Free Legal Help for Sandy Victims

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is once again offering free Disaster Legal Response Clinics for people who are still dealing with legal issues related to Superstorm Sandy.

The clinics continue seeing quite a few attendees even more than two years after the storm, but staff attorney Jessica Limbacher says the issues themselves are starting to change.

"Originally, we were seeing more FEMA appeals or insurance issues," Limbacher said.  "But now, clients are dealing with appeals from some of the state grant programs, some contractor issues, and now some FEMA recoupment issues."

The clinics are free and open to the public, and many legal questions can be resolved on-site. Limbacher says if that's not the case, you're still not on your own.

"If it's something that can't be addressed in the clinic setting, like just by an attorney giving the client some advice, then what we'll do is, we can refer the case back to VLJ," Limbacher said.  "And the client can do an intake to see if they're financially-eligible for full representation."

VLJ's representation services are income-based, but once again, the clinics themselves are completely free.  There are currently 2 scheduled in Ocean and Monmouth Counties this month:

• Friday, 2/6/15,  9am-11am  Brick Presbyterian Church, 111 Drum Point Road, Brick
• Friday, 2/20/15, 9am-11am  Brookdale Community College, Hazlet Campus, 1 Crown Plaza, Hazlet

Limbacher says more clinics will probably be scheduled in March and April, so be sure to check their website for a site that works for you.  You can also call VLJ's Disaster Main Line directly at 1-855-301-2525.