Friday, June 22, 2007

This is the group of attorneys and law students.

These are some members of the Pearlington community being helped.


This is a Picayune resident being assisted.

I Love My Job!

I love my job. We have been doing some awesome things that I am so proud to be a part of. Here is a brief run down of what we have been doing complete with some pictures.

Tami, John and I went on a Katrina legal clinic-athon last week. Three towns in one day. It was coordinated by Crystal Utley, the attorney for the Mississippi Center for Justice. Attorneys and law students from across the country came together on the gulf coast of Mississippi to help make a difference in the lives of those most affected by Hurricane Katrina. The law students were from Harvard, UCLA and Mississippi College (woo hoo!). Tami and Crystal are both graduates of MC Law and John and I are both students so I was very proud that we were represented so well. Linda Montgomery, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, provided sustenance and support for our day long adventure. She also took these pictures of us in Picayune and Pearlington as we aided victims of Katrina.

This week has been about "wills". This fits in nicely with the summer class I am taking. Tuesday we went to the VA to prepare a will for a young veteran that is suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. It was rewarding to be able to bring a little peace of mind to this gentleman suffering with such a tragic disease. Thursday we held a wills clinic at the Jackson Medical Mall. This was an opportunity for members of the community to get their affairs in order. Being able to help others is why I got into law and working at the MVLP is allowing me to realize the dream.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Another One (Week of the Summer!) Bites The Dust

Alright, it is Friday! As John said, we had Katrina clinics all day yesterday. By all day I mean we were gone from 4 a.m. to Midnight! Despite the exhaustion, the high of helping so many still lingers.

John and Brad are still working on recruitment letters and Sumin is doing a fabulous job on the website!!!

John and Brad have both visited the Homeless Legal Clinic and we are currently working on a Best Practice Manual for it. We created business card sized, phone number handouts for the Clinic and even served food.

Next week, we have a Wills Clinic at the Medical Mall off of Woodrow Wilson. Looking forward to it!

Until then, Have A Great Weekend, Go to Jubilee Jam, and Remember to JAM Y'ALL!

Katrina Clinics

Yesterday Tami, Brad, and myself toured the MS gulf coast and served at three Katrina Legal Aid Clinics. The clinics were in Picayune, Pearlington, and Gulfport. I have to say that yesterday's experience was truly moving and enriching for myself, and the others will probably say the same thing. It was even neater to get the chance to work with attorneys and their interns from New York and San Fransisco. Seeing attorneys from large big city firms volunteering their time to help those in need thousands of miles away is truly inspiring to those of us that work in the public interest area. I feel very fortunate to have gotten the chance to lend my time and services to those in need at yesterday's clinics. The coast is certainly still reeling from the effects of the hurricane but there are signs of progress and rebuilding is occuring. Hopefully, that area will come back stronger and better than ever. I know for sure that in the future I will do all that I can to help the coast in its rebuilding and recooperating efforts. Future Katrina legal aid clinics are certainly exciting to think about, and I will be glad to do it again.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Another Week

We had another productive week. It is inspiring to see the attorneys that give so generously of their time. I am getting invaluable experience fielding potential clients, recruiting attorneys and answering Legal Line. I wanted to get into law to help those less fortunate and I am getting a first hand account of how to do it. This is an incredible network of dedicated people working to make a difference in the lives of those who really need it. I am very proud to have some small part in it. We are going down to the coast this week for some Katrina legal clinics. It sounds very exciting (except the part about leaving at 4 in the morning). I have not been to the coast since the hurricane so I am curious to see how things are progressing. I also am going to help out at Stewpot. Stewpot is an organization that started as a soup kitchen but has now expanded to provide shelter, clothing, counseling, and other services to those in need. This is proving to be a rewarding way to spend my summer.

Monday, June 4, 2007

The New Sumin--I mean, SumVol :)

Hello, everyone! I'm excited to be volunteering at MVLP, and I look forward to the summer.

First off, my name is Sumin Lee. I live in Clinton, MS (and graduated from Clinton High School, as the same as Ms. Aboye :) ), and am a sophomore at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. (The North is cold.) I'm not a big fan of long walks on the beach, but short walks are okay. :) I love to make websites (which is one of my tasks here), knit (which honestly is not really helpful in Mississippi, but after going to school up North, has come in handy), eat good food, and especially spend time with people.

I heard about MVLP from my cousin Irene Asbury, a NJ lawyer who volunteers on the coast through MVLP. She told me if I weren't doing anything this summer, I should look into volunteering here, and I did!

In high school volunteering was my thing, but when I got to Princeton, I was lazy and let schoolwork get in the way of community service. I thought that maybe this summer is good a time as any to change my wayward ways (haha) and wanted to devote a good portion of my time for a better cause than snacking and surfing the internet (two of my loves, no doubt). As I told Ms. Tami, I want to devote myself to service to others, even after I graduate college. (I'd like to work in North Korean human rights after graduation--how I'm not quite sure, but hopefully I'll figure it out.)

I was very nervous about my first day, and even more so when I was stuck in traffic and got here 10 minutes late. An excellent first impression, I'm sure. However, everybody is so nice, as Mr. Brad said, and it only makes me more excited about the rest of the summer!

Friday, June 1, 2007

We Got a New Volunteer Starting...

Next week begins the third week of SumVols (coined previously by A.J.). A great new addition to the MVLP Volunteer Crew (or should I say Krewe?) will be Sumin, a student from Princeton. I will get her to also do an introduction.

Some of her duties will be following up with attorneys, calling clients for intake, assisting at clinics, and creating a user-friendly and attractive website.

We are excited to have her volunteering with us! Sumin, welcome to the office. I hope we are able to fulfill your expectations for your summer of volunteerism!

Week 2

Another productive and enlightening week here at MVLP. Everyone here has been so nice which has eased my "new job" apprehensions. We celebrated a birthday one day and all went to lunch on another. I am starting to feel like this is my extended family. The selfless dedication of these folks to helping the less fortunate of our fellow Mississippians is an amazing thing to witness.

I am struck by the tremendous need for the services offered here at the MVLP. When we open the Legal Line at 12:00, the phone rings constantly until we close the line at 2:00. When you can hear anguish turn to optimism in the voice of the people calling in, it is very rewarding. "Hope" is a wonderful thing to be able to offer.

I like that I am getting a broad range of legal experience here at MVLP. We are offering a Wills Clinic on June 21 which directly relates to the class I am taking this summer. I've been exposed to family law, property issues, contract disputes and even some criminal matters. I am so greatful for this wonderful opportunity.