If you are in need of a lawyer, you may be wondering how to get free legal services. There are several options. First of all, check out LawHelp, an online resource that enables you to search for free legal services in your area. You can search by zip code or county, select the subtopic of your legal problem, and read about eligibility requirements. You can also click on the names of organizations to learn more.
Legal Aid Society
Lawyers who volunteer to help those in need of legal advice may be eligible for free legal counseling. This service is offered by the Legal Aid Society. Its lawyers help people with immigration-related problems, workers’ rights, housing-code violations, and other legal issues. The organization also offers assistance with public assistance, such as Medicaid and foster care benefits. In addition, attorneys can receive CLE Credit by volunteering.
The Legal Aid Society is a nonprofit organization based in New York City. It offers free legal counsel to individuals and families with incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Different criteria determine eligibility. Depending on the type of case, the nonprofit handles civil, criminal, or juvenile issues. Each year, over 300,000 people benefit from the organization’s services. In order to provide legal assistance to low-income families and individuals, it works with more than 1,000 volunteer attorneys from local law firms and 25 neighborhood courthouses.
Volunteer Lawyers Project
The Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and small not-for-profit organizations in Western New York. Its dual mission is to provide quality free legal services and to involve lawyers and law students in the delivery of these services. The VLP helps people with housing, elder abuse prevention, consumer fraud, kinship care, income maintenance, and health care.
As a volunteer, you’ll be part of a team of lawyers, who work on various legal matters. You’ll be involved in case-based research, drafting and filing motion papers, and meeting with clients. You’ll also do some light administrative work. Foreclosure Prevention Project Interns assist homeowners facing foreclosure and help them draft and file real estate contracts and applications, short sale applications, and other legal documents.
Bronx Defenders
The Bronx Defenders is a nonprofit public defender organization. Their mission is to represent low-income people in the Bronx in the justice system. Through this work, Bronx Defenders is transforming the justice system for low-income people in the Bronx.
The Bronx Defenders provides holistic legal counsel to those accused of crimes. Attorneys work with clients to develop an effective defense. This includes researching and understanding the law and discussing the case with the prosecutor. There are special circumstances that can alter the course of defense in a criminal case. For example, a person who is under 16 is not considered a criminal liability and is eligible for special treatment.
Pension Rights Center
The Pension Rights Center offers free legal counseling for lawyers and the general public on pension issues. Founded in 1976, the organization strives to improve the retirement security of working Americans. It works to identify inequities in pension plans and develop reforms to correct them. It also advocates for legislative changes to benefit all Americans. It offers free legal assistance related to pensions, profit sharing plans, and retirement savings plans. The website includes a pension locator to find local services that provide legal assistance.
The Pension Rights Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees federal labor laws. It also works closely with the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), which regulates the management and disclosure of retirement savings plans. The Center’s website is dynamic, featuring the latest information. It is distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has created a hotline for lawyers to access free counseling services. This service is staffed by trained mental-health professionals. Lawyers can receive up to four sessions per year. The program was created in response to the recommendations of the Task Force on Attorney Well-Being.
The program provides confidential and monitored services for lawyers in need. The services are available to lawyers in need of help, as well as to applicants for the bar.