As an attorney you need to know you can collect on your client’s behalf. The “Peace of Mind” uncollectible clinic will teach you how to review credit reports and financial statements and will provide hands-on experience working directly with clients.
This bankruptcy by-pass clinic is designed to assist clients whose income and assets are of a type that is exempt from garnishment or attachment through legal process. Students will attend a training session on the day of the clinic. Student volunteers will work individually with each client to review and verify their financial situation. Afterwards, clients and their assigned law student will participate in an educational presentation on Ohio’s exemption statute, O.R.C. 2329.66. The client and student will then meet individually with an attorney who will review the client’s documents, verify that the client is “exempt from collection upon judgment,” and confirm that creditors have been correctly identified. In order to determine the effectiveness of the “Notice of Uncollectibility” letters and identify potential violations of the Fair Debt Act (U.S.C. 15 §1692), students will be required to make follow up contact twice with each assigned client.
The clinic and follow up work will meet students’ 5-hour pro bono requirement. Interested students must be able to commit their time for the entire clinic and the additional time required for follow up.
Clinic Agenda
3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Law Student Training
3:30 – 3:45 p.m. Clients arrive
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. Law Students meet with assigned clients
4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Educational tutorial with question & answer segment
5:00 – 7:30 p.m. Individual attorney/client meetings