The Woodlands Bar Association's free “Law Line” going strong after five years

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Navigating legal issues can be intimidating for a lot people. For residents of Montgomery County who have legal questions, a Law Line is offered as a free community service for legal assistance on the first Monday of each month (unless that date is a Federal holiday, for which Law Line is offered on the second Monday).

This free public service is a project of The Woodlands Bar Association (WBA) in conjunction with the Montgomery County United Way. The WBA’s volunteer attorneys are on the line at 281-645-6344 from 5 to 8 p.m. to provide general legal information and guidance about legal resources. The identities of the callers, as well as the volunteer lawyers, remain anonymous and all calls are confidential.

Sample questions have included, “Who do I call to pursue child support?” and “What is the Small Claims Court monetary limit?” and “What does a probate lawyer do?” The WBA is comprised of private practice attorneys from both large and small law firms, in-house corporate attorneys and local judges. WBA members seek to promote high legal standards, education and community service in the area. The Law Line offers a local community service opportunity for members to share their unique legal skills to provide service to others.

According to attorney Karen West, who was president of The Woodlands Bar Association in 2009 when Law Line was created, the members expressed interest in a charitable community outreach endeavor that would be on-going and not just a one-time annual event. “The legal line that Houston Bar Association was doing sounded ideal so we all researched it and decided to pursue something similar,” explained West. “My friend Julie Martineau, who is the president of Montgomery County United Way, had clients who were inquiring about that type of service. She explored how we could partner with them and use their offices to facilitate the calls. We started out very small and then it grew, especially as our membership increased. We found a way to productively put our professional expertise to work in a charitable service way, and it has since been a tremendous success.”

West said the volunteer attorneys do not provide specific counseling, yet offer general information and inform people about their rights and options and what legal resources may be available for callers to follow through with their concern.

Angela Speight, director and president of the WBA, added, “Law is scary for a lot of folks who are not experienced with the judicial system, especially if they don't have a lawyer in the family or as a friend. It can be intimidating – if not terrifying – for some people. Our free volunteer Law Line is a true reflection of The Woodlands Bar Association’s mission as attorneys to use our particular set of unique skills as a vehicle to reach out and benefit the community. I was on the board of directors when it began five years ago and I recall that the idea didn't have to be pushed. It grew organically as our members eagerly expressed interest in volunteering.”

Direction in legal services is a huge need Montgomery County, noted Julie Martineau. “People are unsure when to see an attorney to help them resolve an issue,” she said. “This free service helps them make a plan based on good information, not guessing.

“Montgomery County United Way staff members feel very fortunate to partner with The Woodlands Bar Association to make their vision of the monthly Law Line a reality. This service is the result of several dedicated attorneys volunteering their time and knowledge to steer people in the right direction regarding their legal questions. The WBA had the talent and United Way had the phones and front office personnel to route the calls. It remains a win-win for both organizations, and with Montgomery County residents really being the big winners!”

For more information about Law Line, visit the website and click the “News” tab.