Another insists his elderly mother's estate is being hijacked by a greedy family member -- something about a probate, a prostate, a prostitute, I don't know.

And so it goes.

This is only a sampling of column ideas I routinely get from readers looking for publicity, revenge or justice through this column space.

But often these ideas come with prickly legal strings attached, making me leery of printing anything without seeking my own legal advice.

Typically, my first questions are, "Have you sought legal representation?" and, "Did you save all the legal documents given to you?"

Most readers have done neither. Lawyers, they say, cost too much. And legal documents are written in lawyer mumbo-jumbo, they say.

Yeah I understand, I usually tell them. But not any more, not since visiting the Valparaiso University School of Law on Monday.

I showed up there for its annual Talk to a Lawyer Today event in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

King often preached the equality of judicial access to all Americans, not only the ones who can afford it. This is why Monday's program offered "free legal advice" from a licensed attorney.

I expected a long line of disgruntled residents, some grumbling about a useless P-T columnist who was too stupid and lazy to help them.

Instead, only a dozen people showed up over the first three hours of the program.

The majority of questions asked during these sessions pertained to family law, estate planning and consumer complaints, according to Judith Stanton, administrator for the Indiana First Judicial District Pro Bono Committee, which co-sponsors the program each year.

Stanton said 84 lawyers volunteered two hours of their time Monday to talk with people in seven Northwest Indiana counties.

I'm guessing these lawyers would rather be anywhere else on the planet than offering free legal advice.

Stanton says there is no arm-twisting or extortion involved, just gentle reminders of their need.

Plus, they face an industry-wide unwritten goal to volunteer 50 hours per year pro bono publica, Latin for "for the good of the public."

Sure, we love slamming lawyers, stereotyping them, and making jokes at their expense. I can think of three jokes off the top of my head.

But who do we turn to when we need legal help? Who do we call when we want to file a lawsuit? Where do we turn to seek justice?

Lawyers. That's who.

That's why I was so interested to learn that Stanton's group offers free legal counseling year round, not only on MLK Day, to those who meet income-related criteria.

Since the group began in 2001, more than 300 local lawyers have accepted 1,000 cases for free, which would have totaled upward of $1 million, Stanton said.

Everything from power of attorney, foreclosures and evictions, to parental custody, identity loss and little old ladies on Social Security harassed by creditors.

"We hear it all," she said.

So does the newspaper, I told her, often the last refuge of the jilted and afflicted.

My suggestion to anyone in need of such legal guidance, and who can hardly afford it, is to contact Stanton's Hobart office at 945-1799 or probono@hobartlaw.net.

It's definitely better than walking into a courtroom "pro se," or by yourself.

Contact Jerry Davich at 648-3107 or jdavich@post-trib.com.