26 volunteer lawyers share legal advice with hundreds
Published: May 19, 2005
To the lay person, the scene resembled something like a sophisticated round of musical chairs. But, volunteers doling out free advice during the 22nd semi-annual Dial-a-Lawyer yesterday were anything but playful.
Instead, the lawyers hopped from one telephone to the next in a couple of rooms at Western New England College answering serious questions from callers about everything from family to bankruptcy law.
More than 300 residents of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties received free advice yesterday when they called between 3:30-7:30 p.m., according to Elizabeth A. O’Neil, director of public services for the Massachusetts Bar Association. The telephone number was deactivated after the event.
The free legal advice event is a public service of the Massachusetts Bar Association. The program is co-sponsored by Western New England College and The Republican.
Yesterday, 26 lawyers sat at desks answering phone lines. As callers described their legal questions, lawyers would often switch seats with another who specialized in a caller’s particular area of concern.
The phone lines had not been activated for 10 seconds before the first call came in, according to O’Neil.
“That’s how we know this service is so valuable,” she said. “The phone calls never stop coming in.”
Claudette-Jean Papuga, a sole practitioner from Monson, said the opportunity to offer a bit of free legal advice to those in need is an important part of what she does.
“I became a lawyer to help people,” said Papuga, who answered phone calls for four hours. “That’s exactly what this volunteer opportunity provides.”
Daniel J. Szostkiewicz of Szostkiewicz and Thorn in Springfield also volunteered for a four-hour shift. The service provides an opportunity to keep his legal mind sharp while serving the community, he said.
“I like to know what issues people are talking about that I may not have heard about yet,” he said.
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