Starting in May, Lee Richardson will provide monthly updates about Legal Aid’s activities, events, and staff. Lee Richardson is the Executive Director of Legal Aid of Arkansas.
-The 4th Annual Law Day Running Festival was Saturday, May 7. Many thanks to the sponsors, volunteers, and runners who made our event a success. We had a lower turnout than we hoped because of a conflicting race in town, but we still had a good time and raised some money for Legal Aid. Pictures will be available on social media soon. You can search for posts using our hashtag, #lawdayrun. Thank you!
-Economic Justice: Last week, staff attorney Kevin DeLiban filed a federal lawsuit against the Arkansas Department of Human Services on behalf of two Legal Aid clients whose services have been arbitrarily cut.
-The annual report of statewide legal aid activities will appear in next month’s Arkansas Bar Association Magazine. It describes the work of Arkansas’s two legal aid organizations, Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. These organizations receive support from the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation. View the 2015 Annual Report on our Annual Report page under Who We Are on our website.
-Several law students are joining us for a summer of service. The students will help with a range of projects, including the new Medical-Legal Partnership and employment opportunity issues. The students come to us through two programs: Rural Summer Legal Corps (an Equal Justice Works program), or AmeriCorps JD. We are grateful for their service, and are glad to provide some hands-on legal experience for them.
-Some Legal Aid staff will be traveling to Chicago this week for the Equal Justice Works Conference. At the conference, staff will learn new ways to approach issues faced by legal aid providers. Watch social media for updates!
-Anniversary! This month, paralegal Kathy Grady celebrates her 36th year with Legal Aid of Arkansas! She still has the same drive and passion that she had the day she started. I have known her since January, 1991, and can attest that she does not appear to have aged one day. Kathy really exemplifies what it means to be a humanitarian.
-Fond farewell! This month, Maria Tommey is leaving Legal Aid after five years of dedicated service. We wish her much success in her new job. Thanks for all you’ve done, Maria!
-Mountain View Retreat: Legal Aid staff will travel to Mountain View in July for a staff retreat. The schedule features teambuilding activities as well as some Continuing Legal Education.
-Statewide Conference in Little Rock. In October, Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services will come together for a legal services convention. Staff will receive training about issues facing civil legal services providers. The gathering will also give staff an opportunity to bond with others who deal with the same legal and social issues.
