CCBA - Adverse Witness - July/August 2022

Adverse Witness

Prior to working for Legal Aid, I worked in a Criminal defense law office for Musca Law. I am multitalented so I would help each department. I did a lot of administrative work and also worked with an attorney who defended DUI’s as her legal assistant. Currently, I am still in school and about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies at Hodges University. After college, I would like to go to law school. Working for Legal Aid is meaningful to me we assist members of the community in legal matters who would not be able to afford representation. Growing up as part of the community we serve makes it very personal to me because we provide justice to all different types of people and diverse populations. Working for the Pro Bono Unit is a privilege and I thank the lawyers that give their time to do good for the people.

Summer Trusts and Estates Pro Bono Clinic - reaching underserved and vulnerable communities Here at Legal Aid we recognize the importance of every adult having a basic estate plan in place. We frequently receive probate cases for that are more complicated than necessary due to the lack of a simple Will, which would have protected the loved ones and assets of our clients. However, we know that not everyone in our community has the same knowledge or access to resources. That is why we would like to launch an initiative to educate underserved and vulnerable populations about the importance of Wills and basic estate plans. Our summer 2022 Trusts and Estates Pro Bono Clinic will have two components – outreach and the furnishing of Wills and basic estate planning documents to eligible clients in need. We will be at the Naples Pride Event on July 9th as well as at other outreach opportunities throughout the month of July. This initiative will culminate in a clinic during the week of August 22, 2022, where we will have volunteer lawyers draft these simple, but essential, documents for our clients. We need pro bono attorneys! If your expertise includes trusts and estates and you would like to volunteer your time to prepare Wills and other basic estate planning documents as part of this initiative, please reach out to me directly at fguerrero@legalaid.org . Thank you for your time and support!

Meet the Team Profile – Adriana Monty-Ruiz, Pro Bono Assistant Hello, my name is Adriana Monty Ruiz. I was born in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and relocated to Rhode Island with my family when I was three years old. In 2008, I relocated here to Southwest Florida to Naples. I worked in the legal field for criminal law, and real

estate law, as I attended college for my Bachelor’s degree at Hodges University here in Naples, FL. I have always been very inspired to be in the legal field – I love everything about it. I am a very outgoing person - I love to travel to new places and meet new people. I love to be at the beach, studying and reading about forensic science, and being with my loved ones and my dog Austin. Binge watching documentaries is also one of my favorite things to do.

July / August 2022 Vol. 210

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