On Friday, May 1, the Shiawassee County Bar Association hosted its 7th Annual Free Legal Advice Fair as part of Law Day 2015. The event took place at the historic Shiawassee County Circuit Courthouse in downtown Corunna, Michigan, and it did not disappoint.

Twenty-three people came to get legal advice, which they received on a wide variety of matters, including real estate, expungement, family law, land contracts, and more. The attorneys who donated their time -- Barb Dawes, Tom Moorhead, Cole Schmidt, Pat McAvoy, Jennifer Peplinski, Rob Ellis, Bob Ashley, Lynn Bowne, Richard Burlingame, James Gutting, and staff attorney Sarah Bouck of Legal Services of South Central Michigan, said the recipients were happy and gracious.

Sincere "thank yous" were heard throughout the day, with one attendee remarking that he appreciated the generous annual gift of time by the attorneys, and another stating, "I am really glad I came today."

Meanwhile, attorney Rob Ellis commented that the event had a happy vibe.

"Two small children were with their mother, who was getting domestic relations advice from Jennifer [Peplinksi]. The little boy and his big sister were running and playing in the courthouse rotunda. Their joyful noise echoed so much off the marble enclosure that a tall deputy was summoned to prevent the kids from disturbing the peace."

The Shiawassee Bar also hosted a mock trial event for high school students, as well as a luncheon in honor of Law Day.

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—Robert Mathis and Lynn Ingram contributed to this story.