The state budget gives one-time boost to programs that give poor Mainers legal aid in civil cases

The state budget gives one-time boost to programs that give poor Mainers legal aid in civil cases

LEGAL
The newly signed state budget includes a one-time $4 million boost for a program that provides low-income Mainers with legal representation in civil cases – a big addition to the baseline $650,000 the program currently receives each year. But the funding in the budget is significantly less than what the Legislature approved. Lawmakers passed a bill, sponsored by Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, that called for an $11 million investment over two years and an ongoing appropriation of $7.8 million a year – and was projected to help an estimated 10,000 additional Mainers. Carney, an attorney who used to volunteer with a nonprofit that provides legal services, said she was pleased that her bill received funding, even though increasing the baseline funding would offer more stability to people needing legal help.…
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Legal Aid plans phone clinic

Legal Aid plans phone clinic

LEGAL
Legal Aid is holding a free Legal Aid Phone Clinic for residents of their eight-county district on Tuesday. The district includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush, and Shelby counties. The phone clinic will be held from 3 to 5:30 pm although registration is required between noon and 2 pm The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program utilizes local volunteer attorneys, offering free legal consultations to low-income individuals to provide equal access to justice within our communities for those who might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney. Individuals calling to the Legal Aid Phone Clinic can expect to receive a brief consultation to answer general and eviction questions, offer legal information, or to receive other limited pro se assistance or advice, over the…
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Vermont Law School opens immigration, criminal justice legal aid clinic downtown

Vermont Law School opens immigration, criminal justice legal aid clinic downtown

LEGAL
Vermont Law and Graduate School now has a larger presence in downtown Burlington.The school received a $975,000 federal grant, secured by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to combine their immigration legal aid clinic and broader justice reform work into the Center for Justice Reform Clinic, which will be in their new downtown Burlington office.The office, on the fourth floor of 126 College St., officially opened June 22, a milestone marked by a ribbon cutting and speeches by the mayor, the president of Vermont Law and Graduate School and the dean of the law school.Mayor Miro Weinberger and Rod Smolla, president of Vermont Law and Graduate School, cut the ribbon to officially open the school's downtown location. The office will be the home of the school's new Center for Justice Reform Clinic,…
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Nevada launches legal kiosks to expand access to justice

Nevada launches legal kiosks to expand access to justice

LEGAL
The state of Nevada has announced the launch of the Legal Kiosk project at 22 libraries across Nevada with the intent of making information available to older Nevadans, underserved communities, and all those with questions.The Legal Kiosk project is led by project manager Susan Myers, Esq. of Nevada Legal Services to address the digital divide which disproportionately affects communities, especially seniors who lack the means to use technology to access the legal system.Legal kiosks are designed to be a user-friendly portal for Nevadans to learn about civil legal issues, find court information and forms, access legal aid providers, locate community resources, and attend virtual court hearings.The legal kiosks provide curated information on topics including housing, divorce and custody, protection orders, guardianship, healthcare and financial powers of attorney, debt collection, social…
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Gulfcoast Legal Services finds more help for Sarasota residents with housing issues

Gulfcoast Legal Services finds more help for Sarasota residents with housing issues

LEGAL
Michael Fuchs (left), who recently retired from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, is the new pro bono attorney for Gulfcoast Legal Services. Amid a surge in eviction cases, he will be focusing on housing issues in the Venice offices of the United Way of South Sarasota County. With him on the right is housing navigator Phil Heller. In his two dozen years investigating investor fraud, Michael Fuchs has seen a lot of loss.But what he's witnessed in his few short weeks on Sarasota's housing crisis has left him truly stunned.“It hasn't taken me long to realize how big the problem is here,” Fuchs said of residents' dire circumstances.Fuchs, 64, is the new pro bono attorney focused on housing issues for Gulfcoast Legal Serviceswhich is located in the Venice offices…
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There’s a big lack of lawyers taking Legal Aid cases these days

There’s a big lack of lawyers taking Legal Aid cases these days

LEGAL
Breadcrumb Trail Links News Local News Published July 03, 2023 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 5 minute read Family lawyer Lisa DeLong says her firm has stopped taking family-related Legal Aid cases and the area is severely lacking anyone to pick them up. SUBMITTED Article content Can't find a lawyer to take your case? Blame Legal Aid Ontario, says a local lawyer. Advertisements 2 This advertisement has not been loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “Sometimes we have people walk into our office and start crying when we tell them we do not take Legal Aid (cases) anymore, as they've called every family lawyer in the city and been told the same thing,” says lawyer Lisa DeLong , of DeLong Law. DeLong used to take…
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Lerner & Rowe Announces Updated Legal Services for Phoenix Truck Accident Claims

Lerner & Rowe Announces Updated Legal Services for Phoenix Truck Accident Claims

LEGAL
Mesa, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - June 26, 2023) - Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys have announced updates to legal services offered to individuals in the Phoenix area who may be suffering from severe injuries incurred in a motor vehicle accident, including car , truck and big rig incidents.The updated range of legal solutions from Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys aims to assist individuals who may be experiencing physical, emotional, and financial struggles following a major accident. The firm's goal is to help people receive justice and a fair settlement from insurance companies that may try to undervalue a client's injury claim.Further details can be found at: https://lernerandrowe.com/phoenix/practice/truck-accident-attorney.Lerner & Rowe Announces Updated Legal Services For Phoenix Truck Accident ClaimsTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/171225_c4a50069141c3917_001full.jpgWith legal advice from the…
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Why legal aid matters |  opinion

Why legal aid matters | opinion

LEGAL
When I speak to civic groups about Alpine Legal Services, I'm surprised how many people have heard of us but aren't sure what we do.People also tell me they don't realize the right to legal representation applies mostly to criminal cases. They didn't know that those facing a life-altering civil legal matter — an eviction, a protection order from abuse and violence, a custody case, an emergency guardianship — are most often not entitled to an attorney. That's where civil legal aid comes in. That's what we do.Alpine Legal Services has been around in one form or another since 1987. A group of lawyers saw the need to uphold justice for people who had strong cases but didn't know how to present them and couldn't afford to hire an attorney.…
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Courts see a boost in salaries, tech funding: Civil legal aid also sees a boost in funds for the coming fiscal year

Courts see a boost in salaries, tech funding: Civil legal aid also sees a boost in funds for the coming fiscal year

LEGAL
The state's multibillion-dollar biennial budget enacted during the 2023 legislative session includes increasing all around for the satay's judiciary, including additional funding for including civil legal aid, salaries and court technology. The funding for fiscal years 2023-2024 will take effect July 1. Indiana Supreme Court The final budget bill allocates $21,841,985 to the Supreme Court in FY 2023-2024 and $22,330,232 in FY 2024-2025. That's an increase from $19,400,605 in FY 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. In a letter to lawmakers at the beginning of the 2023 budget session, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush made her case for budget increases. “Indiana's judicial branch budget accounts for less than 1% of the state's total budget,” she wrote. “We're proud of that, and we don't ask for it very much very often. We've operated efficiently…
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New York City Council members urge city to increase legal services funding – JURIST

New York City Council members urge city to increase legal services funding – JURIST

LEGAL
A majority of New York City Council members on Monday sent a letters to Mayor Eric Adams urging him to drastically increase funding for legal aid services in the city. 26 of the 51 councilors signed the letter requesting $195 million as a “first step in addressing the economic crisis facing these critical programs.”The letter, authored by Councilperson Shaun Abreu, a former tenant rights attorney, referenced several issues facing legal services in the city. He called for increased homicide representation. violet crime in the city, while steadily decreasing, is still experiencing a major increase since 2019. He also called for expanded legal housing assistance. Evictions and other housing issues have grown dramatically since the expiration of COVID-19 housing protections. Legal aid attorneys have been forced to turn down 10,000 housing…
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