Disaster Response Legal Assistance: Call for Volunteers

Will you volunteer to help disaster victims impacted by the recent flooding in Northern Missouri?

The Missouri Bar is activating its Disaster Recovery Legal Assistance hotline for residents impacted by recent flooding in communities in northern Missouri. To volunteer to answer questions and to provide pro bono legal advice via telephone, sign up online here.

Lawyers who complete the volunteer form will be provided with detailed information and resource materials related to participation in Missouri Bar coordinated disaster relief pro bono legal service. Volunteer lawyers can identify areas of practice expertise when completing the form.

Lawyers who have expertise in landlord-tenant and real estate property/mortgage practice areas are likely to be needed first. 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 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 problems 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 destroyed

Brett Rolwes, The Missouri Bar's legal and community services coordinator, will be in touch with any referrals from the hotline that fit your indicated practice areas. If you have any questions about the Disaster Recovery Legal Assistance hotline, please contact Brett at 573-638-2242 or brolwes@mobar.org.Your assistance in helping your fellow Missourians in their time of need is greatly appreciated.