Legal Clinics Set For Summer

MISSISSIPPI SUPREME COURT PRESS RELEASE

A dozen legal clinics are scheduled across the state this summer to help poor people address issues such as birth certificate corrections, child support, uncontested divorce, foreclosure prevention, guardianships, Social Security issues and wills.

Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Jess H. Dickinson, a member of the state Access to Justice Commission, said, “I am very pleased with the hard work so many are doing to provide clinics to the rural, unserved areas of our state. But the under-funding of our Legal Services offices has grown to the point that we are reaching far less than fifty percent of the need. That means thousands of Mississippians – including many who are elderly, uneducated, veterans, children, and single mothers – are unrepresented in our courts, simply because they are poor. And while these wonderful clinics will provide some help, the overwhelming need will be met only with a massive increase in funding, or by increasing the pro bono hours donated by our already overworked pro bono lawyers. This huge denial of equal access to our courts should be of concern to every fair-minded Mississippian.”

People interested in seeking assistance must register in advance by calling the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project at 601-960-9577. The schedule is:

• July 15, 1-4 p.m., Lee County Justice Center, Tupelo.
• July 20, 10 a.m., Noxubee County Library, Macon.
• July 29, 4-7 p.m., Itawamba County Courthouse, Fulton;
• Aug. 13, 4-7 p.m., Alcorn County Courthouse, Corinth.

The family law clinics are a cooperative effort of MVLP, local bar associations, Young Lawyers associations and the Pro Bono Initiative of the University of Mississippi School of Law.