It's election time

KEJC seeks a legal services Attorney, Paralegal and Support Staff Representative to our board. Under our bylaws, Staff Reps are elected by their fellow employees of Kentucky's Legal Services Corporation-funded legal aid programs. Here are this year's candidates' information and personal statements, in alphabetical order by board position and last name.

Attorney Staff Rep Candidate Colt Sells

Program: Legal Aid Society

Office: Louisville

Job title: Staff Attorney

How long have you been at your program? 3 years

Job responsibilities: Representing clients in our 14 rural (outside Jefferson) counties in matters dealing with housing (e.g., landlord-tenant, foreclosures) or government benefits (e.g., SSI, SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid) whether through direct representation or advice/counsel.

Paralegal Staff Rep Candidate Kristin B. Brooks

Program: Appalred Legal Aid

Office: Somerset

Job title: Intake Paralegal

How long have you been at your program? Since 2017.

Job responsibilities: Intake paralegals at AppalReD talk on the phone with people every day who are experiencing varying levels of crisis in their lives. We gather information from them and perform a telephone triage of their legal needs. Then, determinations are made about who receives potentially live changing legal services, and who doesn’t.

Past or other current relevant experience: I served on AppalReD’s Strategic Planning Committee this year because I wanted to participate in the future planning for our organization and learn about what makes a non-profit successful.

Candidate’s statement: As an advocate for justice I’ve recognized the need to give back and contribute to the local communities of which I am a part. After making my home in Kentucky I started working with AppalReD and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. I talk to people from thirty-seven counties in Eastern Kentucky and hear all kinds of horrific and heartbreaking stories, but the hardest part of my job is having to tell people we can’t help them. Sometimes we can’t help because of limited resources or a situation being outside of priorities and sometimes it’s because of the laws that don’t protect Kentuckians. Working together with other legal aid organizations to share information and advocate for policy change is one of the best things we can do to increase access to justice, and I’d love to be a part of that.

Paralegal Staff Rep Candidate Waynanne Caudill

Program: Legal Aid of the Bluegrass

Office: Morehead

Job title: Gateway District Long Term Care Ombudsman (Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan & Rowan Counties)

How long have you been at your program? 5 years

Job responsibilities: Facilitate Gateway LTCOP and volunteer program; advocate for rights of LTC residents; keep up to date on regulations on LTC; work with state agencies to solve issues related to Medicare, Medicaid, guardianship; provide education to community groups; work with LABG attorneys to solve resident legal issues: prepare documents/research/testify at hearings.

Past or other current relevant experience: Deputy Circuit Clerk in my hometown of Monticello, KY-4 years; High School Social Studies Teacher-8 years (Madison & Clark Counties); Paralegal in private practice.

Candidate’s statement: I love this Commonwealth and its people. My grandfather moved his family out of Eastern Kentucky in 1960 to find opportunities that were not available there. Though he grew to love Monticello, he longed for his mountain home. I’ve grown up with the desire to help ensure that no Kentuckian should have to leave their home to access justice and opportunity.

I love this Commonwealth and its people. My grandfather moved his family out of Eastern Kentucky in 1960 to find opportunities that were not available there. Though he grew to love Monticello, he longed for his mountain home. I’ve grown up with the desire to help ensure that no Kentuckian should have to leave their home to access justice and opportunity.

My years as a Deputy Circuit Clerk provided an understanding in to the workings of Kentucky’s Justice System, and my teaching experience allowed me to see first-hand the issues that face Kentucky’s children and families. It was not until I joined, LABG, however, that I truly understood the importance of advocacy in bringing justice all people in the Commonwealth.

Through Legal Services, I have found the vehicle to help my fellow Kentuckians in direct, meaningful ways. I’m happy to do my very small part to bend the long arc of the moral universe towards justice.

Support Staff Rep Candidate Jacob Taulbee

Program: Legal Aid of the Bluegrass

Office: Morehead

Job title: Human Resource Manager & Proposal Writer

How long have you been at your program? I have worked for Legal Aid of the Bluegrass since October 2013.

Job responsibilities: Jacob is a Grant Writer and HR Manager for Legal Aid of the Bluegrass. He is responsible for researching and sourcing new funding streams. He drafts proposals and works closely with LABG’s Grants Manager to assure administrative deadlines are met. He assists with employee onboarding and benefit administration.

Past or other current relevant experience: Jacob began working at LABG in 2013 as a SHIP Coordinator and Benefits Counselor. In 2017, he worked with the KY Attorney General to investigate fraud in the Kentucky Medicaid program. In 2018, he returned to LABG and is now a HR Manager and Grant Writer.