New Search Return to results Printer Friendly

About The Gazette archives purchase:Your purchase of articles expires on 12/14/2015.

You have viewed articles and have articles remaining.

Gazette, The (Cedar RapidsIowa City, IA)

Law day Dorothy de Souza Guedes The Gazette Published: May 1, 2006CEDAR RAPIDS Iowa Legal Aid lawyer Lisa Gavin confesses to having tidied up her office a bit. But her desk isstill piled high with the tools of the trade: lots and lots of thick files in several colors, letters, and, of course, legalpads. She prefers white to yellow, regular size to legal size. They fit in folders better.

Because she spent the previous day getting ready for court in a custody case, Tuesday is a catchup day. Gavinplans to spend the day digging into the heap on the desk in her sunny office on the third floor of the Dows Buildingoverlooking Second Avenue SE.

She takes a quick call, then continues talking about work. She laughs almost a giggle, really often. But thatdoesn't mean Gavin isn't serious about the work she does. And loves.

She's worked for Iowa Legal Aid in various roles since she graduated from law school in 1995.

Why'd she become a lawyer? She "fell in love" with political science after a few undergrad courses at CreightonUniversity in Omaha. That led to a political science degree. Then law school.

"What else do you do with a political science degree?" she asks. "This job is a good mesh."

These days, her job is 50 percent funded under the Violence Against Women Act. She advises survivors ofdomestic abuse about restraining orders, divorce, custody, child support and more.

"That's actually the area I'm most interested in, so I tend to have a lot of family law cases," she says.

She talks to a lot of people Ñ legal aid clients have low incomes Ñ and advises people without necessarily takingon a court case.

"A lot of what people need is just answers. 'Can my landlord do this?' or 'What happens if I can't make my mortgagepayment?' Or, 'What are my rights as a parent?"' Gavin explains.

Over her nearly 11 years with Iowa Legal Aid, which handles only noncriminal cases, the Dubuque native hasworked in Ottumwa and Council Bluffs. She's been in Cedar Rapids about six years. The office's six lawyers coverLinn, Benton, Tama, Iowa and Poweshiek counties, so Gavin is often on the road.

"I really liked family law, so that's the area I fell into," she says.

Most of her time is spent in the office on the computer, emailing, messaging other lawyers about cases andchecking iowa courtsonline.org and other information sites.

Most Friday mornings are spent in civil domestic abuse court. With custody and divorce cases, how long she's incourt depends on when hearings and trials are set.

She also supervises interns from the University of Iowa and does some community outreach to teach area residentsbasics

AN IOWA LIFE, page 5B

An Iowa Life/C.R. attorney loves unpredictable job FROM PAGE 1B

of landlord/tenant law, child custody and family law.

When she was single and home alone, it was difficult to shut off work, she says. Things have changed.

"My son really helps because when I go home I want that to be his time," she says.

She was a firsttime foster parent when she took in a little boy, then 18 months old. She adopted him in December2004.

The experience helped her better understand what her clients go through "because court can be so intimidating forpeople, especially when children are involved. It just seems like there's so much at stake," she says.

Just as Gavin begins digging into applications from people asking for assistance, the receptionist asks if she cantalk to a walkin. It's an emergency, a foreclosure case 29 1/2 days into a 30day legal notice. Gavin talks brieflywith the man, then walks down the hall to look up something in a law book. She and the potential client step into thelibrary. Another attorney who deals with a lot of housing issues joins them. The door closes. She rushes to figure outwhat needs to be done in the four hours left before the county recorder's office closes. There will be discussion aboutwhich attorney has the afternoon free, and whether the opposing party's attorney will agree to certain conditions. Ifshe can take the case, there go her afternoon plans.

"That's kind of what I like, though, is that you never know what's going to happen," Gavin says.

Contact the writer: (319) 3988318 or dorothy.desouzaguedes@gazettecommunications.com

Lisa Gavin

n Age: 36

n Address: Cedar Rapids

n Occupation: Iowa Legal Aid staff attorney, Cedar Rapids office

n Education: Creighton University, political science degree; University of Iowa College of Law

n Family: 5yearold son

Iowa Legal Aid

Iowa Legal Aid offers legal assistance to lowincome clients in noncriminal matters including health care, housing,consumer, debt collection, education, family law, employment, government benefits and individual rights. TheCedar Rapids Regional Office closed about 1,230 cases in 2005, which affected more than 2,800 people. Statewide, 35 to 40 percent of cases involve family law, 20 percent housing, 10 to 15 percent consumer matters andincome support. The rest include tax issues, education and individual rights.

Statewide, about 700 people a month are served in various capacities. More than 900 people are turned away eachmonth due to staffing limitations.

Contacts

Iowa Legal Aid: 1(800) 5321275 People using English as a second language may call 1(800) 2720008.

Iowans 60 and older may call Legal Hotline for Older Iowans, 1(800) 9928161.

For more information online about legal rights, including booklets to download or order, visit www.iowalegalaid.org

Law Day 2006

Law Day provides the legal community a chance to educate members of the public about their rights andresponsibilities under the law.

Linn County program

"Liberty Under Law: Separate Branches, Balanced Powers." 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today, Third Avenue Bridge, LinnCounty Courthouse: Landlordtenant law

An overview of the state and federal courts

Proceedings in a criminal case

Family law

Elder law, living wills, powers of attorney

Tour and history of the Linn County Courthouse

Cosponsored by the Linn County Bar Association and the Iowa District Court.

Illustration: COLOR PHOTOS

Duane Crock photos/The Gazette

Lisa Gavin hands over a pen for a client to sign a legal document while visiting the Madge Phillips Center indowntown Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. Gavin, an attorney with Iowa Legal Aid, makes regular visits to thehomeless center to provide free legal services for residents. // The door to the Iowa Legal Aid office in downtownCedar Rapids displays its slogan, "Iowa Legal Aid: Working for Fairness."

Lisa Gavin hands over a pen for a client to sign a legal document while visiting the Madge Phillips Center indowntown Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. Gavin, an attorney with Iowa Legal Aid, makes regular visits to thehomeless center to provide free legal services for residents. // The door to the Iowa Legal Aid office in downtownCedar Rapids displays its slogan, "Iowa Legal Aid: Working for Fairness."

Copyright (c) 2006, Gazette Communications, Inc.