January 2008

Serving Our Communities

Wills for Heroes — Protecting Those Who Protect Us

by Sarah Ondrak

In September 22, 2007, Washington's Wills for Heroes program held its largest clinic to date. The fifth clinic proved as successful as the previous four. At each clinic, volunteer attorneys provide free estate-planning advice and estate-planning documents to firefighters and police officers who risk their lives every day protecting our local communities. More than 75 volunteers from the legal community met at the Starbucks Support Center to counsel more than 100 first responders and their spouses.

Clients are asked to fill out a thorough questionnaire before arriving at the clinic, and once there, they are given the chance to meet with a volunteer attorney for approximately one hour. The volunteer attorneys (with the help of a team of law clerks, notaries, witnesses, and other support staff) are able to draft a Health Care Directive, General Durable Power of Attorney, and Last Will and Testament for each client. At the most recent clinic, clients were able to snack on scones, muffins, cookies, and Starbucks espresso drinks while waiting for their documents to be drafted.

A Seattle police officer who attended the recent clinic said: "Everyone involved was very organized and professional. Even though they were offering the service for free, they still treated us with a high level of respect and professionalism. I really felt like the organizers put a lot of effort into providing a high-quality service."

Attorneys Ford Clary and Jenni Frere Volk introduced the program to Washington in 2006; soon after, they presented the concept to the Public Service Committee of the WSBA Young Lawyers Division. The WYLD was enthusiastic about the idea and agreed to sponsor the program. In September 2006, after nearly one year of organizing and planning by the founders, the Seattle Fire Fighters Union Local 27 hosted the first clinic for its members. "The event was an overwhelming success," Co-chairman Ford Clary said, "and it was very rewarding to see so many local attorneys donate their time on a Saturday to help this group of first responders."

In the first year alone, the program helped more than 50 first responders, who left the clinics with estate-planning documents in hand. In 2007, the program helped more than 300 firefighters and police officers in Washington. Washington's Wills for Heroes program also offers a venue for law students to interact with experienced practicing attorneys in an effort to foster practical, hands-on legal experience.

Sadly, a Wills for Heroes client recently passed away after a battle with cancer. His fellow officers reported that he took some solace in knowing that his loved ones would be taken care of upon his passing. "We were all devastated to learn of the officer's passing, and we can only hope that our contribution made things a bit more comforting for the family during this difficult time," said Jenni Frere Volk.

The program was initially inspired by the events of 9/11, after a South Carolina attorney, Anthony Hayes, began looking for ways that he could use his legal expertise to give back to his local community. The American Bar Association recently selected Wills for Heroes as its Public Service Project of the Year. For more information about the national Wills for Heroes Foundation, please see www.willsforheroes.org/.

The Washington Wills for Heroes Program is always looking for volunteer attorneys and support staff to help out at the clinics, as well as donations of paper, printer ink, and used printers. If you would like to get involved, please contact Jenni Frere Volk (jenni@volklawfirm.com) or Ford Clary (fordclary@hotmail.com). 

Sarah Ondrak is an attorney in Seattle. She has been the volunteer coordinator on the Wills for Heroes Committee for the past two years. Her e-mail address is sondrak@ballardlawyers.com.