Orange County Newsletter
April 2009
CLAO OPEN HOUSE
Thursday Eve APRIL 30TH
Food- Fun- Music - The Christian Legal Aid Office is holding an “Open House” this month, and we hope you will stop by to visit our offices at 605 W. Chapman Avenue in Orange. It will be held on Thursday April 30th from 5:30-8 pm to introduce our two new board members, Paul Lorelli and William Crosby.
CLAO Office in The Honest Lawyer Law Building
Dr. Bill Dyment, will give us a lively pep talk at the Open House entitled,
“The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Great Opportunities, Great Stress and our even Greater God.” Dr. Bill is a popular Christian conference speaker, career assessment coach and counselor.
All visitors who attend our open house or who make a financial contribution to CLAO in the next 30 days will receive a free copy of “Surviving Credit Card Debt,” an 88 page workbook. This valuable addition to your office or ministry library, was donated by a CLAO supporter.
The CLAO Open House will allow our guests to meet with CLAO attorneys, board members, and get to know this ministry better. Please come and have a light supper with us and be encouraged in our rich fellowship of service to the poor. For more details, contact Bobbie Guice in our CLAO office or at Bobbie@christianlegalaidoffice.com
Welcome New Board Member
Paul Lorelli
Attorney Paul Lorelli, one of the original founding members of CLAO, has agreed to return to the Board. “Paul’s life and his joy in Christ are an awesome testimony to the value of faith in God. We are thrilled to have someone with Paul’s fortitude, experience and organizational abilities” announced Aurora Harris, current President of the CLAO.
Originally from Albany, GA, Paul was an accomplished athlete and budding tennis pro in college. However, near the end of his freshman year a swimming accident left Paul paralyzed, and in a wheel chair. During the long, arduous rehabilitation process Paul gave his life to the Lord. After a year of rehab, and despite being a quadriplegic, Paul returned to school and earned his undergraduate degree in Public Policy from George Mason University, and then received his law degree from the same university.
Paul moved to California and passed the California bar in 1995. His legal practice has focused on Family Law. Paul and his wife have two children, and have been active members of Calvary Chapel Westgrove for over 10 years. Paul serves in the men’s ministry at CC Westgrove, and plays percussion with the worship team. Paul jokingly states he intends to write a book someday entitled, “So you think you have it bad.”
Helping the Needy
Optimal Use of God’s Resources— CLAO Staff provides Legal Coaching to those who cannot afford lawyers.
Theresa and her husband John (not their real names) were referred to CLAO by the Rescue Mission. Through God’s work in their lives they were finally in a position with stable living conditions to work toward re-unification with Theresa’s children from a prior relationship. Theresa had already started the paperwork on her own to get custody of her three children. The CLAO office staff were able to pray with, advise and encourage them in their journey through the legal system. As snags in the case procedure arose, CLAO staff attorney Joy Statler was able to coach them on the correct legal procedures needed.
Joy and Bobbie Guice, our intake paralegal, were also able to pray with these clients, not only for them and their children, but for the children’s father, as well. This godly attitude and “unworldly” approach to dispute resolution resulted in a miracle in this case. As preparation for a mediation meeting between Theresa and with the children’s father, Joy met with her to help sort out the issues and develop a sound strategy. Theresa had high expectations, wanting primary custody to be given back to her after a few years of little contact with the children. God was truly involved in the Mediation and the prayers were answered! The children’s father — who for years has been abusive and uncooperative, not even allowing Theresa to see her children as he had been ordered by the Court to do — agreed to everything Theresa she was asking for! Soon Theresa’s home will be filled with children and family as her kids come home. Praise God for His faithfulness in seemingly impossible situations! While the CLAO staff strove to bless and lift up this couple, the staff ended up even more blessed by the opportunity to be part of God’s work and to come to know this couple which God has brought out of dire circumstances into His light.
Clao Has A Wonderful Panel Of Volunteers That Help us Serve The Poor.
Monica (not her real name) was working, but barely getting by when she first came to us for help with a child custody case. Monica had a baby when she was 15 and the father had raised the child. She was referred to a CLAO volunteer attorney. Our volunteer attorney consulted with Monica initially for free, prayed with her, and ultimately agreed to take on a full representation of her for a greatly reduced fee.
With the help of the Christian lawyer referred by CLAO Monica sought a change in custody. Recently, during visitation with his mother, Monica’s son had started complaining about how much his father drank, and how often he was left alone.
After several months of filings and hearings, Monica was awarded full legal and physical custody. The father now has supervised visitation and the change in Monica’s son is amazing. While living with his father, her son was withdrawn and sad , barely getting by in school with poor grades. Now he is upbeat, socially active and getting A’s and B’s in school. He’s on his way to being a happy, well-adjusted young man. Praise God, we were able to provide some Godly assistance!
SPREAD THE WORD:
The CLAO operates entirely on the gifts and support of Orange County churches and individuals. We would like to be connected to every Christian church in Orange County. We want the local churches to be the “front door” for the referral of those receiving the services of the Christian Legal Aid Office, and we prefer everyone in need to go to their church first. We have partnered with several Orange County churches, and we would also like to work with your church. Please let us know about your church, and let your church know about the CLAO. Any questions? Suggestions? Want to help out? Contact Bobbie Guice at Bobbie@christianlegalaidoffice.com.
BULLETIN BOARD
We Need More Volunteer Lawyers
The work of the CLAO is done by two part-time staff members and a host of volunteers. We need your financial support, prayer and volunteered time.
We need volunteer lawyers, paralegals, secretaries and law clerks.
Non- Legal Volunteer Opportunities:
WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH OUR WEB SITE!
Do you know a Christian brother or sister who is just a wiz with web sites? If you do, please pass this newsletter to them and let them know we need help! We’re just a bunch of technically challenged lawyers ! But we do know that our web could be a huge resource for the poor and needy of Orange County. We just need some help in getting there from here. Anyone who could give us some expertise, please send an email, with your contact information, to our new intake paralegal Bobbie Guice at Bobbie @christianlegalaidoffice.com.
WE NEED YOUR HELP AS AN INVESTIGATOR!
We have a long list of people who need help tracking down those that have skipped out on court ordered spousal support. With the economy slowed we are seeing a significant increase in request for help.
WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH OUR NEWSLETTER!
Are you a creative writer? We need a volunteer to help write and edit our newsletters.
If you can help in any of these areas, please contact Bobbie at (714) 769-7900 or bobbie@christianlegalaidoffice.com
Will you help in this ministry?
First, please make sure your church knows about the CLAO and what we do. Please ask for some of our new CLAO brochures and take them to the senior pastor of your church. We are happy to meet with any Orange County church leader to make sure the services of the CLAO are known and offered at your church.
Second, we need your prayers. We pray continually for guidance and direction in serving “the least of these” in Orange County with pro bono legal services. If you can, please come to our Open House on April 30, 2009 at the CLAO office location in Orange (see story on the front cover).
Third, we need volunteers to help with clerical duties and with the newsletters. We need lawyers, paralegals, clericals, law students, and prayer warriors and others. Call us to discuss your gifting and availability.
Fourth, we need your financial support. The CLAO operates entirely on the support of churches and individuals in Orange County. Will you consider supporting this vital ministry?
COMING UP ON MAY 23, 2009 — FABULOUS FUN PARKING LOT SALE AT THE HONEST LAWYER! Proceeds to benefit the Christian Legal Aid Office. Please contact Bobbie at CLAO by phone or e-mail (bobbie@christianlegalaidoffice.com) if you have donations or would like to volunteer with this event. We need help transporting and storing donated items, pricing, tagging, setting up, cleaning up. This is YOUR chance to have fun and get involved! Food, music, bake sale, and craft booth rentals available!
