VAN NUYS : Woman Seeks an Attorney Via Sandwich Board

To keep her share of her home, Carol Price borrowed a tactic from the homeless.

Donning a sandwich board that read, “Will Work For Legal Assistance,” Price paraded in front of Van Nuys Superior Court Wednesday in search of an attorney to help her with her divorce.

“I saw somebody with a ‘Will Work For Food’ sign,’ ” said Price, 45, of Northridge. “Why not try to get a little attention? Maybe it can help.”

Since her husband, David Price, 48, served her with divorce papers in January, Price said she has been searching without luck for an affordable attorney to help her retain her share of the family’s condominium and other possessions. With a court date of June 11 closing in, she finally decided to take her quest to the courthouse steps.

A homemaker for the past nine years without an income of her own, Price said the only thing she had to trade were secretarial skills and a warm, receptionist voice. But she rarely got a chance to make a pitch, as dozens of attorneys avoided eye contact as they hurried past.

Others did not hesitate to stare. Cindy Thomas, a Superior Court clerk supervisor, said Price’s approach was unlike anything she had ever seen in a divorce case.

“There aren’t usually people out there advertising for help,” Thomas said.

By the end of the long day, it was unclear whether Price’s unusual technique had paid off. A few contacts had been made, including one offer from a lawyer for a free consultation. What was clear was that Price was the highlight of the day for many who worked at the courthouse.

Even Price’s husband, who refused to comment on the couple’s financial relationship, could not withhold a chuckle when he heard what she was doing.

“It’s a tad unusual,” he said. “But she’s got a flair for the dramatic.”