The Volunteer Lawyers Program of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is pleased to return to Lakewood on March 31 for its second Brief Advice and Referral Clinic. This clinic will take place from 9:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Barton Center, located on the Ground Floor of the Westerly Apartments at 14312 Detroit Avenue.

“The Barton Community Center is proud to be involved with the terrific program of legal advice provided by the Volunteer Lawyers Program,” says Curt Brosky, Managing Director of the Lakewood Senior Citizens Service Corporation.

“The nonprofit Barton Center has been collaborating with other community organizations for the past 45 years. While our focus is to improve the quality of life for senior citizens, this free program from Legal Aid will benefit community residents of all ages. We encourage our Barton Center members and Westerly residents to take advantage of this professional legal advice that is being offered at no cost.”

At the clinic, volunteer attorneys from the law firms of Weston Hurd LLP and Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP will provide brief advice on civil legal matters, such as bankruptcy, contracts, problems with public benefit systems and issues particularly relevant to the senior community, including powers of attorney and living wills. Those interested should bring all relevant paperwork to the clinic with them.

Legal Aid provides free, high quality legal services to those unable to afford private counsel in Northeast Ohio. The 45 staff attorneys service an area with approximately 300,000 eligible clients. Today, Legal Aid manages more than 8,500 civil cases annually, helping 21,000 individuals.

The Volunteer Lawyers Program was organized in 2005 to supplement the work of the Legal Aid staff and to improve the lives of indigent individuals in Northeast Ohio. Founded in 1905, Cleveland’s Legal Aid is the fifth oldest organization of its kind in the United States. For further information, please call Legal Aid at (216) 687-1900 or visit its website at www.lasclev.org.

Parking for the Barton Center event is available in the adjacent parking lot at 14400 Detroit Avenue. The Barton Center main entrance is located behind the Westerly, down the Westerly driveway to the lower level.