“Irene Karns, a pro bono attorney for Mid-Missouri Legal Services and a member of the Boone County Bar Association, recently was selected by the Legal Services Corporation of Washington, D.C. to receive a LSC Pro Bono Award. Irene was honored at a Pro Bono Awards Reception on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Stinson Leonard Street LLP in St. Louis.

Ms. Karns is a retired public defender who has volunteered in MMLS’s Uncontested Divorce Clinic (UDC) for seven years. She has assisted more than 80 clients at the MMLS Columbia office since the Clinic’s inception. The UDC was created by Columbia attorney Brian Taylor, and Ms. Karns has been instrumental in expanding and staffing the Clinic. The UDC is one of the most successful family law clinics in the country, with 90% of participating litigants successfully obtaining their decrees.”

Presenters were from left to right: John Levi, Esq., Chicago, Illinois, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation Irene Karns, Esq., Columbia, MO Victor Maddock of Louisville KY, Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation Jim Sandman of Washington, D.C., Executive Director of the Legal Services Corporation.

COLUMBIA, MO – A mid-Missouri lawyer on Friday said you should seek help right away if you don’t understand any of the forms you receive concerning Medicaid benefits.

Ed Kolkebeck handles Medicaid and Affordable Care Act questions for Mid-Missouri Legal Services, which provides free legal help to those in need. He said most of his clients simply need help understanding what the Department of Social Services is asking for. Common documentation for Medicaid and other social-aid programs include income verification and various asset documents, so he said you should have those on hand. Kolkebeck said most Medicaid-related forms come in the mail, so you should check yours regularly. He said there often is only a limited time to reply and deadlines are fairly strict. If you move, he said you should give your new address to any social service agencies you work with right away.

If you have any questions regarding Medicaid or other paperwork, Kolkebeck said there are several agencies that can help you. He said his organization handles a variety of civil law issues including landlord-tenant law and family law in addition to Medicaid access. He also suggested using Cover Missouri’s help locator, which maps social-service agencies near your zip code.

Kolkebeck said if you’re not sure whether you qualify for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program or similar programs, go ahead and apply. According to MO HealthNet, some services are available to a family of 4 making up to $94,000 a year. You can apply online as well as sending in a paper application.

13KRCG, by Garrett Bergquist, 13KRCG Reprinted from Friday, March 1, 2019 article:  https://krcgtv.com/news/local/expert-says-prompt-responses-key-to-maintaining-medicaid-benefits

The 11th annual Chipping in for Charity golf tournament organized by the Community Involvement Committee  of the Boone County Bar Association is scheduled for next Monday, October 9, 2017 (Columbus Day – a court holiday) at AL Gustin Golf Course, 18 East Stadium Boulevard in Columbia. Net proceeds from the tournament will be donated to Mid-Missouri Legal Services. We plan to use the funds for our Veterans Law Project.

The tournament is a four-person scramble format, open to both lawyers and non-lawyers. There are various sponsorship opportunities available (some include your team(s) in the tournament!) The entry fee is $125/person and $500/team, which includes green fees, range privileges, cart, lunch, beverages (beer, soda, water), post-tournament reception at Truman’s Bar & Grill, etc.

Please note, while the registration deadline technically has passed, additional individual/team signups and sponsorship are still being accepted! Click here for the sponsor information letter, a listing of the sponsorship opportunities, and the registration flyer to sign up your team and sponsorship.

Contact Sander Sowers at 875-1991 or sowers@learwerts.com to sign-up, donate, participate, and arrange sponsorships.

The Committee and MMLS would like to thank the following sponsors that have already stepped up for this year’s tournament:

Ace Sponsor
Lear Werts LLP

Eagle Sponsors
Midwest Litigation Services
The Bar Plan
Allen & Nelson, P.C.
Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council
Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center

Birdie Sponsor
GilsbarPro

Hospitality Sponsor
Truman’s Bar & Grill

The golf tournament has raised $95,091.77 for charity since its inception thanks to the many donors, participants, and sponsors. The Committee is excited to be in a position to eclipse the $100,000.00 mark this year!

On March 10th, Mid-Missouri Legal Services’ own Executive Director, Susan Lutton, discussed how MMLS helps veterans and military families as part of a panel of experts on veteran issues at a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. The briefing was co-hosted by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

Through a unique partnership with the local VA hospital in Columbia, MMLS is able to provide a walk-in clinic for veterans and their families to provide assistance and resources for various legal issues. During her discussion, Ms. Lutton explained how the project provides a much needed and important service – and importance of the legal aid programs – to veterans.

The 9th annual Chipping in for Charity golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, October, 12, 2015 (Columbus Day – a court holiday). This year’s tournament will be held at Columbia Country Club, 2210 Country Club Drive. Net proceeds from the tournament will be donated to Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation. The tournament is a four-person scramble format, open to both lawyers and non-lawyers.

The entry fee is $125/person and $500/team, which includes green fees, range privileges, cart, lunch, beverages (beer, soda, water), etc. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams and for various on-course games and contests. There will also be hole-in-one prizes. The registration deadline for the tournament is Monday, September 28th.

To make the tournament a success and raise as much money as possible, sponsorships and prize donations for the tournament are needed. Please contact Sander Sowers at 875-1991 or sowers@learwerts.com to sign up, donate, participate, and arrange sponsorships. You may also download the registration flyer here. here. The golf tournament has raised more than $68,000.00 for charity since its inception thanks to the many donors, participants, and sponsors.

Mid-Missouri Legal Services was surprised and delighted to receive a check for $8,388.60 from the BCBA Young Lawyers Committee, even though the annual Chipping in for Charity Golf Tournament was rained out in October.   With an inch and a half of rain falling between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day, and 8 inches during the prior 10 days, we assumed that the tournament would be completely doomed for 2014!   But, of course, the YLC wouldn’t let a little rain get in the way and made it possible for golfers to play on fair weather days instead.

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The 8th annual Chipping in for Charity golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, October, 13, 2014 (Columbus Day – a court holiday). This year’s tournament will again be held at The Club at Old Hawthorne, 6221 E. Hwy. WW. Net proceeds from the tournament will be donated to Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation. The tournament is a four-person scramble format, open to both lawyers and non-lawyers.

The entry fee is $125/person and $500/team, which includes green fees, range privileges, cart, lunch, beverages, etc. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams and for various on-course games and contests. There will also be hole-in-one prizes. The registration deadline for the tournament is Monday, September 29th.

To make the tournament a success and raise as much money as possible, sponsorships and prize donations for the tournament are needed. Please contact Sander Sowers at 875-1991 or sowers@learwerts.com to sign up, donate, participate, and arrange sponsorships. The registration form is available by clicking here.

Last year’s golf tournament raised more than $11,600 for Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation thanks to the many donors, participants, and sponsors.

Mid-Missouri Legal Services is proud to announce the launch of its Web site, providing information on applying for services, volunteering, and our mission to increase access to justice for low-income Missourians. We would like to offer a special thanks to the Young Lawyers Committee of the Boone County Bar Associate for their generous fund-raising and donations used in creating the website.

We are also expanding our Judicare program to cover more clients and areas of law and are seeking attorneys to assist these clients. MMLS provides Judicare attorneys with a reduced fee for this representation. As always, we welcome those attorneys willing to provide pro bono representation. Click here for more information about volunteer and Judicare opportunities!