Pro Bono Spotlight: Kathleen Day-Seiter
The Pro Bono Committee of the Contra Costa County Bar Association is pleased to announce the quarterly Pro Bono Spotlight winner. The goal of the Pro Bono Spotlight is to recognize individuals in our community who are dedicated to improving civil legal aid and access to justice in our county. We are fortunate to have individuals who consistently donate their time and talents to help those in need. Our Pro Bono Spotlight is a chance to recognize and thank those individuals who help allow basic services and justice to remain accessible.
Catherine Cutler, Staff Attorney for Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (CCSLS) nominated Kathleen Day-Seiter.
“Every month, Kathleen Day-Seiter single-handedly staffs a Free Wills Clinic held in Martinez for low-income seniors that is sponsored by Contra Costa Senior Legal Services,” said Cutler. This clinic provides simple wills for seniors aged 60 and older and solves a real legal problem for these senior clients, who have no other method of obtaining important end-of-life legal services.
A trusts and estates and elder law attorney with Southworth Chavez & Day-Seiter in Orinda, Day-Seiter’s practice is focused on Elder Law and Estate Planning.
She received her B.A. from U.C. Riverside, her Masters of Social Welfare with a specialization in gerontology from U.C. Berkeley, and her law degree from Rutgers University. She worked as a medical social worker for over 20 years advocating for the needs of the elderly and disabled in both California and New Jersey prior to becoming an attorney. Day-Seiter has volunteered for seven years at San Francisco Legal Assistance to the Elderly, as well as volunteering for CCSLS.
In staffing this clinic, Day-Seiter is providing a legal service to a very large number of individual clients that is simply not available anywhere else to low-income seniors in the county, except through CCSLS’ free clinics.
Simple wills are, sadly, beyond the reach of most low-income seniors. Through Day-Seiter’s devoted efforts, these seniors are able to obtain high quality, end-of-life planning and obtain peace of mind that their wishes will be carried out.
CCCBA members have been generous with their time in support of CCSLS free legal clinics throughout the county. Currently there is a need for a volunteer attorney for two hours per month at a legal clinic for seniors in Pinole. The clinic is held monthly at the Pinole Senior Center and may be scheduled at a regular date and time of the volunteer attorney’s choosing. CCSLS provides training and no specialized knowledge of elder law is required.
Cutler explained, “this opportunity is unique, as the volunteer’s time commitment is finite – seniors visit the Pinole clinic for one stand-alone advising session only, with no continuing case file opened and no continuing duties for the volunteer once the appointment concludes.” If you can help, contact Gina at legalhelp@ccsls.org or (925) 609-7900.
The Pro Bono Committee of the CCCBA applauds Day-Seiter’s ongoing efforts to donate her time and special expertise to this pro bono endeavor.
If you would like to nominate a CCCBA member for the Pro Bono Spotlight, complete the Pro Bono Spotlight nomination form on the website under Build Your Practice and pro bono opportunities.