Kristie M. Goff is Senior Counsel in the Pikeville and Prestonsburg offices of AppalReD Legal Aid. Kristie can be reached at kristieg@ardfky.org; (606) 886-3876, ext. 1604; or (606) 437-3446. Kristie M. Goff has represented clients in all types of cases handled by AppalReD Legal Aid. She has particular expertise in consumer law, social benefits and housing cases and is a HUD certified housing consultant. Kristie M. Goff joined AppalReD Legal Aid after six years of private law practice.
Kristie M. Goff is a graduate of P. Chase College of Law. Please note that our branches cannot answer questions or provide legal advice until they have submitted an application. Robert Johns is an Executive Director at AppalReD Legal Aid and works in the Prestonsburg office. He can be reached at robertj@ardfky.org or (606) 889-1984. Prior to joining AppalReD Legal Aid in 2015, Robert spent 20 years as an attorney and managing attorney at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services in Steubenville, Ohio. He began his legal career as an AmeriCorps attorney at Advocates for Basic Legal Equality in Findlay, Ohio.
He is a graduate of George Washington University School of Law and the University of Notre Dame. Robert serves on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Sandy Valley Transportation Services, Inc., and Mountain Plus Services, Inc. In April 2015, John received the Grassroots Advocacy Award from the American Bar Association for his many years of service and outstanding work in accessing legal services. The Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky, Inc., known nationally as “AppalReD,” is a private, non-profit law firm. We provide free civilian assistance to eligible low-income individuals in 37 counties in Appalachian and Hill Counties in eastern and southern Kentucky, an area where more than 240,000 people live in poverty. AppalReD`s lawyers, paralegals and legal secretaries from six local law firms work hard to improve the lives of our clients. We help our clients obtain and maintain their basic needs: income; adequate nutrition and health care; decent, safe and sanitary housing; and personal safety and protection from violence and abuse. AppalRed offers a unique pro bono lawyer program, and our low-income tax clinic offers income tax assistance to residents of 86 Kentucky counties. AppalReD also serves our community with training open to private lawyers and legal staff, such as our well-known annual conference on domestic violence and our seminars on poverty law. AppalReD cannot provide assistance in criminal matters. AppalReD staff provide legal advice and representation to clients facing a range of poverty law issues, including family law, housing, utilities, consumer issues, power outages, labour law and education.
The Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky, Inc., known nationally as “AppalReD,” is a private, non-profit law firm. We provide free civilian assistance to eligible low-income individuals in 37 counties in Appalachian and Hill Counties in east-central and south-central Kentucky. To get help from AppalReD, you need to have a low income, have limited wealth, and have some kind of problem that AppalReD faces. AppalReD can help seniors, regardless of their income and wealth. You can apply online or call 1-866-277-5733. Or you can request legal assistance by completing an online application. Promote equal access to justice, promote self-sufficiency, strengthen and improve the lives of low-income individuals and families and other vulnerable individuals in eastern and south-central Kentucky by providing high-quality legal assistance. John is featured in the book This is Home Now: Kentucky`s Holocaust Survivors Speak by Arwen Donahue, Rebecca Gayle Howell and Joan Ringelheim. Edna Bland, Client Representative, Barbourville, KY Ellen Johnson is an attorney in the Barbourville office of AppalReD Legal Aid. Ellen can be reached at ellenj@ardfky.org or 606-546-5115 ext. 4108.
Ellen has represented clients in all types of cases handled by AppalReD Legal Aid. She has particular expertise in family law and domestic violence. She joined AppalReD Legal Aid after graduating with a law degree. Ellen is a graduate of Morehead State University and Appalachian School of Law. She already has experience articling at Bluegrass Legal Aid while completing her law studies. Beinholz M. Burton is Senior Counsel in the Hazard office of AppalReD Legal Aid. Charnel can be reached at charnelb@ardfky.org or 606-439-2315 ext.
6004. Charnel has represented clients in all types of cases handled by AppalReD Legal Aid. She has particular expertise in family, deportation and administrative law. Charnel joined AppalReD Legal Aid after 7 years in private practice. Charnel is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Law. Prior to his career at AppalRed Legal Aid, John was a trial attorney and section chief in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice for eight years, from 1962 to 1970, hearing discrimination cases primarily in the Deep South. John`s area of practice was primarily environmental law and representation of older adults. He has written a number of articles on these topics. In June 2013, John received the Kentucky Bar Association Distinguished Lawyer Award. On April 29, 2004, John received a Lifetime Achievement Award from American Lawyer Magazine.
Seneka Land is a lawyer in the Somerset office of AppalReD Legal Aid. Seneka can be contacted at senekal@ardfky.org or 606-679-7313 ext. 7208. Seneka has represented clients in all types of cases handled by AppalReD Legal Aid. He has particular expertise in the areas of family law, protection orders and estate planning. Seneka joined AppalReD Legal Aid after spending some time as an individual practitioner. He is a graduate of Western Michigan Law School. In addition to her work at AppalReD Legal Aid, Seneka is actively involved in programs focused on children`s literacy and homeless nutrition. Courtney Taylor is victim legal counsel in the Prestonsburg office of AppalReD Legal Aid.
Courtney can be reached at courtneyt@ardfky.org or by phone at 6060-886-3876 ext. 1625. Prior to joining AppalReD Legal Aid, Courtney worked as an Unemployment Insurance Appeal Assessor for the Unemployment Office and as a legal intern for the Department of Public Advocacy. Courtney is a graduate of the University of Pikeville and the University of Kentucky School of Law. West Virginia Law Review – Personal Reflections of a Life in Public Interest Law: From the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice to AppalReD Board Chair: Carolyn Layne, Client Representative, Allen, KY Cassandra Combs is a lawyer in the Hazard office of appalReD Legal Aid. Cassie can be reached at cassandrac@ardfky.org or 606-439-2315 ext. 6001. Cassie has experience in all types of cases handled by AppalReD Legal Aid, but has particular expertise in family law and is particularly passionate about serving teens and survivors of domestic violence. Cassandra is originally from Hazard and is a proud graduate of Perry Co. High. She attended Hazard Community and Technical College and is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University.
Cassandra is a graduate of Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. She comes to AppalReD Legal Aid from a private practice. Melissa Henke, Professor of Law and Director, Legal Research and Writing Program, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law In December 1999, John received a Doctor of Public Service from Morehead State University and, in January 2000, a Doctor of Laws from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. Mn. Cassandra Combs, Staff Counsel, ext. 6001, cassandrac@ardfky.org Casey Michalovic is a Project Renewal Lawyer in the Prestonsburg office of AppalReD Legal Aid. Casey can be reached at (606) 886-3876 ext. 1639 or caseym@ardfky.org. Casey joined AppalReD Legal Aid after working in a private civil practice. Prior to that, she worked for several years as a public defense attorney for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy.