Lawyers to Offer Free Services at Law Week Events
Celebrating your freedom in the new millennium is the theme for this year’s 2000 Law Week, which kicks off April 29.
The San Diego County Bar Association, in conjunction with the Lawyer Referral and Information Service, is hosting a variety of professional and community activities during the local celebration, which is in its 43rd year.
“Law Week is a time to reflect on our legal heritage, the role of law in our society and the rights we enjoy under the Constitution,” according to Stephanie Sontag, SDCBA president.
Several events will be held throughout the county as community outreach programs to help educate and inform the public about the law and justice system.
Among the planned events is the annual “Free Law at Longs,” which takes place at seven Longs Drugstore locations throughout the county April 29.
Several attorneys will provide free legal advice on numerous subjects such as personal injury, small claims, contracts and landlord/tenant disputes, said Lottie Goodson, a local attorney who is co-chairing the event along with justices Rae Miller and Kim Allario.
Lawyers are not allowed to give out their business cards and anyone needing an attorney will be referred to the local bar associations, she said.
– Lawyers Giving
Back To Community
This event, along with others being held, is important because legal matters are important to the community, Goodson said, adding that these events are a good way for lawyers to give back to the community.
“We want more people to get involved,” she said of the community participation.
The event marks the fourth year that Longs has “gone out of their way” to assist and participate in Law Week, she said.
Bob Tilburg, store manager for the Longs on Balboa Avenue in Clairemont, said that his store has participated all four years as a public service to its customers.
Customers have been very appreciative of the Free Law event, which Tilburg believes attracts some people who may be hesitant about paying upfront fees for legal advice.
Since the centrally located store is one of the busiest Longs stores, customers and others in the community are responsive to the free legal advice, he said.
– Free Event Attracts
Customers To Store
While the impact is not very significant, Tilburg said that the store does get a little extra business when the event is held.
While the number of people who attend the Longs event varies from location to location and year to year, Goodson would like to see a hundred people participate.
“I really want to continue working with Longs to see if we can increase the number,” she said of possibly expanding the event in the future.
This year also marks the growth of another Law Week function called Ask-A-Lawyer About Employment Law.
– Ask-A-Lawyer Set
For Three Locations
This year, the one-night event is being held at three locations , San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad.
“In an effort to make this a true community outreach effort, we will bring attorneys to the communities,” said Bernadette Baum, event chairwoman and a local attorney.
Attendees of the free public service event will be able to speak to lawyers on a one-on-one basis to discuss any type of workplace issue, she said.
For information about Law Week 2000, call the SDCBA at (619) 231-0781 or the Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (619) 231-8585.
