Centro Legal Expands Legal Services with Family Law Outreach Project

Milwaukee-based nonprofit law office strategically partnering with community organizations to offer legal educational services, assistance



MILWAUKEE, Wis. – June 5, 2008 – In an effort to promote a better understanding of the law among Milwaukee families, Centro Legal – a nonprofit organization that offers affordable legal services in family and criminal law – has begun offering free educational classes in partnership with area community organizations.

While continuing to expand on current relationships with its social service partners, Centro Legal is also seeking to form new partnerships with Milwaukee agencies that are interested in helping clients resolve their legal issues as an important step towards a better future for themselves and their families.
 
“We are working hard to further the goal of identifying and serving clients who are proactively using community resources to improve their personal circumstances,” said Jason Mishelow, managing attorney and director at Centro Legal. “Our experience has taught us that fulfilling our clients’ legal needs is often just one aspect of their larger efforts to improve their lives and the lives of their children.”
 
Centro Legal was recently awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Law Foundation that will help fund new family law outreach classes. Any organizations wishing to offer free family law classes at their locations should contact Centro Legal for more information.  The classes offered can be customized to fit the needs of the audience -whether it’s a group of social workers or potential clients who need to weigh their options before choosing an appropriate course of action.
 
The Vincent Family Resource Center has partnered with Centro Legal on several initiatives including presenting a class targeted to fathers who may have legal issues that are impacting their ability to spend time with their children. Centro Legal will also have an information booth at the Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative’s 7th Annual “That’s My Dad” event which will be held on June 14 at Humboldt Park.

“We are happy to partner with Centro Legal to offer family law classes for our clients,” said Charles Richardson, president of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative. “Fathers in our community need help accessing the court system and often struggle to find an advocate when they have questions about child support or child custody issues. Knowing that we can refer our clients to the attorneys at Centro Legal is an invaluable asset to our organization and our clients.”

Strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations that support clients looking to improve their current situations with the help of community resources are key to Centro Legal’s continued growth and success. Working with community agencies such as the Vincent Family Resource Center, the Hmong American Friendship Association and La Causa has been beneficial in reaching those who are working on improving their lives.


“In the Latino community, many individuals find it challenging to gain access to affordable legal services and as a result, may find themselves in difficult situations,” said Hugo Cardona, president and CEO of La Causa, a local social services agency. “Centro Legal is a place of safety where people can receive legal assistance when they need it.”

“Clients who avail themselves to other assistance with housing, employment and personal safety tend to be more successful in their legal case and often are able to use our legal services more effectively,” said Mishelow. “Centro Legal’s most successful clients are those who use our services as part of a plan to address long-term goals rather than merely patching problems as they arise.”

Interested agencies that would like more information about Centro Legal’s services can contact their offices at (414) 384-7900 or visit their Web site at www.centrolegalwisconsin.org.


Founded in 1991, Centro Legal’s mission is to provide affordable legal representation in family law and criminal misdemeanor defense cases to Milwaukee families so they may maintain stable homes and remain employed in the face of legal difficulties. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.centrolegalwisconsin.org.
              


 


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