By Tom Gantert
Legal News
Jackson Attorney Brad Brelinski recalls a pro bono case he handled a year ago that involved a landlord trying to evict a tenant.
The woman was receiving federal assistance for her housing that would be jeopardized if she were to be evicted.
“The landlord was tired of dealing with her,” Brelinski said.
So he attended two hearings with the judge and talked with the landlord and eventually resolved the problem without an eviction.
“There wasn’t any magic to it,” Brelinski said. “Many times, when an attorney gets involved and can push the matter and have hearings in front of the judge, it causes the opposing the party to think twice and resolve the matter. It was a great ending.”
Citing the need for more such free legal aid statewide, the State Bar Association of Michigan has declared October as “Pro Bono Month.”
The SBM has voluntary standards for how much pro-bono work should be done a year, with four suggested minimum levels of pro-bono participation:?
• Provide representation without charge to a minimum of three low income individuals.
• Provide a minimum of 30 hours of representation, without charge, to low income individuals or organizations.
• Provide a minimum of 30 hours of professional services at no fee or a reduced fee for persons of limited means or to public service of charitable groups or organizations.
• Contribute a minimum of $300 to not-for-profit programs organized for the purpose of delivering civil legal services to low income individuals or organizations.
Robert Mathis, Pro Bono Service Counsel at The State Bar of Michigan, said doing pro-bono work can make attorneys more money in the long run.
“Doing pro bono in a lot of ways can increase your business and increase your legal expertise and can really help your business,” Mathis said. “New attorneys may not have experience in family law. … You really are learning a new area of law.”
Many Jackson attorneys said they do their pro bono work through Legal Services of South Central Michigan. About 35 Jackson attorneys lend a hand by picking up cases pro-bono from Legal Services.
Jackson attorney Rick Mills said he occasionally takes probate case referrals from Legal Services, where he sits on the board.
“I also serve on the boards of several charitable organizations and I help them, on a pro-bono basis, to develop their planned giving programs, which is something I enjoy,” Mills said.
Jackson attorney Susan Dehncke also accepts pro bono work from Legal Services. She said she’ll take cases where she feels strongly that someone needs representation and truly can’t afford it.
Dehncke came across such a case when she was filling in for another attorney for a child abuse case. The father was not the legal father because he hadn’t had a paternity test. The mother was in jail and wouldn’t cooperate. The 12-year-old son wanted to be with his father but the father needed help proving he was the father.
Dehncke helped establish the man as the legal father.
A lot of the free legal assistance is needed in family court with matters such as divorce and custody.
Jackson attorney Chad Perrine handles mostly estate planning and probate issues, and takes on pro-bono work from Legal Services involving probate and estate issues.
In his pro-bono case, a relative had died and the assets needed to go through the probate process. Perrine estimates he gave up as much as $2,500 in legal fees taking on the case.
Also, he said he doesn’t charge any family member for his legal services.
Perrine said he finds time to do pro bono work by treating it like any other case.
“It kind of works into the routine like any other files,” he said.
When taking on pro bono cases, Jackson attorney Brendon Beer says he makes sure that “everyone understands up front that it’s pro bono right from the start.”
“I’m more than happy to handle a pro bono case for someone who is deserving and has a worthwhile matter,” he said. “Maybe this person can’t pay anymore. Maybe I’ve developed an affinity for them or the case and will finish it. … I’ll take a divorce case for a retainer and I’ll know I can’t handle it for that level. I go into it knowing I am not going to get paid for my time.”
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