Legal Aid Issues (711 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 0.25 on 4 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Velouria (View user info) at 2004-01-09 15:35:42 EST
I work for the lovely non-profit organization known as legal aid. We are a group of underpaid, over-worked individuals that work with the indigent to provide representation for civil law issues. I know the majority of the population hate attorneys. I'd probably hate then too if I didn't work for this organization. The attorneys that work for legal aid are special. They get paid a lot less than an attorney does at a private practice. If an attorney works here, it's basically because they believe in what they do. It's definitely not for the money. I work here because this is a job in the field I went to college for. I also stay because unfortunately there aren't many jobs available in Bum-Fuck Egypt, which is where I call home.
As with any law office, you hear your fair share of problems. Some are normal complaints. Some problems are down right shocking. My favorite area of law that our corporation handles is family law. There is never a dull moment in this law unit. I hear stories of rape, abuse, neglect, the list goes on. The problem that always rears its head is this scenario which slightly varies from client to client:
Caller: I'd like to file for a divorce and sole custody of my children.
Me: Okay. (I take personal information such as the client's name, addresses, etc.)
Me again: When did you separate?
Caller: A month ago.
Me: Is there domestic violence in the marriage?
Caller: Yes
Me: Do you think you need a protective order against the other party?
Caller: Yes.
Me: (I explain to client to go to the local domestic violence shelter for a protective order.)
Caller: I can't file another order against him. I've had two protective orders against the other party, and dropped each one. Now if I want to get another protective order I have to pay for the court cost and filing fees of the orders I dropped.
Me: Do you have any proof of the abuse?
Caller: Yes. He was arrested blah blah blah times for abuse. He always hits the children, and constantly verbally abuses me and my children. He gets drink, smokes pot, does crack, and we never have food on the table because he wants to support his drug habit.
Me: Well, how long has he been using drugs?
Caller: Since I've been with him. (For sake of argument, 7 years.)
Me: Do you use drugs?
Caller: Oh no! Never.
Me: How many children do you have?
Caller: Three
Me: How old are the children?
Caller: Five, three, and 6 months
Me: So, he's used drugs for the past seven years, you've never touched drugs, he's been abusive the entire time, and you continued in the relationship to have three children with this man?
Well, I don't always insert that last sentence. Sometimes I do out of sheer frustration. From working here all these years, I'm so jaded that sometimes I lack compassion. I don't want to be that person. I just can't understand people sometimes. I know people get into abusive relationships. Sometimes people have no place to go, so they stay where they are at. But this same problem arises on a weekly basis. I've given up on wondering if my clients are sincere. I often think that the drug use still wouldn't be a problem if the other party was willing to still support the other's drug habit too. I question their honestly and reliability.
I was an illegitimate child. My biological father's family didn't like my mother. They were engaged, and I was conceived. My biological father began to slowly fade from my mother life rather than cause conflicts with his family. My mother didn't force the issue and eventually I was born sharing her last name, not his. My mother married a great man four years later that adopted me that I call Dad to this day. My mother had a hard time 28 years ago being a single mother and being judged for having a child out of wedlock. Not one time did my mother settle for a second rate dad or husband because it was the easy way-out. To this day, I don't understand why so many women do.
User Reviews
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2004-01-09 15:54:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
go smoke some crack, you deserve it.
Submitted by Mr-Boo (user info) at 2004-01-09 15:53:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Perhaps you and Ashlee should discuss this topic (Not meaning to flame you Ash).
Submitted by The.Masked.Assailant (user info) at 2004-01-09 15:39:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
ummm
Submitted by The.Masked.Assailant (user info) at 2004-01-09 15:39:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
hmm