For Immediate Release
January 6, 2020
Alaska Attorneys Provide Free Legal Help on 2021 MLK Day
COVID-19 changes some logistics but doesn’t stop the 12th year of the event
Anchorage, AK—January 4, 2020— On January 18th, between noon and 4 pm, the Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Court System, and Alaska Legal Services Corporation will host their twelfth annual MLK Day free legal help event.
“The Alaska Bar Association has followed the national lead of making this a ‘day on, not a day off’ as a powerful way of building community and providing service,” stated Krista Scully, Pro Bono Director of the Alaska Bar Association. “The need in Alaska for affordable legal services is great, especially during the pandemic. Fortunately, so is the giving nature of our legal community.”
Free legal help will be available to any low to moderate-income Alaskan in need of legal counsel for all civil issues like family law, landlord/tenant, public benefits, employment law, probate, or estate planning issues.
Since the inception of the event, more than 4,000 Alaskans through the effort of 1,500 volunteer lawyers who have donated 7,000 volunteer hours totaling nearly $1 million worth of free legal help.
Normally, participants would meet in select locations across the state, but the pandemic has shifted the event to an online call center. The call center will be staffed by volunteer attorneys, and support will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to the one-day event, this year Alaskans have access to a virtual legal clinic – alaska.freelegalanswers.org. The virtual clinic is hosted by the Alaska Bar Association and is an ongoing free and confidential service that allows Alaskans of modest means to receive answers to civil (non-criminal) legal questions, at no cost, from licensed Alaska lawyers.
“You are not alone when it comes to the legal issues in your life,” said Krista Scully, Pro Bono Director of the Alaska Bar Association. “If your income has been impacted by the current global crisis or if you qualify as a low to moderate-income household, you can have your legal questions answered for free. Alaska lawyers are volunteering their time and legal expertise to help you.”
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Two Ways Alaskans Can Access Free Legal Help
What: MLK Free Legal Help Day
When: January 18, 2020 – Noon to 4 pm
How: Low to moderate-income to Alaskans can call 844-263-1849 and be connected with an attorney who can confidentially answer questions about any civil legal issue.
What: Virtual Legal Clinic
When: Ongoing
How:
1. Go to Alaska.FreeLegalAnswers.org and answer a few questions to be sure you qualify for help.
2. Ask your non-criminal legal question via the website.
3. A volunteer lawyer will review your question.
4. You get an email letting you know when an answer has been provided. Log in to your account to view the answer.
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