Moscow law clinic will answer legal questions for free

Moscow-area residents with legal questions will be able to find many of their answers for free starting later this month when the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association Street Law Clinic expands to Moscow starting Aug. 28.

ITLA members, Moscow-area law practitioners, the Tim Gresback law firm, the Idaho Volunteer Lawyer Program and University of Idaho College of Law students will meet in Gresback’s office at 210 E. Seventh St. in Moscow to help individuals with topics ranging from child custody modifications, divorce, landlord/tenant issues and any other basic legal issues, said Quinn Perry, ITLA director of communication.

Perry said anyone can ask questions, though it is intended for those who cannot afford an attorney.

“Everybody that comes to the clinic typically leaves feeling like they’re at least armed with more information about their legal situation,” said Perry, who also helps run the ITLA Street Law Clinic in Boise.

Perry said the goal is to help people represent themselves by making sure forms are filled out correctly and ensuring they are educated of the court process, for example.

Individuals seeking legal advice will not be charged for the attorneys’ services, and attorneys will operate on volunteer time, Perry said.

“ITLA’s mission is providing access to justice, and so we created this clinic in Boise in 2013 and it’s taken off way more than I think any of us expected,” Perry said. “So it’s just time to start moving it out into smaller communities.”

Erin Tomlin, an associate with Gresback’s office, said there is a need for a street law clinic. She said when she worked at the Latah County Courthouse every day as the Moscow city prosecutor, many people contacted her about civil law issues. Tomlin said there are so many legal civil issues that people do not have the means, money or connections to solve, and some of the problems are easily addressed. She said the clinic will help in solving these problems and be able to point individuals to existing resources for issues that are more difficult to solve.

“I’m really excited,” Tomlin said. “I think it will be an amazing thing for the community, and not just Moscow, but I think the Second (Judicial) District.”

The clinic will be open at 3 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month. The clinic will operate on a first come, first serve basis. No clients will be accepted 2:45-4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit facebook.com/StreetLawClinicMoscow, itla.org or email Tomlin at erin@moscowattorney.com.