Free Legal Advice Offered at Pierce

The WoMen’s Resource Re-entry Center at Pierce College will offer free legal advice beginning Tuesday.

Center director Barbara Fish said attorneys have offered their time and expertise to the campus and community members for nearly 15 years.

But this year, the center had to limit the number of people at each session to eight.

“We didn’t limit it in the past, and [the attorney] would be here all night,” Fish said. “It just got to be way too long.”

Attorney Matthew Rattay of Woodland Hills will be at the center at 4 p.m. Tuesday, as well as Oct. 8 and 22, Nov. 5 and 19 and Dec. 3 and 17.

Rattay will evaluate legal problems, provide choices in dealing with legal questions and possibly direct participants to other resources.

Fish said the advice sessions have in the past been a tool for young attorneys to gain exposure and to establish a practice in the area. And it has also been a way for men and women to get much-needed legal advice.

“Sometimes they come with legal problems, the outcome of which would determine if they are to remain in school, and we’re in the business of keeping students in school,” she said.

“This is a win-win situation for the attorneys and those who come for help.”

Rattay has been providing free legal advice through the center since 1986. Fish said that everyone is invited to apply for a spot in the sessions, and that it is not limited to students.

The service will be on a first come, first served basis.

Beginning at 3 p.m., the WoMen’s center will hand out eight numbers for that day, and only those with numbers will be seen. For details, call the center at (818) 719-6437.