Economy Leads to High Pro Bono Demands

Memphis, Tn - The economic downturn has more and more people turning to the Community Legal Center in Memphis. Executive Director, Meg Jones, says the case load of pro bono clients is up 60% from last year.

"There are a lot more credit issues that people have called about. But I think the stress is causing problems across the board," said Jones.

Packing a 1-2 punch for some of the working poor population the Community Legal Center serves says Jones, are the divorce cases brought on by the pressure of living off less money. Then she says there are those so stretched financially that they're reflecting on problems from the past in hopes of generating cash.

"Maybe they want to try and sue for something that happened to them or maybe there's an old credit card issue that they didn't resolve, they were just going to pay it, now they can't pay it, and they're trying to get it straightened out," she said.

The Community Legal Center has an office inside the MIFA building on Vance Avenue. To keep up with the increase in clients, it increased its volunteers. But unlike in a criminal case, clients with civil matters aren't automatically appointed representation. So, the C-L-C is always looking for more help from attorneys.

"It's as little or as much as you feel you're able to do. But anything, even a single hour, is better than nothing," said Steve Mulroy.

This week marks Pro Bono Awareness Week and Mulroy, a County Commissioner, U of M Law Professor, and C-L-C Board Member, says he hopes more Memphis area attorneys have the time to answer the call for volunteerism.

"The demand is here...and the supply of all agencys is all the way down here. There's a huge gap, and that has always been the case. But never more the case than it is this year because of the economic downtown," he said.

The Community Legal Center is located at 910 Vance Avenue. You can reach them at (901) 543-3395.
 

There will be a Pro Bono Awareness Week Event on Thursday at noon at the Shelby County Courthouse on Adams.