Empowering Justice: MVLP Provides essential Resources

In the heart of Alabama, where the legal system can often seem overwhelming to those unfamiliar with its intricacies, the Montgomery Volunteer Lawyers Program (MVLP) stands as a beacon of hope, empowering the underserved with free legal assistance. By connecting low-income individuals with lawyers who generously donate their time, MVLP is a shining example of the difference a community can make.

MVLP provides two invaluable resources to help lawyers and Alabama residents: the Easy Evidence Booklet and the Alabama Tenants’ Handbook. The Easy Evidence Booklet is aimed at lawyers new to the VLP who may be handling cases outside of their usual practice area in unfamiliar courts. It helps them find their way around the process more easily, making volunteering a better fit.

The Tenants’ Handbook educates renters about common issues that could lead to disputes, hopefully avoiding landlord-tenant issues that often come up in the volunteer lawyer docket.

The MVLP: A Lifeline for the Underserved

The MVLP operates with a singular, inspiring mission: to ensure that access to justice is not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it but a right available to everyone. Peyton Faulk, the Executive Director of the MVLP, highlights the importance of making legal support accessible to those who need it most. This mission is not just a goal; it’s a call to action for all who believe in justice for all.

“We see so many clients who can’t afford to hire a lawyer, especially in cases involving evictions, collections, and garnishments. Our goal is to provide them with the legal support they need while also making it easier for lawyers to volunteer,” Faulk explains.

Pro Bono Alliance

The MVLP program serves clients in Montgomery and also coordinates with other Volunteer Lawyer Programs and the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyer Program to meet the legal needs of the poor throughout the state. This collaborative effort is a testament to the power of community and shared resources. The VLPs also coordinate with organizations like Legal Services Alabama to share resources, training, and support, creating a network of support for those in need.

The collaborative organization was officially formed as the Pro Bono Alliance in 2022 to streamline efforts and resources and ensure comprehensive statewide coverage. It allows the MVLP and its partners to cover the entire state, reaching even the most remote areas where legal assistance is scarce.

“We all have the same goal, and if one of us comes up with something that works, we should share it,” says Faulk. “The main thing is to improve Alabama and help people get their feet underneath themselves financially.”

The Alliance also works closely with the Alabama State Bar to advertise services and recruit more volunteer lawyers. This spirit of cooperation is central to the Alliance’s success, helping to bring legal services to even the most underserved areas of Alabama.

Easy Evidence: A Guide for New Volunteer Lawyers

One of the most significant challenges in recruiting volunteer attorneys is the fear of the unknown, particularly for new lawyers who may lack experience in certain areas of law. The Easy Evidence Booklet was created with this in mind.

“District court and district court appeals can be intimidating, especially for attorneys who don’t regularly practice in these areas,” Faulk notes. “We want more people to feel comfortable volunteering, so we’ve made everything as easy as possible.”

The booklet provides a comprehensive guide to navigating district court, focusing on evidentiary issues commonly encountered in cases involving contracts, evictions, and collections. The booklet is a practical tool for attorneys, offering clear instructions on preparing for pretrial and handling evidentiary foundations—critical skills for anyone in district court.

Time is also a critical factor in recruiting volunteer lawyers who take on extra cases in addition to the regular work of their practice or firm. The booklet helps ease the learning curve, allowing lawyers to more quickly and efficiently navigate a new court system or practice area.

By removing the barriers to participation, the MVLP hopes to increase the number of volunteer attorneys and, in turn, the number of clients they can serve.

Alabama Tenants’ Handbook: Empowering Renters

Another crucial resource provided by the MVLP is the Alabama Tenants’ Handbook. Originally created in 2006 and recently updated, this handbook is designed to help tenants understand their rights and responsibilities under Alabama law.

“Our mission is essentially to end poverty, and one of the ways we can do that is by empowering tenants with the knowledge they need to avoid eviction and other legal issues,” Faulk explains. “Eviction may leave someone homeless and make it harder to rent another place to live, and that starts a whole spiral of problems.”

The handbook advises tenants about everything from maintenance issues to the legal consequences of withholding rent. The handbook is available on the MVLP website, and thanks to a partnership with a local immigration law firm, a Spanish-language version is also available.

“We see a lot of Spanish-speaking folks who end up in eviction court, so having this resource available in their language is incredibly important,” says Faulk.

The Impact of Volunteer Lawyers

Volunteer lawyers are the backbone of the MVLP, providing the skills and support needed to help clients navigate the legal system. Mary Cam Raybon, an associate at Beasley Allen Law Firm, has been involved with the MVLP since she first passed the bar.

“I fell in love with it because it fulfilled me in my life as a lawyer, being able to help people in my community,” Raybon said. “If you’re familiar with Beasley Allen, our motto is ‘Helping those who need it most,’ and I feel like there’s no better way to fulfill that obligation than to help people in the community.”

Raybon also enjoys the opportunity the VLP offers to explore areas of law outside her usual practice, such as probate, family law, and collections. She says she has been impressed by the physical presence of volunteer lawyers and programs in Montgomery County courtrooms. She sees lawyers and other volunteers ready to jump in and help those who need legal services.

“Every few minutes before a docket, someone asks if anyone needs free legal assistance. It’s amazing to watch it in action, whether at clinics or on court dockets,” she said.

However, being a volunteer lawyer is not always easy. “It’s challenging to hear very troubling stories from people going through the worst time of their life. But it’s fulfilling that they trust you to talk about something so personal,” she reflects. “But through the VLP, people can access resources and help they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

The Alabama Law Foundation: Helping Support Volunteer Lawyer Programs

The Alabama Law Foundation plays a role in sustaining the efforts of Volunteer Lawyers Programs across the state, including the Montgomery County Volunteer Lawyers Program. As the charitable arm of the Alabama State Bar, the Foundation is dedicated to making legal services accessible to all Alabamians, regardless of their financial situation. One of the primary ways the Foundation fulfills this mission is by providing grant funding to support the work of VLPs.

The Alabama Law Foundation allocates funds to various legal aid organizations through its Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. These grants are essential for VLPs, as they help enable these programs to operate effectively and expand their reach to more needy individuals.

For the MVLP, this funding helps cover the costs associated with organizing legal clinics, developing educational materials like the Easy Evidence Booklet and Alabama Tenants’ Handbook, and recruiting and training volunteer attorneys.

Ensuring Access to Justice

The partnership between the Alabama Law Foundation and VLPs like the MVLP is built on a shared commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their financial circumstances, has the opportunity to seek justice. The Foundation’s grant funding is a testament to its dedication to this cause, enabling VLPs to continue their critical work in the community.

“The grants we receive from the Alabama Law Foundation are instrumental in allowing us to provide free legal services to those who would otherwise have no access to legal representation,” Faulk said. “Without this funding, it would be challenging to maintain the level of service we currently offer.”

Get Help or Get Involved

The Easy Evidence Booklet and Alabama Tenants’ Handbook are just two examples of how the MVLP is making a difference in the lives of low-income individuals in Montgomery County. However, these resources are only as effective as the volunteers who use them. The MVLP is always in need of more attorneys willing to donate their time and skills to help those who cannot afford legal representation.

For more information on how to get involved with the MVLP or to access its resources, visit the MVLP website. You can contact them online or call 334-265-0222, ext.1.

Together, we can continue to build a more just and equitable Alabama.