- Saturday will be free legal advice for communities in Tallahassee.
- The clinic is designed to help people move forward with legal issues and answer questions.
- Watch the video above to see how this event can help community members.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT
Some people in the 32310-zip code may not be able to afford an attorney… some don’t even know if they have a case…
I’m Terry Gilliam, your Southwest Tallahassee neighborhood reporter at Nims Middle School….
Judges and attorneys came together to give back to this neighborhood to help members of the community with any legal issue they may have…
Here’s how.
“The justice gap absolutely exists. Again, we find that finances prevent people from filing those claims they believe they have. Some of them don’t even make it into the courtroom door because they feel like they’re excluded.”
That was Leon County judge, Monique Richardson. She knows who important legal services are for community members.
Saturday, the second judicial circuit of Florida held its third free legal clinic at Nims Middle School.
A clinic designed to point people in the right direction when facing different legal issues.
“We see all the time in court, how people need assistance from licensed attorneys, licensed paralegals…”
It’s something that is prevalent in zip codes like the 32310, which happens to be home to Tallahassee's most vulnerable population.
Which is why Richardson believes the free clinic is a step in the right direction.
“We just wanted to provide that specifically in this particular community.”
Common legal issues that were seen on Saturday included...
Family law, criminal law, bankruptcy, contract law, and more.
Clients even had opportunities to meet one on one with different lawyers and law students that were in attendance.
“Some attorneys may walk away from here from taking on a case completely, not just giving advice.”
It's something that clerk of circuit court and comptroller for Leon County, Gwen Marshall-Knight believes this was needed for individuals…
“This was one of the things that was missing in our community.”
Marshall also tells me…
“To be able to provide this and it’s self-funded, I'm just happy again to be a part of the legal community.”
It's a statement that Judge Richardson can agree with.
“That makes us feel good like we did do something to help the folks that really need it.”
The Second Judicial circuit of Florida will have another free legal clinic in April, but a date has not yet been set. In Southwest Tallahassee, Terry Gilliam, ABC27.
