Young lawyers answer questions

      The Young Lawyers section of the Nevada Bar held an Ask-a-Lawyer program and a professional clothing drive Saturday at the Meadows Mall.
      The event was held in conjunction with the national Make a Difference Day sponsored by USA Today.
      "It's an event we have done in past during the course of the year and this year we decided to do it as part of Make a Difference Day," said Stacie Brown, chairwoman of the Young Lawyers section. "It's a time when attorneys from every type of legal background come in to give some free advice. I think people appreciate it and that's why we continue to get out there and meet face to face with the public."
      The question and answer session was meant to be an informative service with attorneys answering the public's basic legal questions. Brown, an associate at the downtown law firm of Dickerson, Dickerson, Consul and Pocker, said the day was especially rewarding to her and her fellow lawyers.
      "It really takes a team effort to get to everyone and it does feel very rewarding," Brown said. "To be out in the public and see the people who need help and may not be able to hire attorneys makes us all feel good. We all walk away from it feeling good about ourselves and the help we were able to provide."
      Brown said most of the questions the lawyers fielded on Ask-A-Lawyer day dealt with consumer or family law. Most people are simply looking for direction in handling a legal matter on their own.
      "Since we are servicing a lot of people we discourage anyone from bringing a lot of legal documents because we don't have the time to go through them," Brown said. "Usually people want to know their rights when it comes to a divorce or a small claims court problem. Mostly it's consumer law and people who want to make sure they don't become a victim."
      In an effort to expand its role in the community, the group also held Law Suits Day to coincide with the Ask-A-Lawyer program.
      Law Suits Day is a program geared toward providing underprivileged individuals with the confidence and sense of self-worth necessary for a successful job search. Throughout the day, interview suits were provided free to homeless or other disadvantaged individuals who were unable to afford a suit of clothes for a job interview.
      Those people were required to show proof of an impending job interview to receive the free clothing.
      "We wanted to collect the clothes so some of the people at MASH village have nice, professional clothing to interview," said Lynn Kilsch, the chairwoman of the Law Suit Day committee. "People often chastise homeless people for not having jobs. What they fail to realize is it's hard to get a job when you can't dress professionally for an interview. This clothing drive will hopefully end in some of those people getting jobs."
      Brown's hope is the goodwill dished out by the local young attorneys will help change some of the negative publicity lawyers have received in the past few years.
      "I'm sure it will go a long way in changing some perception," Brown said. "But mostly we're out there to help people and give back to out community the best way we can."
      The Young Lawyers section of the Nevada Bar is open to all practicing attorneys in Nevada who have not passed their 36th birthday. The group currently boasts a membership of more than 300 people, making it the largest group within the Nevada Bar.
      To reach the Young Lawyers section of the Nevada Bar, call Brown at 388-8600.