Court superheroes provide free online legal clinics
Many people are struggling to meet life’s challenges during the pandemic. But some challenges do not have to be met alone. Superheroes are available to fight homelessness, domestic violence and joblessness; to assist with child custody; and to find benefits to help in hard times. These superpowers are real, because families in need have access to free legal advice. The Second Judicial District Court Pro Bono Committee works with New Mexico Legal Aid to provide free legal advice to people in Bernalillo County every month.
The Second Judicial District Court Pro Bono teleclinics help with cases involving eviction, foreclosure, child custody, guardianship, consumer debt and restraining orders against an abusive partner.
Unlike in criminal cases, attorneys are not provided for free in civil cases. But assistance with civil matters is needed now more than ever during the pandemic. Our monthly clinics help people navigate the legal system by offering free help in family law and civil law cases. Teleclinics are now available to allow people to get civil legal advice and assistance remotely.
Here’s how it works: Teleclinics are on the first Thursday of every month, starting Feb. 4. There is no charge to consult with an attorney. You must do two things. First, preregister with Legal Aid by emailing audreym@ nmlegalaid.org for a registration form, or by calling 505521-6129 if you don’t have internet access. Second, fill out a registration form and return it to Legal Aid, which you must do before you can be registered and assigned a volunteer attorney. Once you’re registered you will be given a time frame to receive a call from your attorney. You may be told, for example, to make sure you’re free between 8 and 10 a.m. on the date of the clinic, and the volunteer attorney will call you during that time to discuss your legal problem.
The program offers assistance for the following kinds of issues: domestic violence; child custody; child support payments; landlord/tenant; foreclosure; expungement; consumer debt; Real ID; wills, estate and probate; guardianship; bankruptcy; contracts; personal injury; public benefits; employment; and immigration.
The legal system is complicated and frightening for many people. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pressing need for civil legal services looms over our state. For example, one recent study estimates that once the eviction moratorium is lifted, up to 50,000 New Mexicans could be facing eviction in the first month. Civil legal service providers and volunteer attorneys can help keep people in their homes or make a planned move.
These teleclinics would not exist without continued funding by our Legislature and the support of our volunteer attorneys, the superheroes among us.
Support for civil legal services is critical to ensure legal service providers have the resources they need to help stabilize our community. Legal Aid and other nonprofit civil legal service providers across the state have tirelessly worked to move from in-person to remote services, and they are among the quiet superheroes in our community. We thank them for their service.