How to get free legal aid

24. How to Get Free Legal Aid?

What is Legal Aid, and Who Receives It?

Free legal aid refers to the legal help offered by government-funded and non-government-run organizations. Here, lawyers will offer free legal services to financially weaker sections in the US. However, these lawyers will help you with non-criminal or civil cases. Their emphasis is on bringing justice and equality to everyone in front of the law.

There are different ways to find legal aid in the US. You can approach legal clinics, Pro Bono service providers, NGOs, Legal Services Corporation funded organizations, etc. These firms will provide free legal aid only to cases that come under federal law and civil law cases like divorce, car accidents, child custody, employment issues, etc. Criminal laws have different procedures in the US.

Here, the court will assign you a public defender if the court thinks that you can't hire a lawyer. Criminal cases include theft, causing life threats, endangering a person's life, etc.,

When it comes to who can receive legal aid, there are different conditions, and these factors can change from one state to another. Generally, you can receive these benefits if your family's annual income is 125% less than the federal average.

Besides, you can avail yourself of legal aid if your income is higher than the federal average. However, there are certain conditions for garnering these perks. An organization would wave off your fees if you are a senior citizen, an HIV+ individual, a domestic violence victim, etc.,

In some scenarios, your lawyer will assist you at a discounted price after hearing your case. If you aren't eligible for legal aid, you can opt for this method. Another way is to seek assistance from lawyers or law firms, where you have to make a payment only after you win the case.

Legal aid can be in different forms. They don't have to be legal advice or representation during a trial. These types of legal aid services are known as direct services. These lawyers will also look into systemic issues like data collection or matters faced by a group of people.

Other than these types of legal services, legal aid involves conducting workshops, training programs, provision of toolkits, downloadable forms, etc. By utilizing these self-help materials, you can represent yourself in court if you can't find legal representation. There is nothing wrong with self-representation if you have prepared yourself to get through the procedures.

How to Get Legal Aid?

If you don't know already, there are countless ways through which you can get legal help while dealing with civil cases. Since many low and medium-income families confront civil issues, they require legal assistance. However, most of them don't have the money to support themselves, and hiring a lawyer is way more than they can imagine. It is when seeking legal help from different legal aid programs run by the government and non-governmental organizations becomes helpful. Here, we will walk you through some ways by which you can get legal aid in the US.

 Make Use of the Platform by Legal Services Corporation

If you have to find lawyers who can assist you for free, you can try using the platform by Legal Services Corporation, commonly known as LSC. LSC is a federally funded initiative started in 1974, focusing on helping low-income Americans. LSC has 132 independent organizations under it from which you can seek legal aid based on your location.

 You can find the contact details, fax, website URL, and other relevant information of an LSC-funded organization near you on LSC's official website. You can do so by simply typing in the state or by selecting a region from the map. For instance, if you choose Montana, the search will show Montana Legal Services Association as the nearest LSC-funded organization in Montana. You can then connect with them directly to find out how the organization can help you.

 Connect with Legal Aid Offices

In your locality, there would be a legal aid office funded by the government or non-government organizations. You can connect with them to learn if you can avail yourself of the benefits offered through legal aid programs.

You can visit them or contact them via email or phone to understand if you qualify for their assistance. Generally, these offices can assist you with matters related to unemployment, social security, family law, personal injury, or others.

 Seek Assistance through a Law School

Law schools run different programs and initiatives to help with the needful. One initiative taken up by law schools is to offer Pro Bono services.

Here, law students, under the supervision of their superiors or much more qualified and licensed lawyers, would furnish legal services. They can assist you in handling cases related to family law, personal injury law, employment law, and several other cases under civil law.

 Reach Out to Non-LSC-Funded Organizations

Apart from organizations receiving funding from LSC, there are others who get support from other entities. These independently run organizations can also offer you legal aid. Here, your financial background might not be an issue as well under specific conditions. For instance, if you are a senior citizen, a domestic violence victim, or HIV+, you can get legal assistance without considering your annual income.

Apart from this, these organizations can also provide you with self-help and informational services. Through this, you can empower yourself and make yourself capable of self-representation during litigation if it becomes necessary.

These are the different ways by which you can find legal aid in the US.