Good Work

When you can’t afford an attorney

Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley provides free legal services for low income people. The organization “does not handle every request for assistance” but it reviews applications and never charges a fee for its services. Practice areas include consumer law, employment law, family law for victims of domestic violence, housing law, public benefits, and a few other select areas. It does not assist with criminal, traffic, personal injury, malpractice, property damage, or cases where a private lawyer would take the case and obtain a fee from the other side for recovery. LAS/RV serves eligible clients residing in Roanoke, Salem, Botetourt, Franklin, Craig, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Lexington, Covington, Bath, and Bedford.

Staff includes attorneys David Beidler (director); Emily Faye Jewett; Tonia Drewery; Elizabeth Barbour; Mona Raza; Henry Woodward; Zachary Brown; Kristi Murray; Jarryd Smith; paralegal Austin Bouffard; development director Laura Rawlings; and legal secretaries Eva Huffman, Gail Anderson Baxter; and office administrator Jan Keister.

The board includes officers Roy Creasy (president); John Eure (vice president); Jan Keister (treasurer); and Eva Huffman (secretary); attorneys Rena Berry, Francis Casola, Roy Creasy, Richard Derrico, Lenden Eakin, John Eure, Ross Hart, Mary Beth Nash, Amanda Shaw, Victor Skaff, III, Lori Thompson; and client representatives William Drewery, Judith Jackson, and Jamice Rudd.

One way to support LAS/RV is through its Annual Giving Campaign, which runs from July 2021 through June 2022. A “Jaunt for Justice 5k” event in conjunction with Roanoke Valley Paralegal Association will be held Saturday, October 2 at Tinker Creek Greenway in Roanoke’s Fallen Park. More information is available at www.lasrv.org.

GOOD WORK

Executive Summary:

Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley provides free legal services for low income people.