It has been my
pleasure to serve as
Executive Director
for Legal Services
Alabama (LSA) for
the past six years.
This year we are embarking on an
awareness campaign to inform our
communities about who we are and
the services we provide. LSA is not
a federal or a state agency. We are
a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.
As a non-profit we rely on grants and
donations to continue to serve people
when they have nowhere else to turn.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter and
get to know us better. I am very proud
of our staff and the services they
provide our communities.
— James H. Fry
Executive Director
L E G A L
S E R V I C E S
BIRMINGHAM OFFICE
1820 Seventh Avenue North, Suite 200 • Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 328-3540
Making an Impact in YOUR Community
DID YOU
?
KNOW
The Birmingham Office:
Pictured (standing, l-r): Jonathan Bedwell, John Burks, April Pugh,
Nicole Otero, Stephanie Blackburn, Brad Byrne, Brooks Marks, David
Webster; (seated, l-r) Meg Philips, Janice Moore, Patricia Trabanino,
Barbara Luckett, and Kristen Fleming.
Fast and Furious
By David Webster, Managing Attorney
See back for more information.
Legal Services Alabama is a statewide
non-profit dedicated to providing access
to justice and quality civil legal assistance
to educate and empower Alabama's
low-income community.
207 Montgomery Street, Suite 1200
Montgomery, AL 36104
Toll-free: 1-866-456-4995
www.legalservicesalabama.org
A L A B A M A
“Fast and furious” is my usual reply when asked how
things are going in Birmingham. The phones are ringing,
people are standing at the window, and applications are
flashing across the computer screen. Multiple courts,
judges, and agencies populate the legal landscape. Add
into this frantic pace the frustration and even desperation
of the homeless, abused, elderly, and those pursued by financial predators. Working at Legal Services in metropolitan Birmingham is a lot like working in a nuclear power
plant. There is a tremendous amount of energy flowing
and an explosion could happen at any moment.
The Birmingham Office lawyers, paralegals and assistants, face this ever increasing need with dedication and
commitment to the disadvantaged. Several of them
worked at Project Homeless Connect on a Saturday. Hundreds of Birmingham’s homeless were offered services
from multiple groups and agencies. The office focus has
been on the elderly, persons dealing with foreclosure and
multiple private and subsidized housing issues, domestic
violence victims, and consumer cases.
Although the pace is fast and the atmosphere challenging we strive to always remember that we are not handling
cases, we are serving people.
• Represents people who
cannot afford to pay a
lawyer and have nowhere
else to turn.
• Serves low-income people
in Blount, Chilton,
Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair,
and Walker counties.
• Helped over 2,080
households in 2012.
• Saved clients $898,783
in 2012.
• Helps people with
domestic violence issues,
food stamps, Medicaid,
bankruptcy, foreclosures,
evictions, garnishments,
FEMA disputes, nursing
home issues, disability
cessations and overpayments, IRS liens and
audits, elder exploitation,
and other civil legal
matters.
• Utilizes negotiation and
mediation to help keep
court dockets cleared.
• Provides education about
legal rights through
community outreach.
Summer 2013
Your Help – Helps Us
Welcome Our 2013
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
■ HELPING THE ELDERLY
Miriam is 85 years old and applied with the Birmingham rehab
program for a new roof. The application was denied but the
contractor put the roof on the house anyway. The contractor
then sued Miriam for $8,500. A LSA lawyer successfully
defended Miriam against the lawsuit. This court victory
saved the Miriam’s home.
■ KEEPING A HOME
The Housing Authority attempted to terminate the
lease of Mr. B because of a decade old criminal conviction in another state. The hearing officer ignored
LSA’s request for a hearing. LSA then filed a HUD
complaint and an answer and counterclaim to the
eviction suit that ensued. The office successfully
negotiated the retention of the client’s home and
the subsidy he received.
Your Support Makes a Difference...
In Our Clients’Words
Legal Services of Alabama made the difference in our lives by helping us get our home
out of foreclosure 2 times. They allowed me to reassess my approach towards my
personal debt. Since then I have earned a Bachelor of Science degree...without Legal
Service’s intervention, I would be homeless today.
If I had not sought help through Legal Services Alabama I would have lost my home,
would have to quit working to stay at home with my youngest child and possibly move in
with relatives. With that being said, I am truly grateful for your services. Thank you!
LEGALNOTES
Changes to the
Uniform Power
of Attorney Act:
Recently there were changes enacted to
the Uniform Power of Attorney Act Title
26, Chapter 1A. Our advocates have
drafted a template Power of Attorney
to include all the revisions. For a donation
of any amount, we will send you a copy
of our Power of Attorney template. You
can donate at legalservicesalabama.org
or use the enclosed envelope.
FREE CLE
TRAINING
Legal Services Alabama is proud to
offer free CLE training in 2013 for our
Partners for Justice members.
The CLE training will be presented by
webinar on the following topics:
Determination of Heirs
• Partition Sales
• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
•
Registration information will be sent via
email to members a week before the
scheduled training.
Thank You!
• Rebecca Bigbee
• Central Alabama Community
Foundation
• Community Foundation
of West Alabama
• Cristy Crow
• Cunningham and Bounds
• Donna Fork
• Daniel Foundation
• Jeffery Duffey
• Lawrence Gardella
• Dorothy Graham
• Debra Hansen
• Randy Haynes
• Henry Henderson
• Paul Johnson
• Dale Marsh
• Mobile Bar Association
• Mary Jane Oakley
• Clifton Perry
• Jaffe Pickett
• Powell & Hamilton
• Lizzie Pullom
• Rene’ Richard
• Carl Sallé
• Allen Tapley
• Royce Wadsworth
JOIN TODAY!
The success of our mission
depends on partners like you!
Please join Partners for Justice today.
Supporter of Justice . . . . . . . . $1 - $199
Defender of Justice . . . . . . . $200 - $499
Pillar of Justice . . . . . . . . . . $500 - $999
Champion of Justice . . . $1,000 or more
Donate online at www.legalservices
alabama.org or use the envelope provided.
Summer 2013