Month: July 2022

Pro Bono Opportunities from Iowa Legal Aid

Over the last several years, Iowa attorneys have donated thousands of hours of critical pro bono legal services. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, attorneys answered legal questions through the COVID-19 hotline; when derechos hit Iowa in 2020 and 2021, Iowa attorneys helped clients navigate insurance claims and disputes with unscrupulous contractors; and in the last year, volunteer attorneys have represented families at risk of losing their housing at our eviction help desks.

Iowa Legal Aid continues to seek pro bono partnerships to expand the impact of our work. Learn more about the work we are doing and opportunities for you to engage.  

Legal Help for Afghans Settled in Iowa

We’re proud to partner with Polk County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, the Drake Legal Clinic, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) and several refugee resettlement agencies to serve Afghan evacuees who are currently in Iowa.

More than 700 Afghans resettled in Central Iowa: Last August, some 76,000 Afghan allies were airlifted to the U.S. These are Afghans who have supported and provided vital services to the United States troops and contractors in Afghanistan and whose lives would be in danger in the now Taliban-controlled country. At least 1,000 of these allies came to Iowa through our refugee resettlement agencies and 700 of them live in the Des Moines area. 

Although they receive refugee resettlement services, they are not officially recognized as legal refugees. They are currently in a temporary legal status known as "parole,” but that will expire in August of 2023. They have just a little more than one year to navigate the complicated legal immigration system in the United States with the hope, but no promise, of qualifying for a permanent legal status.

An Opportunity to Help: Volunteer attorneys are needed for short-term assistance helping Afghans prepare applications for Temporary Protected Status under the supervision of Iowa MMJ and Drake Legal Clinic attorneys and/or for full pro bono representation of an Afghan individual or family's immigration legal process, with mentorship from experienced immigration attorneys available. For more information, please contact Brynne Howard (bhoward@iowalaw.org).

Pro Bono Spotlight

We are grateful for the hundreds of attorneys who regularly take pro bono referrals. We’d like to spotlight one of those pro bono attorneys: Jen Walker from Walker Law Firm, LLC. Last year, Jen took cases for three individuals living in Linn County who were impacted by the Derecho. In one case, Jen was able to assist an immigrant family who suffered extensive roof damage due to the Derecho. When the insurance company failed to offer compensation that covered the cost to repair the client’s roof, Jen engaged in fervent advocacy on their behalf. As a result, the family received almost 7 times what was originally presented to them, and they were able to cover the cost of repairs to their roof.

Jen shares her philosophy on representing clients with insurance issues, “While litigation can be an important step in resolving insurance disputes for our clients, never underestimate the power of managing a challenging insurance dispute with an insurance company on friendly terms first. Knowledge about the insurance industry and technical insurance coverage concepts will provide an edge in negotiations. Litigation is the last option I use in resolving insurance disputes unless it is required due to time or reaching an impasse with the insurance company.”  

Iowa Legal Aid and the clients assisted by Jen thank her for her pro bono service, her expertise, and her dedication!

Upcoming Events

Sign up to Volunteer with Iowa Legal Aid’s Expungement and Employment Barriers clinic:

• Waterloo (in person) - July 21, 2022
• Statewide (virtual) - September 2022 (exact date TBD)
• Muscatine (virtual and in person) – October 2022 (exact date TBD)

Email: Abbi Cobb (acobb@iowalaw.org) with questions or to sign up!

Free CLE for Pro Bono Attorneys: Iowa Legal Aid is pleased to offer a free upcoming CLE "Effective Communication with Clients with Disabilities," on July 22nd from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The presenter, Daniel Van Sant, will discuss best practices to communicate with clients with different disabilities. We anticipate 1.5 hours of diversity credit for this CLE. Email Kara Smith (ksmith@iowalaw.org) for additional information. 

Iowa Legal Aid always needs pro bono attorneys willing to accept individual case referrals for limited scope or full representation in a wide variety of subject areas. Sign up to volunteer to take a case or to volunteer with one of the clinics mentioned above by registering here: https://www.probono.net/iowa/. 

For additional information on volunteering with Iowa Legal Aid or for questions, please contact Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project Managing Attorney Brynne Howard (bhoward@iowalaw.org).