The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will recognize National Pro Bono Week and celebrate the attorneys who have provided free legal advice, free legal education, and those who have handled mediations and other court appointments without charge through the court’s programs. Pro Bono week is October 19-24, 2014, and a recognition luncheon will be held at the LeClaire Room in Edwardsville on Tuesday, October 21st at noon. Featured speakers include Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier and James Lestikow, President of the Illinois Bar Foundation. The Madison County Bar Association will present its annual pro bono award during the luncheon.

Attorneys from Madison County continue to provide free appointments in the Legal Advice Center in the Madison County courthouse. The attorneys who met with 24 low-income individuals during the months of July, August and September are:

Gail Donnelly Bader, Matthew Champlin, Tanja Cook, Jack Cranley, Derek Filcoff, Janel Freeman, Jennifer Hightower, Joseph Hill, Ryan Kiwala, Christine Kovach, Bonnie Levo, Michael Meehan, Bryant Michael, Jeremy Sackett, Maureen Schuette, Amy Sholar, Phil Theis, Julie Tracy, Chris Threlkeld, and Ron Williams.

The Pro Bono committee also provides free continuing legal education to the attorneys who are doing volunteer work. “It is a great help to provide these lawyers who are doing free legal work in the community with the needed education to do so. Our education programs train the lawyers for their pro bono efforts and thanks them for their willingness to help,” noted Judge Barb Crowder, Chair of the Third Circuit Pro Bono Committee. “We appreciate both the lawyers doing the pro bono work and the lawyers donating their time to train others.” Attorney Roy Dripps presented a program on HIPAA and Medical Confidentiality in July, Leslie Wood spoke about Bankruptcy and Divorce in August, and Kevin Babb explained the duties of Guardians Ad Litem in Probate cases in September.

The recognition luncheon is sponsored by the law firms of Gori Julian and Associates; Lewis, Rice and Fingersh; Simmons, Hanly Conroy, LLC; the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, the Madison County Bar Association, and the Public Interest Law Initiative. The luncheon is open to attorneys, court staff, and to the press.

The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee reminds members of the public that free legal appointments to low income members of the public who do not have attorneys are available by appointment on any legal subject except criminal law, including but not limited to subjects such as family law or areas such as debt collection, landlord tenant, small claims, or any other civil area of law. The free appointments are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The appointments are for those of limited incomes who do not have attorneys and qualifying information will need to be provided. To make an appointment or to volunteer, call 618-296-5921 or e-mail Betsy Mahoney at bemahoney@co.madison.il.us.