22Jul 2023 by Charles E. Price
California to offer free legal aid to undocumented farm workers

California to offer free legal aid to undocumented farm workers

LEGAL
SACRAMENTO - California farm workers in state labor investigations will soon be able to access free legal services to safely report bad-acting employers, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.In efforts to prevent labor exploitation, a new $4.5 million pilot program will ensure farmworkers can fend for their rights despite their immigration status with free case review services, legal advice and attorney representation.An estimated 50 percent of California's farm workers are undocumented, which leaves the workforce vulnerable to bad acting employers and disproportionately unlikely to report labor claims, said Newsom's office.Newsom said that the program will provide more tools for farmworkers, so they no longer have to worry about the fear of deportation or the difficulty of finding work without work authorization during cases of exploitation."Farmworkers are the backbone of our economy…
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10Jul 2023 by Charles E. Price
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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13May 2023 by Charles E. Price
Legal Aid Society, housing advocates calling for more counsel funding

Legal Aid Society, housing advocates calling for more counsel funding

LEGAL
May 08, 2023, 9:18pmUpdated 4d agoBy: News 12 Staff The Legal Aid Society and housing advocates are coming together to demand more funding to help New Yorkers stay in their homes. Advocates want a city budget increase for the 'right to counsel' – which would provide free legal services to qualifying New Yorkers who are facing eviction. This comes as the rent increase proposed by the city's Rent Guidelines Board looms over the residents of rent-stabilized apartments. Nakeeb Siddique, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society, says that there are about 120,000 eviction cases citywide filed in housing courts – and there are concerns that number will rise if increases are approved for the over two million New Yorkers in rent-controlled housing. “We have a huge tidal wave, or tsunami,…
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26Apr 2023 by Charles E. Price
IBP rolls out pro bono legal aid via web portal

IBP rolls out pro bono legal aid via web portal

LEGAL
By Rey E. Requejo The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has launched its Pro Bono Portal (PBP) where indigent litigants nationwide can now avail themselves of free legal services online through the IBP's “web-based legal aid platform.” In its advisory, the IBP said its lawyers and legal aids nationwide have started their training. “To avail legal aid services, a potential client can apply for legal assistance through the PBP which can be easily searched by typing 'IBP pro bono portal' or 'IBP free legal aid,'” the IBP stressed. "The system then sends the application to the IBP Chapter concerned which can filter out the application and assign it to the member," he said. It also said the other important features of the PBP include "the integration of the means…
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17Apr 2023 by Charles E. Price
Alaska Senate bill proposes more legal aid for domestic violence victims, others seeking help

Alaska Senate bill proposes more legal aid for domestic violence victims, others seeking help

LEGAL
The front of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau is seen on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) An overloaded nonprofit that provides free legal help would be able to serve more Alaskans in need if legislation proposed by Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, becomes law. Senate Bill 104, discussed by the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, would direct 25% of the Alaska Court System's filing fees to the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, up from 10% in an existing state law. Dunbar, a licensed attorney, formerly worked for the agency on a variety of cases. “They provide absolutely crucial legal services, free legal services, to those who can't afford them. Things like family law, landlord-tenant (disputes); they are also the state's largest provider of free legal services to…
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14Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price
CMBA is working to eliminate financial barriers for those in need of legal services

CMBA is working to eliminate financial barriers for those in need of legal services

LEGAL
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association is celebrating 150 years in existence. To honor their long-standing history, the organization says they want to continue improving people's lives and have plans to introduce a new initiative they say is needed in the community.“It's needed because a lot of people don't know about the legal system, and if you don't have the means to pay for it, then you're walking into a situation blindsided,” said Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Client, Cherea Humphrey.A game-changing opportunity is in the works for those who are struggling to gain access to legal services.“This is going to create all kinds of opportunities to eliminate barriers that will create better lives,” said Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association CEO Becky Ruppert McMahon.This help comes at a time, McMahon says,…
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26Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price
EvictionFreeMKE.org offers free legal help to those on verge of losing their rented homes

EvictionFreeMKE.org offers free legal help to those on verge of losing their rented homes

LEGAL
A screenshot of the automated EvictionFreeMKE.org tool.A new tool, EvictionFreeMKE.orgis offering Milwaukee residents the opportunity to connect with free legal help, rental assistance and other resources to reduce evictions.The new tool comes months after Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed a historic bill that established a Right to Counsel program in Milwaukee County.RELATED: Milwaukee County has established a Right to Counsel program. Here's why advocates say it could reduce evictionsThat program provides residents facing eviction the right to a free lawyer. This new tool helps connect people with those lawyers.Partners involved in creation of the tool include United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Legal Action of Wisconsinthe City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.The tool is part of the United Way's Safe and Stable…
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