The Legal Aid Society’s Post

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we want to highlight some ways that our projects make a difference! Tupelo Attorneys Sarah Phillips and Kristin Belvin have participated in multiple free legal clinics in the First Judicial District over the past year sponsored by the Mississippi Access to Justice. They attended the clinics held on February 13, 2023 in Lee County; April 5, 2023 in Itawamba County; September 18, 2023 in Lee County; and February 22, 2024 in Lee County. The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission seeks to improve access to justice in civil legal proceedings for the poor in Mississippi. More information about the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission can be found in the following link: Legal Resources | MSATJC #YWCares #VolunteerAppreciationMonth

Check out The NOBLE Journey Newsletter for October 2023 and learn more about the NOBLE - National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. #noble #1976 #onenoble #oneteam

As a grandparent, do you have legal rights to visitation or custody in North Carolina? Here's an overview of grandparents' rights in our state: https://lnkd.in/ezkxHUQ8

Given the subject matter, I took even more care than usual in producing this episode. I got some great guidance from Melissa Wemyss, great insight from Alisha Fisher at Women's Resources in Lindsay and, as always, sober (but very thoughtful) analysis from lawyer, Alex McLeod. This episode is definitely worth sharing.

🏃♂️ Striving to support artists in 2023, Arts Law saw success in our legal advice, advocacy, and outreach work. To recap, watch our new video: https://buff.ly/3RbIJn5 Now as 2024 nears, we cast our attention to the challenges on the horizon, and to how we can help artists navigate these. See more in our video! #lawlife

UNDER PRESSURE: Are you facing pressure from your ex to make certain decisions about your separation or children? Being made to choose certain options is never ok, and you deserve to understand what support and structures are available to you. Our passionate, experienced team at Romer Maud Family Lawyers can advocate for your rights, help you understand how you can best move forward and give you the advice you need. Learn more about our services here: https://lnkd.in/g27d5wbt #RomerMaud #FamilyLaw

I subscribe to The Marshall Project website and I receive their daily newsletters (https://lnkd.in/gE7_FsDv). If you are familiar with The MP, you know that the premise of the articles are routinely adversarial to law enforcement and primarily progressive in ideology. Which is precisely why I force myself to read them. It's important to understand all sides of the issues facing law enforcement. Which brings me to today's posting. The MP article is entitled "Policing experts on campus arrests" (https://lnkd.in/grMAMTGm). The premise of the article is that the dispersement tactics were not sensitive enough. This excerpt gives you a flavor for the tone of the article: "...Last week, several criminologists told Reuters that aggressive police tactics were at odds with research and best practices developed after the 2020 protests over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer." With all due respect to the academic scholars who opine on police response, the need to restore order and civil rights was the primary reason for the deployment of law enforcement to disperse unlawful crowds recently on college campuses. The notion that law enforcement are required to "negotiate" for each arrest scenario is implausible. By the time law enforcement was requested to disband campus agitators (referred to by the media as "peaceful protestors" for which many of them were not), the negotiations and de-escalation alternatives had already been exhausted. And often times, violence and criminal activity has already occurred and/or is in progress when the request for resources was made. The occupiers refused to disperse and subsequently were arrested. Cooperation and willful obedience would have averted the need for arrests. It's that simple . It's not surprising that the academic scholars, media and other critics are blaming the peacekeepers. Happens every time. Law enforcement are the heroes here, not the villains. Widespread media reporting is not always transparent and detailed. It is designed to suit a particular narrative. Those of us who had a front row seat to the crowd dispersal tactics of previous generations (70's, 80's, 90's) know that today's responses were professional and dignified. But the critics will never be satisfied.

Access to Justice Week focuses our awareness on the significance of providing equal access to legal programs and services for every person. #A2JWeekCan In this blog post, Melissa Luhtanen, Senior Legal Counsel to the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, outlines some of the programs that the Commission has initiated to work toward improving services for Albertans and fostering access to justice: https://lnkd.in/gy66gSjy

Sixty-one years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court established the right to legal counsel for anyone accused of a crime, requiring the state to provide an attorney for those who cannot afford their own. Today, the right to an attorney is understood as a cornerstone of fair and equal justice. But that right doesn't exist for people facing eviction or other non-criminal legal issues. While nearly all Los Angeles landlords have legal representation in an eviction case, the vast majority of tenants are forced to navigate the process alone. Yet without a legal advocate by their side, tenants are almost certain to lose their cases—and their homes. Does that sound like justice to you? For #PublicDefenseDay, revisit this piece in the Daily Journal by Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Executive Director Silvia Argueta and Legal Services Corporation President Ronald Flagg about how a tenants' right to counsel can help prevent homelessness by protecting low-income families from unfair evictions. #RightToCounsel #Eviction

Stand with us in protecting America’s promise by supporting fair access to justice — and opportunity — for all. Learn how Legal Services Corporation is protecting America’s promise of justice for all by working to close the justice gap: lsc.gov/celebrate50