FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact Mike Wiltse, 608-354-6385
April 7, 2020
Coronavirus
raises new legal questions for consumers:
Where
to turn for help
Madison,
WI – Wisconsinites are encountering a whole new set of legal issues and
concerns related to t he new coronavirus and COVID-19
including placement arrangements when one parent has been exposed to the
coronavirus and the other has not; workplace safety questions; unforeseen
medical bills and consumer debt; unemployment benefits; powers of attorney; landlord-tenant
issues, including evictions; and real estate sales and home foreclosures.
While
many free legal clinics are closed to help slow the spread of the coronavirus,
Wisconsin residents can turn to a web portal called WisconsinFree Legal Answers.
A project of the Wisconsin
Access to Justice Commission, it is supported by the State Bar of Wisconsin and the national ABA Free Legal Answers. Civil, not criminal, legal questions
are answered by Wisconsin lawyers. It is a free service.
Clients
go through an online screening process to establish financial eligibility and
agree to the limited scope of the assistance provided. All communications
between lawyers and clients are confidential and take place through a secure
website. Clients receive an email notification when an attorney responds to
their question.
“We
have 250 volunteer lawyers who are ready to answer questions, and we anticipate
a surge in questions as the public experiences the impact of the coronavirus in
the work and personal lives,” said Jeff Brown, State Bar pro bono manager.
In
2019, Wisconsin Free Legal Answers volunteers responded to nearly 1,000
questions.
As a
public service, the State Bar of Wisconsin also offers a Lawyer
Referral and Information Service (LRIS), 800-362-9082, to help individuals
determine whether they need a lawyer, and provide referrals to appropriate
attorneys and appropriate government or community resources. The service is
also available online. Attorneys referred through LRIS agree to charge no more
than $20 for the first consultation, up to one half hour.
Media:
Jeff Brown is available for interviews. Contact Mike Wiltse, 608-354-6385, to schedule.
# # #
The State Bar of Wisconsin is
the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court,
for attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 25,000
members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of
justice, provides continuing legal
education for its members to help them maintain their expertise, and assists
Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community service initiatives to educate the
public about the legal system and the value of lawyers. For more
information, visit www.wisbar.org.
