Volunteer lawyers needed: young lawyers crank up disaster relief plan.

It won't be long after the victims of Hurricane Charley secure the necessities of life--food, clothing, shelter-that their thoughts will turn to the legal questions as they begin to rebuild their lives and communities.

To provide the answers, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division is putting into action its disaster legal services plan in coordination with the ABA-YLD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Florida Bar and the ABA are assuming the responsibility for coordinating pro bono legal services for the storm's victims.

"As Floridians, we can all relate to what it feels like to be threatened by, or live through, a hurricane and for those of us who have managed to escape Charley now is our opportunity to help," said Mark Arnold, district representative, for ABA-Young Lawyers Division, who is heading up to volunteer effort along with Jennifer Ator, the FEMA liaison for the Bar's YLD, and Mike Faehner, the YLD president.

"Hurricane Charley caused a significant amount of emotional and financial damage to the residents of Florida from Punta Gorda to Daytona Beach, and President Bush has declared many of Florida's counties disaster areas and eligible for federal relief," Arnold said. "Many Floridians have not yet been able to assess the extent of the damage to their lives and they will need our help in the coming weeks."

That's where the volunteer lawyers come in.

The Florida Bar has established a toll free number--(866) 550-2929--for the victims to call in and the Bar now needs attorneys to answer their questions. FEMA officials also will provide that number to storm victims at its disaster recovery centers.

"We have a list of volunteers already but need many more volunteers to help the victims of this disaster," Arnold said, adding that each volunteer will be provided an informational, training packet, full of resources and information to assist the lawyer.

The legal questions victims have usually include one or more of the following: insurance claims; landlord-tenant and other housing problems; home repair contracts; consumer protection matters; mortgage foreclosures; replacement of wills and other important legal documents; drafting powers of attorney; estate administration issues; and the preparation of guardianships and conservatorships.

Arnold said when victims call in on the toll-free line, staff at the Bar will take the call and fill out a two-page intake form describing the type of assistance they need. The Bar staff...