Call for volunteer lawyers for Disaster Recovery Legal Assistance hotline
The Missouri Bar is expanding its activated Disaster Recovery Legal Assistance hotline to assist Missouri residents and businesses impacted by this week's severe weather and tornadoes across Missouri, including Carl Junction and Jefferson City.
The Missouri Bar is expanding its activated Disaster Recovery Legal Assistance hotline to assist Missouri residents and businesses impacted by this week's severe weather and tornadoes across Missouri, including Carl Junction and Jefferson City. Missouri lawyers can sign up online using this form to volunteer to answer questions and provide pro bono legal advice via telephone to storm survivors. Volunteer lawyers are encouraged to identify preferred areas of practice when completing the form. Lawyers with landlord-tenant and real estate property practice experience are likely to be called upon first.
Volunteer lawyers will be provided with detailed information and resource materials related to participation in Missouri Bar coordinated disaster relief pro bono legal service.A special toll-free number is established at The Missouri Bar to receive requests for legal help. All calls are screened and then referred to volunteer lawyers who agree to offer a telephone consultation, providing free legal advice for disaster-related problems. Volunteer lawyers are connected with referrals from the hotline that fit their indicated practice areas.
The issues lawyers can expect to address include:
- Assistance with insurance claims (medical, property, etc.)
- Counseling on landlord/tenant problems
- Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
- Replacement of important legal documents that were destroyed
Volunteer lawyers must agree not to accept fee-generating cases from the disaster victims they help. Callers who need representation in court or who have issues requiring fee-generating services should be referred to the bar's LawyerSearch service.
The hotline was opened in April to assist those impacted by flooding in Northeast Missouri.
Questions about volunteering for the Disaster Recovery Legal Assistance hotline? Contact Brett Rolwes, The Missouri Bar's legal and community services coordinator, at 573-638-2242 or brolwes@mobar.org.
Your assistance in helping your fellow Missourians in their time of need is greatly appreciated.