FLC works to connect local professionals with those Berkshire County residents who are experiencing very real barriers to accessing the legal counsel they need and deserve. We also address the larger social issues that lie at the root of these gaps in the service. The demand for our services grows monthly, primarily through word of mouth, and FLC responds to the community's needs by holding clinics, conducting interviews, and speaking publicly about the ways law and social issues interface.
 By networking intimately throughout the community and listening closely to client needs, FLC is positioned to collaborate with existing organizations to identify gaps in services and fill those needs without duplicating services. These collaborations allow those with expertise on various legal and social issues to work together, all in greater service to the community.
The mission of the Free Legal Clinic of South Berkshire County is to promote justice and support public interest
by building strong community relationships.
FLC’s predictions have already been affirmed - it makes sense for our community to address the more immediate legal problems of our residents as we simultaneously tackle the larger issues that cause them.
(see FLC History)
Some of the social issues that we address are:
- access to education
- access to legal counsel
- access to medical care
- access to transportation
- domestic violence
- homelessness
- housing
- immigration
- language barriers
|
- learning disabilities
- mental illness
- poverty
- self-esteem
- small business ethics
- substance abuse
- teen pregnancy
- unemployment
|
And that was made possible by our work on these legal cases:
- Administrative
- Banking
- Bankruptcy
- Business
- Consumer Protection
- Contract
- Debt
- Disability
- Education
- Elder Law
- Employment/Labor
- Environmental
- Family Law
|
- Federal Income Tax
- Forclosure
- Immigration
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- Landlord/Tenant
- Personal Injury
- Property
- Stolen Identity
- Sexual Harassment
- Tort
- Wills and Estate
|
Accomplishments and Acknowledgments
Call 413-854-1955 if you would like to serve on our board, help write grants, volunteer, fundraise, or organize an event, or if you would like to receive assistance from, or make or receive referrals to or from FLC.
Free Legal Clinic of South Berkshire County has
- Received Client Referrals from:
Elizabeth Freeman Center, CHP Family Center, Southern Berkshire District Court- Probation Department, Volunteers In Medicine, Universalist Unitarian Church, Representative Smitty Pignatelli, Sharon Meyer and Diane Rossman-Psychologists, Kripalu, the Guthrie Center, CHP Health Caravan, FLC Clinics and word of mouth.
- Made Social/Community Referrals to:
Volunteers in Medicine, South Berkshire Regional Community Center, CHP Family Center, Main Street Human Resources, Berkshire Community College, BCAC, Construct, Access to Health Care, Railroad Street Youth Project, MassHealth, State Senator Ben Downing, State Representative Smitty Pignatelli, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Food Pantry, Western Mass Legal Services.
Business Community
FLC has received an increase in client referrals from the business community. Concerned about the well-being of their valued employees, employers are calling FLC to help connect them with legal counsel. These employers understand that employees who go to court without representation may suffer serious consequences, which can affect their business.
Radio Interview
Carrie Saldo of the local radio station WAMC featured FLC in November 2007, interviewing founder Eve Schatz, legal supervisor Atty. Louis J. Oggiani and Representative Smitty Pignatelli. To hear this interview go to: WAMC Interview with FLC.
Making a Difference
In myriad ways, the Free Legal Clinic is making a positive difference in people’s lives, and we are honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with others on behalf of individuals and organizations in Berkshire County. FLC recognizes that a community must care about each of its constituents in order to be whole, strong and vibrant.
X
| Free Legal Center of South Berkshire County |
|---|
History
In 2006, FLC launched a four-clinic pilot program to test its theory that there are many individuals in our community needing legal advice who cannot afford an attorney and do not meet substantive or income qualifying guidelines of existing legal aid services. FLC helped make the connections between attorneys and those who fall through the cracks. Our referral attorneys offered pro bono and reduced fee services to these clients. The pilot program scheduled day and evening clinic hours held at Community Health Program’s (CHP’s) Family Center, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Lenox and Lee Libraries, and the Lenox Town Hall, and offered free interpreter and childcare services as well as healthy snacks. During this pilot period, FLC received referrals from nine organizations and made referrals to 13 service providers.
In addition, we tested our theory that those in need of legal assistance would also benefit from referrals to other social and community service, and that clients' legal issues are sometimes related to larger social issues. For example a client who came to us for eviction for non-payment of rent was referred to both a landlord tenant attorney and a fuel assistance program. Another client came to us because she defaulted on her credit card debt - which resulted from her charging a medical procedure because she had no health insurance, and who then lost her job and was unable to pay the bill — was referred to both an attorney and to local resources that link people with medical insurance.
|
X
| Free Legal Center of South Berkshire County |
|---|
Accomplishments and Acknowledgments
The Free Legal Clinic has built upon its successes of the past year. The following statistics illustrate our growth.
To date FLC has achieved fiscal sponsorship with CHP, served 97 clients, has 6 affiliated attorneys, offers interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese, has 42 volunteers, and completed its first round of grant applications. If you are an attorney and would like to learn the details about how you may contribute to FLC, call 413-854-1955.
FLC is included among the esteemed service providers listed with “211,” a statewide resource of essential services.
FLC welcomes you as a work study, internship or externship placement at our public interest organization.
In May 2007, Eve Schatz was an honored recipient of Great Barrington’s Unsung Heroine Award and received citations from Governor Patrick, The Massachusetts Senate, House of Representatives, and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for her work founding FLC.
|
|
|
FLC (413) 854-1955
Donations. Please specify that your donation is for the Free Legal Clinic. Thank you!
FLC Testimonials
FLC Outreach
|
