legal services Archives

25Jul 2023 by Charles E. Price

Legal Aid DC Reopens Anacostia Office

Legal Aid of the District of Columbia recently announced that it will reopen its offices in Ward 8 in Southeast that were suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Legal Aid office was in the Anacostia Professional Building, also known as the Big Chair, until DC Mayor Muriel Bowser instituted the public health emergency that shuttered many businesses and nonprofits in the District in March 2020. With the emergency lifted a few months ago, the organization's leadership decided to rebuild its community contacts and reinstalling the Anacostia office became a priority. “We're thrilled to reopen our Big Chair location and increase access to free, in-person legal services for District residents who live or work east of the river,” said Vikram Swaruup, executive director of the organization. “Ultimately, we…

22Jul 2023 by Charles E. Price

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…

16Jul 2023 by Charles E. Price

Demand for free civil legal aid in Michigan outweighs attorneys

LEGAL

Kelisha Williams has been trying to get a divorce for five years and said it has been a long and expensive endeavor. Last fall, when a car accident left her unable to work and without steady income, she couldn't afford a lawyer.The cost for legal representation, according to estimates Williams received: between $8,000 to $10,000. But earlier this year, a 3rd Circuit Court judge referred her to the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic — the Salvation Army's only free legal service provider in the world, serving low-income metro Detroit residents — and she's now hopeful she'll get to a resolution. The 47-year-old Detroiter said it was a relief the court told her about the clinic because otherwise she likely would have been waiting for someone to call her back or…

15Jul 2023 by Charles E. Price

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.…

30Jun 2023 by Charles E. Price

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…

28Jun 2023 by Charles E. Price

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.…

24Jun 2023 by Charles E. Price

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…

18Jun 2023 by Charles E. Price

Christine Clarke returns to Legal Services NYC as Chief of Litigation and Advocacy

LEGAL

Christine Clarke, newly appointed Chief of Litigation and Advocacy at Legal Services NYC. Photo courtesy of Legal Services NYC. Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) announced on Wednesday that Christine Clarke will return to its ranks as Chief of Litigation and Advocacy, effective from July 2023. In this role, Clarke will spearhead LSNYC's strategic advocacy for low-income New Yorkers, initiating and overseeing high-impact and complex civil litigation, as well as partnering with advocates and community groups for innovative policy advocacy. “I am thrilled to return to Legal Services NYC, an organization that fights for justice and equity for and with people caught in the crosshairs of unjust systems,” Clarke said. “I believe in fighting the hard fights, something my colleagues at LSNYC do day in and day out. I am truly honored…

17Jun 2023 by Charles E. Price

Boston awards grants to expand legal services to immigrants

LEGAL

Charlas Manualides Group, an immigrant support group, gathers to learn about acquiring driver licenses and other processes. PHOTO: TANISHA BHAT The city has been awarded more than $700,000 in grants to 15 nonprofits in Boston to provide additional legal services to immigrants. The grants from the Office for Immigrant Advancement are to be used for such services as expanding support for immigrants from certain countries, helping them obtain driver's licenses aand providing legal consultations. “The immigration system is complicated, and it can be difficult and expensive to get access to qualified legal help,” Major Michelle Wu said in a recent news release. “I'm grateful to these organizations for stepping up to provide these critical services to our residents.” Immigrants often face difficulties finding adequate legal services, being able to afford…

08Jun 2023 by Charles E. Price

STAFF ATTORNEY, DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROJECT, BRONX LEGAL SERVICES

LEGAL

Bronx Legal Services seeks a Staff Attorney for its Disability Advocacy Project. The DAP team assists low-income residents of The Bronx seeking federal disability benefits based on mental and/or physical health impairments and disabilities. We assist clients with case development and represent them in administrative hearings, appeals, and collateral issues which arise after an award of benefits. We work with community members and partner organizations in identifying and resolving systemic barriers to obtaining disability benefits.Bronx Legal Services, the Bronx office of Legal Services NYC, fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. We provide high-quality legal services to resolve those problems which have the greatest impact on low-income New Yorkers, namely affordable and decent housing, income support, abusive lending and consumer practices, family stability, domestic…

Tag: legal services