GREEN COVE SPRINGS — The cost to sit down with a private attorney can range from $200 to $500 an hour, a steep price tag for many families going through a crisis. 

Alternatively, meeting with an attorney through the Clay County Clerk of Court's Low Bono Program costs $80 an hour or $50 a half-hour. 

The Clay County Clerk of Court has returned the Low Bono Program to Clay County residents after a hiatus attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is geared toward citizens choosing to represent themselves during civil proceedings (pro se litigants) who exceed the financial criteria to qualify for free pro bono legal assistance but lack the funds to hire a full-time private attorney.

That’s when Low Bono Program attorneys can help. 

Although not pro bono, which is free of charge, low bono services are nonetheless a bargain for residents who need legal consultation regarding child support, divorce, paternity or probate — the legal process for reviewing the assets of a deceased person and determining inheritors.

“Low Bono is there for Clay County residents who are going for, let’s say, a custody battle and don't know where to turn to. It's an opportunity to talk with an attorney about their issues," said Jessica Skapetis, a private attorney who has donated her time and expertise to partner with the Low Bono Program. 

"It could be about starting a divorce case. It could involve child support. Anything like that. Clay County residents can make the low bono appointment with the courthouse. Then, they can then meet a qualified attorney who can spend an hour with them and answer their questions and draft motions if needed,"  Skapetis said. 

Skapetis shared how she had two low-bono appointments earlier that day and was able to draft a motion for one of her clients. She was one of the original volunteers of the program five years ago and was instrumental in bringing it back once again. 

“Sometimes there are women, or men for that matter, who are trapped in an abusive relationship, and they don’t know where to turn. We do as much as we can with the time we are with them," she said. 

The Low Bono Program isn't about calculating billable hours or estimating how much a case will cost, Skapetis said; it is about assisting a client's needs at that moment and setting them on the right track moving forward. 

"We definitely cram a lot in that hour. They leave with a clear head with what the next steps will be in their legal case," she said. 

Like all legal counsel, low-bono appointments are confidential and conflict-checked, meaning if you seek services, your spouse will not be able to speak with the same attorney and vice versa. 

Brian Byrd is the coordinating attorney for the returning program. The program had a soft launch last week, and Byrd said there's already been a positive reception. One significant improvement is the ease and convivence of scheduling appointments.

“The day we launched it, we had two citizens sign up that day. There’s been a robust need,” Byrd said. 

“When I got hired, this was one of the first things Clerk (of County Court) Tara Green told me — to get this program relaunched. Citizens have asked constantly for the program: 'Is Low Bono back?,' 'When is it coming back?' and 'Is it up now?'"  Byrd said.

Now it is back and better than ever. 

Prospective clients can schedule appointments online at clayclerk.com/departments/civil-court-services/low-bono-program/.