By Kelly Caplan
BridgeTower Media Newswires
DETROIT — The legal community is coming together to help underserved populations, first responders, and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several nonprofit organizations and law firms are offering an array of free legal services, from estate planning to business reopening guidance, for those in need.
Social distancing is still in place due to the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order so legal professionals are helping virtually, either by videoconference or telephone.
Ashley Lowe, chief executive officer of Lakeshore Legal Aid, said while their 14 brick-and- mortar offices in southeast Michigan are closed, clients can still apply for services on their website and the telephone hotline is fully staffed.
“Even though we’re not physically going to court right now, we’re still doing a lot of advocacy,” she said. “Our hotline provides help for the whole state for low income people, seniors and survivors of domestic violence. It is fully functional, and we are open Monday through Friday taking calls and giving advice.”
Lowe said initially, many of the calls they received were from workers who were suddenly no longer working, and they currently have a need for attorneys with expertise in bankruptcy.
“We’re really getting a lot of calls about unemployment benefits,” she said. “We’ve been working closely with the (unemployment) agency to make sure we have the most up-to-date information and can help people process their applications.”
Other clients have called asking for help with evictions and domestic violence, Lowe noted.
“We’re going to court virtually for cases where people are using the pandemic as an excuse to not return kids after parenting time,” she explained. “The governor has made it clear that parenting time orders are still in effect, and people can travel for those. We’ve had more than a handful of cases where we’ve had to get kids back to parents when the other parent has refused to return them.”
But virtual assistance during the crisis doesn’t work for everyone, especially those clients who don’t have a laptop or mobile device, let alone an internet connection. Lowe said her organization has some positive news for clients without the necessary technology.
“We’ve gotten some grants to help with technology costs to help us go virtual, and one thing we got funding for was mobile hotspots,” she said. “Our plan, once hearings start to become more common, is to provide these to our clients if they don’t have Wi-Fi or internet access.”
Aid for small businesses and nonprofits
Meanwhile, Michigan Community Resources (MCR) is providing free legal help with pandemic issues, and recently opened the COVID-19 Virtual Legal Clinic. MCR is part of a growing coalition of 34 law firms in 30 cities that will staff the online legal clinics.
MCR CEO Shamyle Dobbs said the pandemic has shown that “we have a moral imperative to distribute resources more equitably.”
Maureen Krasner, MCR senior program manager, said they are able to offer nonprofits and small businesses the opportunity to receive pro bono legal support they may not otherwise be able to afford.
“Small businesses and nonprofits are struggling to navigate the economic and legal impacts of the COVID-19 crisis,” she said. “Support from volunteer attorneys in equipping these organizations and businesses with tools they need to address these concerns will be critical to bringing much-needed resources to our Detroit communities.”
Participating law firms will offer guidance about federal funding aid, and advice on other issues that could arise as a result of the pandemic, including those about leases, contracts, employment matters, reopening guidance, and business reorganization.
In Detroit, the free clinic is co-hosted with Miller Canfield, and attorneys from Bodman PLC, Dykema, and Honigman LLP will also provide legal services.
Wendy Richards, a principal with Miller Canfield and pro bono counsel, said the attorneys will use their unique skills to best serve critical organizations in this time of need.
“Small businesses and nonprofits sustain local economies, employ our friends and family members, and add character to our neighborhoods,” she said. “They are the essence of our communities.”
According to MCR, qualifying nonprofits and businesses with 25 or fewer employees will be offered free 45-minute consultations with attorneys who can answer legal questions in certain areas and help nonprofit leaders and small business owners determine the best paths forward for their organizations.
Support for first responders
Attorneys with O’Reilly Rancilio PC in Sterling Heights are providing free basic estate planning services to those serving on the front lines. The firm also partnered with local individuals and companies to provide free lunches for nurses in honor of National Nurses Week.
Marc Kaszubski, a shareholder with the firm who serves as city attorney for Sterling Heights, said his attorneys and staff have worked hand-in-hand with local first responders for years, and so far the response has been positive.
“We know firsthand the selfless acts that they perform daily to keep everyone safe,” he said. “Our attorneys want to do their part to give back to them, in any way we can. We hope that by providing these brave women and men with free basic estate planning documents, we will give them some peace of mind as they continue to battle on the front lines of this pandemic.”
He added that the firm uses remote platforms to provide these services.
“We also have the audio/video capability to complete a remote online notarization, as provided under the governor’s executive order.”
The estate planning services offered free of charge include medical powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, and simple/statutory wills.
Additionally, the State Bar of Michigan has created the Frontline Responders Legal Helpline, where attorneys can volunteer their services to medical workers and first responders and help them prepare these documents at no charge.
Eligible attorneys are those licensed in good standing in Michigan, and who can provide proof of malpractice insurance coverage.
How you can help
Lowe said her not-for-profit organization’s hotline, called the Counsel and Advocacy Law Line, does intake and referral service for all of the big legal aid programs. That number is (888) 783-8190.
She is always looking for attorney volunteers, as well, particularly those with native-level fluency in a foreign language.
“One of the hardest things for us to do is recruit people with language skills — Spanish, Arabic, Chaldean and more — to help us with our clients,” she said. “Anybody who has native-level language skills, we would love for them to help.”
It’s important to keep in mind that while there is value in volunteering to help those in need, caring for yourself is of equal importance.
Lowe said it’s a conversation her group never stops having, and she makes sure her team has work-life balance.
“It’s hard work; hearing stories of clients who are experiencing trauma is traumatizing for those of us who are working with them every day,” she noted. “The reason lawyers come to work with us is because they care, and that can be a hard thing if you care too much."
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