Menasha Volunteers
(Seated from left): Attorney Meghan Healy, Winnebago County Clerk of Courts Diane Fremgen, and volunteer Lynn Schwartzkopf. (Standing from left): Winnebago Court Commissioner David Keck, attorney Howard T. Healy, volunteer Pam Tonagel-Hendricks, attorneys Trista Moffat and Kathleen Healy, and volunteer Paul Frederickson.
Feb. 3, 2010 – A little more than a year ago, two free legal assistance clinics opened their doors in Menasha and Oshkosh. The clinics, which began with a start-up grant from the State Bar Legal Assistance Committee, provide legal assistance to low-income, unrepresented people at the main public libraries once a month. During the year, word spread and clinic usage doubled. A third clinic opened at the Neenah Public Library on Jan. 12.
The Winnebago free legal assistance program was developed by Winnebago Court Commissioner David Keck; Winnebago County Clerk of Courts Diane Fremgen; and other advisors from the Winnefox Library System, Legal Action of Wisconsin, The Christine Ann Center, Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center, and UW-Oskosh.
Keck says, “What really makes it work is the cooperation we’ve gotten from all the volunteers and especially the contributions of Winnebago County libraries – from printing materials to providing the facilities.”
As word of the legal clinics has spread, the numbers of visitors have increased from an average of 11 per night last year to 30 per night. The advisory committee expected a total of 120 visitors for 2009 and ended with 569 visitors.
The average income of people served at the clinics one year ago was below poverty, but now it’s more of a mix. Initially 50 to 60 percent of the cases were family related. Questions about financial problems, including small claims and landlord/tenant issues are on the rise.
Meet the attorney volunteers
A dedicated group of volunteer attorneys and college students are regulars at the clinics each month. Students provide assistance with completing court forms under the supervision of the attorneys.
Menasha Clinic
Neenah Volunteers
(Seated from left): Volunteers Paul Frederickson, Jennifer Strickt, Kris Anderson, Nicole Petruzates, and Pam Tonagel-Hendricks. (Standing from left): Attorneys Jim Vedder, Jeff Berzowski, and Meghan Healy, Winnebago Court Commissioner David Keck, Winnebago County Clerk of Courts Diane Fremgen, and volunteer Diane Pickett. Not pictured: Attorneys Jim Cummings, Grant Birtch, and Jeff Hanes.
At the Menasha clinic, attorneys Howard Healy, Meghan Healy, and Kathleen Healy have been volunteering every month for nearly a year. They are the backbone of the Menasha clinic and with the other volunteer staff and attorneys Trista Moffit, Grant Birtch, Sarah Kons, and Liz Nevitt see an average of 30 people a month.
Attorney Meghan Healy says, “Quite honestly, I think all attorneys should volunteer. The State Bar recommends pro bono service, and this is only two hours a month. One evening I was the only attorney volunteer, and we had 21 people who needed help. So many people need help. Everyone is busy but so many are less fortunate.”
Tasha Saecker, director of the Menasha Public Library said, “We are thrilled to be a partner in this project. The responses have been entirely positive.” Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, director of the Oshkosh Public Library is happy as well to work with the county court system to fill this important community need.
Oshkosh Clinic
Oshkosh Volunteers
(Seated from left): Attorney Emily Zimmerman, volunteer Jenny Siepmann, attorneys Dave Schultz and Paul Frederickson, and volunteer James Edwards. (Standing from left): Winnebago County Clerk of Courts Diane Fremgen, volunteers Sandy Drifka and Diane Pickett, and attorney Walter Bush.
Attorneys Emily Zimmerman, Dave Schultz, Paul Frederickson, and Walter Bush are regular volunteers at the Oshkosh clinic where they see an average of 30 people a month.
Attorney Schultz feels it’s a good system although he wishes more of his colleagues would volunteer. As a life-long volunteer he’s focusing on putting something back into the profession. He likes the variety – an elderly woman with a disabled daughter, a man starting a divorce, a man with questions about paternity.
Attorney Bush loves to work with people who really need it and says that so many people just need a simple explanation. It makes a lot of difference to them that somebody cares.
Start your own clinic or fund another pro bono project in your community
The deadline to submit grant applications to the State Bar Legal Assistance Committee for developing or expanding pro bono legal assistance projects is Feb. 15, 2010. Grants of up to $5,000 are available. Download an application.
