Daviess Bar Association to host legal consultations

Sept. 28--Earlier this year, the Daviess County Bar Association hosted a free legal consultation clinic at the Daviess County Public Library on Frederica Street. Area lawyers who volunteered met with people who were seeking answers with legal issues.

Although bar association officials were unsure about how successful the event would be, Bar president Julie Gordon said the lawyers involved were pleased. Now, the association is planning to hold similar legal consultations on a regular basis.

Clay Wilkey, an Owensboro attorney who helped organize the first event, said bar association members are planning to hold another legal consultation on Saturday, Oct. 25, and future sessions on the last Saturday of the month on a quarterly basis.

"I'm excited about it," Wilkey said. "I think it will be great for the library and Daviess County and will make attorneys feel good about giving back."

The consultation sessions will give people an opportunity to meet with an attorney and discuss a legal issue. The consultation does not mean the attorney is taking a person's case. Instead, the attorney can listen to the person's issue and make suggestions, such as where the person can turn for help.

"It's advice, but it creates an attorney-client relationship," Wilkey said.

Library Director Jim Blanton hosted similar legal clinics when he was the director of the Chesapeake, Virginia, Public Library.

The first session, held in June, focused on civil issues such as family law, estate planning and employment and criminal issues. Attorneys will be available to discuss a variety of legal issues, Wilkey said.

"I envision this will be mostly small claims, wills, power of attorney" and other civil issues, Wilkey said. But "if someone was to come in and say, 'I have a question about a criminal case,' I think (an attorney) would be willing to sit down with them."

"I think, based on preliminary indications we got at the bar meeting, I think there will be attorneys willing to do it," Wilkey said.

James Mayse, 691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com

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