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Free legal guidance available at Nassau Bar open house in Mineola
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Free legal guidance available at Nassau Bar open house in Mineola

Long Islanders facing legal issues ranging from bankruptcy to foreclosures will be able to get free guidance from attorneys at a legal clinic hosted by the Nassau County Bar Association in Mineola on Oct. 29.

The open house is a partnership between The Safe Center LI, the bar association that helps people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, and Long Island Legal Services, formerly known as Nassau Suffolk Legal Services.

The engagement event will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at the bar office at 133 15th Street in Mineola.

In addition to bankruptcy and foreclosure, a wide range of legal expertise will be available on topics such as divorce, family law, elder law, employment, immigration and landlord-tenant disputes.

The lawyers volunteering at the event do not provide legal representation but can provide guidance beyond consultation. Last year, about 130 people seeking help attended, said Rezwanul Islam, deputy executive director of Long Island Legal Services and co-chairman of the committee that helped organize the event.

One of the changes this year is that the bar association’s Lawyer Referral Service will be on-site to assist participants with the next steps if they need a lawyer. The service connects people to qualified attorneys willing to book a 30-minute appointment for $50 before the client decides whether to hire an attorney.

Islam said the addition of on-site referrals follows feedback from attorneys in previous years that they could tell certain participants would benefit from legal representation.

“We want to make sure that anyone who needs an attorney knows exactly how to get one,” he said.

Nassau County District Court Judge Maxine S. Broderick, who co-chaired the committee that organized the event, said it is important for attendees to know that referrals are made only if a person does not qualify for free services from the legal aid group. The information provided during the consultation is free for participants.

“I want to be careful that no one is turned away at any time thinking they need to hire an attorney or pay anyone to attend this clinic,” he said.

Support is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Translation services in additional languages ​​are available upon request.

Interested participants can call 516-747-4070 ext. To register and ensure a legal professional specializing in the area they need is available, call 1231 or email [email protected].