Free legal advice? Pick up the phone

The Kane County Bar Association's popular "Ask A Lawyer Days" program is sure getting a workout this year.

Executive Director Jan Wade said 364 people so far have received free legal advice through the monthly call service compared to 183 at this time last year.

The 98 percent increase isn't all that surprising, really, and not only because of the economy. "Ask A Lawyer" is a unique service you just don't find everywhere.

"My attorney volunteers love it," Wade said. "They feel they're helping people, that it's definitely worth their while. We've had some great calls."

The program thrives thanks to local attorneys who offer their expertise to the public at no charge from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month. Anyone can call with any legal issue.

"It ranges from family matters to real estate to employment issues, estates and trusts," Wade said. "There's a variety of calls, and we have attorneys in different practice areas. We do tend to refer people who sometimes need to seek out a private attorney."

Wade said attorneys with a variety of backgrounds work three phone lines - the most the phone system will allow.

Thirty-one different attorneys participated this year, with some volunteering more than once. Calls came in from Kane, DuPage and Cook counties.

"Earlier this year, we were getting 50 calls on a Saturday," Wade said.

The association even received a thank-you note from one caller, who said the "wonderful service" saved her money and time, Wade added.

The "Ask A Lawyer Days" hotline is (630) 762-1900. The next one is Oct. 10, with others to follow Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. For more information, visit kanecountybar.org.

In other charity news: Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez's Third Annual Car & Motorcycle Show a couple weeks ago raked in $10,500 for the Daniel P. Figgins Memorial Foundation.

"It just astounds me," Perez said. "You look at the state of our economy and people still give. I think it says volumes about the people in our community."

More than 230 vehicles were entered in the Sept. 5 show at the Martin Family Farm near Elburn, and about 300 spectators showed up, according to the sheriff's office.

This year's proceeds went to a foundation named after a well-liked St. Charles police sergeant who had a heart attack and died on the job in 2005. It memorializes Figgins by providing free heart screens and related services to police.

Perez credited sponsors and the family who provided a new venue for this year's show for far exceeding last year's fundraising total of $6,000.

"I think they're a big reason it did so well," he said.

Perez, who handpicks a different charity each year, said he has already decided next year's fundraiser will benefit CASA Kane County, which serves abused and neglected children.

"It's a very good cause," he said.