MALS Corner

JOHN AND LISA BOBANGO MARY LAUREN BOBANGO STEWART Chairs

2021 CAMPAIGN FOR EQUAL JUSTICE OCTOBER 2021

As a society, we strive for “equal justice” – the fair, equal and impartial treatment of all people. However, as we know, not everyone has access to justice.

T.V. shows about lawyers from Perry Mason to Bluff City Law provide the viewer the impression that access would find each person. In reality we do not all have access to legal representation and advice. Perhaps, as lawyers, we tend to take for granted access to a lawyer or to the judicial process. Because we have lawyers in our circles, we believe there are lawyers everywhere who are available to everyone. Unfortunately, not all of us have the same access to a lawyer and to equal justice. Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) steps in to fill the void and to provide the missing access to equal justice for our community.

MALS is the primary provider of civil legal representation for low-income individuals and families in Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale and Tipton Counties in western Tennessee. The Campaign for Equal Justice is the primary source of unrestricted revenue for MALS, and this annual campaign is the vehicle through which individuals, law firms and other contributors donate to MALS.

MALS officially opened in 1970 when thirty members of the legal profession had the vision to establish an organization to provide free legal services for the low-income population. MALS has well-trained, dedicated and capable staff as well as local attorneys volunteering to provide extra support. In addition to traditional client services provided each and every day, MALS operates approximately thirteen programs that are critical and beneficial to the individuals served by MALS. Among those are programs providing extended orders of protection, divorces, child support and child custody for victims of domestic violence. Another program, Elder Trust, which had provided funding to address elder abuse, including financial abuse, has recently ended with no clear replacement funding available. Donations to the Campaign for Equal Justice will directly support that work. Without the contributions and support provided by the legal community, MALS would not be able to serve the thousands of individuals that annually approach MALS.

The COVID pandemic continues to create a number of challenges, for all of us but especially those with lower incomes. The pandemic has created additional opportunities to serve residents that are in need of access to equal justice.

We appreciate so many of you who consistently step up and continue to support MALS. We would like to thank the attorneys for their steadfast support of time and financial resources to equip MALS to serve our community. MALS is deserving of your support each year. 