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Pro bono attorneys contribute to community

As a regular reader of the Herald’s Opinion page, I admit I check the author’s name before reading letters to the editor. I bit on one from George Thompson (Herald, Sept. 9). He poses a question, “What is it that lawyers contribute?” and proceeds to answer it with a diatribe of personal bitterness and silly statements.

I write to counter his assertions about our legal community. As coordinator of the Southwest Bar’s volunteer attorney program for 15 years, I worked with a list exceeding 100 local attorneys who provided free advice and/or representation to our community. They produced a level playing field and steadying hand for our rental market, car-repair services, employers and publicly funded support services, to name a few. They supplied educational seminars and literature to the general public in domestic issues and financial planning. They coordinated with the medical community in will and medical directives clinics. They were particularly critical to the well-being of children and domestic-violence victims. The end-of-year statistics regularly exceeded 2,000 hours of such contribution. Do the math on the dollar value. This program continues in our community today, associated with Colorado Legal Services.

I, too, know and admire J. Paul Brown, his family and their contributions to our community. However, I think the readers deserve to know that Rep. Michael McLachlan was an active member of my go-to panel of pro bono attorneys, and one who would take complicated cases to litigation. County Commissioner Julie Westendorff also was an exceptional pro bono attorney before turning to elected public service. And yes, the pro bono participants come from all political affiliations.

Please, join me in considering pertinent issues such as past voting record, bills sponsored and supported, health, education, environment, and yes, public safety when you mark your ballot.

Patt Yeager Emmett

Durango



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