After Ian: Fort Myers free legal clinic to focus on post-disaster insurance claims, contractor fraud

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A Fort Myers-based legal nonprofit is again hosting a free clinic for area seniors in need of no-cost, limited legal advice.

Law at the Library is a quarterly conversation sponsored by Lee County Legal Aid Society with support from AARP Foundation.

The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Fort Myers Regional Library meeting room, 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers 33901.

A panel of three local attorneys will discuss post-disaster insurance claims and contractor fraud. That 30-minute presentation will be followed by an audience question-and-answer session and then 20-minute individual appointments on any legal issue.

Advance registration is required. Participants should email Nanci@leecountylegalaid.org with contact information, a brief description of the legal advice being sought, and any relevant documents. The sessions are open to Lee County residents ages 50 and older.

“Civil legal aid helps level the playing field for those who don’t have the financial resources to hire their own private attorney,” said Andrew Banyai, executive director of the Lee County Legal Aid Society. “Not all our older residents are wealthy retirees. Many live on a fixed income, with little access to legal services.”

“We are grateful to the expert panelists who are donating their time and welcome the opportunity to again focus our community outreach on issues of elder law with the generous support of the AARP Foundation,” he added.

Unlike in criminal law, there is no constitutional right to counsel in civil law, which includes landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, evictions, probate, debt collection, child custody cases, domestic violence orders of protection and more.

Law at the Library follows a similar series of free legal workshops “Just for Seniors” offered by Lee County Legal Aid Society in prior years through support from The Community Foundation.

For more information on Lee County Legal Aid Society, visit leecountylegalaid.org or call 239-334-6118.

About Lee County Legal Aid Society

Founded in 1967, Lee County Legal Aid Society is a private, nonprofit organization that provides no-cost civil legal aid to low-income residents of Lee County. The organization helps narrow the access to justice gap among those who cannot afford a private attorney in civil cases. In partnership with the Lee County Clerk of the Court, Lee County Legal Aid Society offers free, 20-minute “self-help” legal clinics that pair attorneys in private practice with those in need of legal services.