Page 19 - Delaware Lawyer - Spring 2023

traditional business hours because not everyone works “regular hours” or is permitted to take time out of their workday to make calls. We could never have extended our hours enough to accommodate everyone’s needs, but the website does just that. Our online intake portal allows people who are seeking services from DVLS to begin the intake process at any time of day or night.
The site will screen to determine if the user’s legal issue is within DVLS’ program guidelines, and in matters where financial eligibility is relevant, if they are within our financial guide- lines. Eligible users can then begin the process by providing brief informa- tion about the type of case that they are seeking assistance with and, most importantly, the best way and time to contact them so that DVLS can do a
comprehensive intake at a time when they are able to speak freely.
This does not replace our in-person intake process but is a tool that bet- ter helps us serve the public. The intake specialist will gather more information and complete the pro- cess. The online intake portal will generate a significant increase in work for our staff because when it is uti- lized by the public, our requests for assistance will increase substantially. Each person who begins our intake process online will finish with a call back from an intake specialist. For matters outside our guidelines, the site will direct them to other possible resources at DEHelpLink.org.
DVLS’ volunteers are wonderful and dedicated and we are thankful for everything that they do for our clients. Our volunteer attorneys change lives
when they help victims of domestic violence seek protective orders and navigate custody matters, when they help the elderly and terminally ill with end-of-life documents, when they help with adult guardianship or eviction matters, etc.
There is always someone in need of help and we are asking you to con- sider helping. Our goal as an agency is simple: to find assistance for people in need of legal services. We cannot do that without your help. You can become one of those wonderfully dedicated volunteers, because help is always needed. If you are interested in taking a case or learning more, please contact DVLS by either reg- istering on our website (DVLS.org) or emailing Jacki Chacona at jchaco- na@dvls.org or Tom McDonough at tmcdonough@dvls.org.
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