5/18/2011 9:06:00 AM Lawyers offer peace of mind, free of charge on Law Day
Lawyer Chris Jensen and Pro Bono Coordinator Tina Roach, left, assist Prescott Valley resident Diane Eddy with a legal issue during Law Day on May 5.
TribPhoto/Sue Tone
People who would otherwise have no way to resolve their legal difficulties got a helping hand on May 5 when Prescott area lawyers expanded their volunteer efforts to Prescott Valley.
Chris Jensen of the Jensen Law Firm in Prescott said about 80 people took advantage of local lawyers' day to give back to their communities.
"Gov. Brewer this year for the first time declared Public Access to Justice Month. In keeping with that, we expanded our Law Day program to Prescott Valley, Camp Verde and Cottonwood. We had a good response in the Verde, but a tremendous response in Prescott Valley," Jensen said. "Next year we expect it to grow even larger."
A number of lawyers set up shop in the Entertainment District across from Harkins Theater for the day, and Jensen said they helped to resolve a good deal more than half of the legal issues people brought, free of charge.
"These are nice people. Some of them are really disadvantaged in health, employment or because of the economy. They are in great stress over how to deal with these legal issues. There is no Medicare or ACCESS SP for legal problems," he said.
Jensen said one woman who is unemployed received notice that a credit card company was suing her. She has no assets, and no income. She was in fear that she would go to jail. Jensen said he assured her that by State Constitution, she cannot go to jail in Arizona for failure to pay a debt. Yet she was living in great anxiety.
"At the end of the day, she got it, and it didn't cost her anything. Removing the anxiety level was significant," he said. "Our group was very helpful to all sorts of people in resolving a wide variety of legal disputes."
Chief among the issues that people brought to the volunteering lawyers during the day were domestic relations, and second to that, debt and creditor disputes such as short sales, foreclosures, and credit card lawsuits. Third were civil disputes and questions about wills and probate.
Jensen said he enjoys helping out each year at Law Day.
"I think it's just that the rest of the year we charge for our services, and this is one day that we can help people who have no other way to get legal advice. It's a gesture of goodwill to say thanks to the community for giving us the opportunity to have a career and support our families," he said.
Jensen said the lawyers who participate in Law Day do not ask for money or expect to get further business from these contacts.
"I have neer gotten a case (during Law Day) that I've made a penny out of," he said.
He said lawyers want to continue to keep the Law Day in Prescott Valley again next year, as well as in Prescott.
"Prescott Valley is a little underserved by the legal community. There are not many lawyers here. That's one reason we'll focus on continuing the Prescott Valley Law Day," he said.
