State Bar President Asks Madison Co. Lawyers To Help Fill ‘Justice Gap’; Provide Free Civil Legal Services To Area Poor

Huntsville, Ala., February 3, 2010 – Fighting your way through the legal system is difficult enough for those with social and economic capital. But for Alabama's poor and disadvantaged, it can be an impossible and demoralizing task.

Alabama State Bar President Thomas J. Methvin, Montgomery (Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & miles, P.C.) is in Huntsville to meet with members of the Madison County Bar Association to review what lawyers can do to fill the "justice gap." The meeting will be held at noon at the Huntsville-Madison County Law Library, located at the east side of the Courthouse square.

Methvin said, "Alabama ranks 51st in the U.S. and its territories in the amount of funding provided for civil legal aid. On average, the state spends $10 annually for every low-income citizen and this rank places us behind every state and Puerto Rico. It's shameful."

The situation is particularly acute now as the recession has caused many financial problems to morph into legal problems and increasing numbers of the poor and disadvantaged are turning to legal aid programs because they have nowhere else to go.

Methvin said that the types of unresolved civil legal problems include: women who are seeking protection from abuse, mothers trying to obtain child support or custody of their children, families who are facing unlawful eviction or foreclosure that could leave them homeless, and individuals who have lost their job and need unemployment benefits.

The Huntsville VLP, operated by the Madison County Bar, is poised for great things. It has begun the process of revitalization, and in 2009 elected a new Board and hired a new executive director. The HVLP also moved into new office space, located conveniently near the courthouse. In recognition of its efforts to significantly improve its VLP program, the Huntsville-Madison County VLP was presented with the Beasley Allen Pro Bono Award & Grant in November at Beasley Allen's annual Legal Strategies Conference. The award includes a $10,000 grant to be used for the improvement and expansion of pro bono services.

"Making sure that everyone in our community has true access to justice is of critical importance," says Tommy Siniard (Siniard, Timberlake & League), President of the Madison County Bar Association. "We fully support the work of the Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program, which is outstanding. We appreciate the encouragement of State Bar President Tom Methvin, who since taking office has urged us to renew our focus on this important program. As a result, we've seen tremendous growth during the past year. I'd also like to thank Rich Raleigh, president of the MCVLP, for his leadership in increasing participation in the program, which logged more than 400 volunteer hours in 2009. We're really looking forward to seeing the program grow even more, and serve more people in our community."

The 16,000-member Alabama State Bar is dedicated improving the administration of justice and increasing public understanding and respect for the law.

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