate to the (Pro Bono) program since there are limited opportunities for me to take pro bono cases that I feel competent to handle. It is also such a simple way to help." Richard Uchida, of Hebert & Uchida in Concord, feels gratified that his involvement with the Advice Line is helping fill a void that exists for low-income seniors in New Hampshire. "There is a perceived gap in meeting the legal needs for low-income senior citizens in certain areas of practice. I am happy to be able to provide my expertise to help lessen that gap, either by giving my thoughts or advice over the telephone or providing full representation to those clients who need it," Uchida said. According to Virginia Martin, the Bar's associate executive director for legal services, "Private attorneys who offer their time and advice to NHLA Advice Line attorneys are providing a valuable service and deserve recognition. This activity supplements services rendered through the Pro Bono Program and does not replace the substantial need for attorneys to take on regular Pro Bono cases." Martin added, "In fact we have increased the number of low-income senior citizens served through Pro Bono, thanks to clients directed to us by the Advice Line." Attorneys who would like to have their names placed on a referral list for Advice Line attorneys should call Velma McClure, Advice Line managing attorney, at 206-2205 or Cheryl Driscoll, Advice Line staff attorney, at 206-2210. To represent a low-income senior through Pro Bono, interested attorneys should contact Carolann Wooding, Pro Bono Program coordinator, at 224-6942.
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