OUR COMMUNITY

F

or 15 years, the Jewish 
Family Service’s Legal 
Referral Service has assist-
ed JFS clients with many differ-
ent legal concerns — including 
helping clients remain in their 
homes during the housing crash 
of 2008-10 and now during the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 
On Thursday, March 10, 
from 4:30-6 p.m, the Jewish Bar 
Association of Michigan (JBAM) 
will be partnering with JFS to 
conduct a Zoom seminar on 
landlord-tenant law, including 
the possible eviction of income-
strapped renters in the era of 
COVID. Register for the live-
stream at jlive.app/events/1763.
All attorneys are invited to 
log on, especially those who 
might be interested in volun-
teering a small amount of time 
to assist JFS clients. In addition, 

members of the general public 
may log on to the seminar to 
become better informed on 
landlord-tenant issues.
Speakers will include: 
• attorney Anita Scott-Meisel 
of Lakeshore Legal Aid in 
Mount Clemens, who helps 
tenants obtain governmental 
assistance to pay rent; 
• Southfield business law 
and real estate attorney Ira 
Auslander, who will give the 
perspective of landlords; and 

• Judge Marla Parker of 
the 47th District Court in 
Farmington Hills, who will 
address issues from the court’s 
point of view. 
Since 2007, JFS’ very success-
ful Legal Referral Service has 
recruited volunteer attorneys to 
provide pro bono (free or low-
cost) legal assistance to needy 
JFS clients.
JBAM and JFS have been 
working toward a partnership 
for several years. 

“
A number of JBAM members 
have already worked within our 
program and have been extraor-
dinarily helpful,
” said JFS’ Legal 
Referral Services chair Mark 
Jacobs. “We’re very excited to 
work with JBAM, and we think 
that this collaboration is a natu-
ral fit for both organizations.
”
Kelly Goldberg, coordinator 
of JFS’ Legal Referral Service, 
said, “we have three goals with 
this partnership with JBAM. We 
seek to increase our ranks of 
volunteers, heighten the aware-
ness of Jewish Family Service’s 
mission, and elevate people’s 
awareness of JBAM in the larger 
legal community. It’s a really nice 
collaboration, and I’m grateful 
to JBAM President Ellie Mosko 
and her leadership team.
”
Mosko said, “We are very 
excited about this upcoming 
landlord-tenant event that will 
launch our partnership with JFS’ 
Legal Referral Service. It will serve 
to recruit and train more pro 
bono attorneys to support such an 
important mission. We hope that 
this is the first in a series of col-
laborations and trainings.
” 

Online seminar on landlord-tenant law seeks to inform 
attorneys and help them serve as volunteers.
Calling All Lawyers!

20 | MARCH 3 • 2022 

JN STAFF

An attorney 
advises her client 
on landlord-tenant 
matters.

Anita Scott-Meisel
Ira Auslander
Judge Marla Parker

