Mello Jones & Martin and Age Concern will be partnering together in October to present a free legal clinic for seniors increasingly in need of legal advice particularly power of attorney issues.

Age Concern Executive Director Claudette Fleming said the charity has seen an increase in the number of inquiries received concerning the need for legal advice.

?We have an ageing population in the context of a housing situation. Seniors find themselves in positions of having to make decisions about their properties,? Ms Fleming said.

?The increased awareness that seniors have needs, creates within individual seniors, a need for them to seek out information on how to make the best decisions for themselves.?

?Sometimes because we are a small community it is difficult for a senior to determine who they should go to. For example, do I really want people to know that my children aren?t necessarily working in my best interest or understand a particular issue about how to set up a will and there is a lot of pride involve.?

Ms Fleming said other law firms will be encouraged to follow Mello Jones & Martin in helping seniors to feel comfortable in make decisions on legal matters on their own.

The volunteer legal clinic will be held on October 4 from 3.30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Cap-a-laige, Charities House, 25 Point Finger Road where there will be an opportunity for one-on-one consultations on such topics as family law, property and insurance, contracts, and landlord/tenant issues. Mello Jones & Martin senior partner Michael Mello and Hildeberto (Hil) De Frias are private client practitioners, providing estate planning advice.

The seminar will cover the basics of estate planning whilst allowing for questions and answers at the end.

At the same time some of the firm?s litigation partners and associates will be providing one-on-one consultation on particular issues seniors have.

?This is an advantage for seniors to take advantage of some good free legal advice. It may help to get people to think more about their estate planning and other issues.?

Space is limited and pre-registration is required and more information by can be provided by calling Mello Jones & Martin at 292-1235 or Age Concern at 238-7525.