Volunteer attorney assists people in need

Services and programs: Legal representation is focused upon those matters which affect people's ability to meet their basic human needs or provide for the safety of family members. Some examples: problems related to the safety, education and welfare of children; Medicare or Medicaid problems; domestic violence and elder abuse; denial or termination of housing benefits; utility problems; Social Security or Supplemental Security Income issues; nursing home problems; and welfare or food stamp problems. Volunteer attorney projects expand the legal services available to assist clients in some non-emergency family law matters, real estate problems and bankruptcy. Prairie State has produced many booklets to help people understand their legal rights and responsibilities, including the Senior Citizen Handbook. Booklets are available at the office or on the Web site www.pslegal.org.

Hero story: "Charlene Riefler has been a volunteer attorney with the Batavia office of Prairie State since May 2000. She has primarily volunteered in our domestic violence project, which is housed at the Kane County Judicial Center. The domestic violence project provides attorneys to victims of domestic violence to assist them in obtaining Emergency and Plenary Orders of Protection.

"Since May 2000, Riefler has provided more than 1,900 hours of pro bono services to victims of domestic violence. She is an extremely dedicated advocate for low-income people.

"Recently, Riefler was instrumental in two particularly sympathetic cases. She assisted a 68-year-old woman in her efforts to obtain an order of protection against her son. The client allowed her son to move into her home after a recent release from jail. The client intended that her son remain only as along as necessary to find another place to live. The son was still in the home several months later and was becoming increasingly abusive toward the client. When she finally asked him to leave, the son responded with yelling and calling the client vile names. The client was afraid for her safety. An emergency order of protection was granted, then a plenary order of protection was granted. The son was removed from the home and is not allowed to return. The client is now able to be safe in her home.

"Riefler also assisted a 76-year-old woman obtain an order of protection against her son. The client's son moved in with the client, against her will, and refused to leave. The son frequently demanded money from the client, who was living on a limited, fixed income. If the client refused to give him money, the son yelled at her, swore at her and called her names. The client then became fearful that he would physically harm her and gave him money. In the past, the son had pushed the client. The client did obtain an emergency order of protection and the son was removed from the home. A two-year order of protection was entered against the son, allowing the client to live safety and peacefully in her own home.

"These are just two examples from the more than 200 families that Riefler assisted with domestic violence issues." Charlene Riefler

11/09/02

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