There are several HIV/AIDS legal counselling programs that provide free legal assistance to low-income clients infected with HIV or AIDS in areas such as estate planning, employment or housing discrimination, insurance difficulties, family law issues and other legal issues. Civil legal aid refers to both free legal advice and legal information for low- and middle-income individuals to resolve civil law problems they may face. This can take many forms, including: Individual lawyers (also called lawyers) are experts in various areas of law. Some lawyers specialize in a particular area of law, such as commercial, civil, criminal or juvenile law. You need to determine what type of lawyer is right for your legal situation. Once you`ve found a lawyer, ask them about their experience, areas of expertise, and questions such as “How would you handle my case?” and “What do you charge for your services/what is your fee structure?” Upsolve – Find free legal help to declare bankruptcy. Keep in mind that Chapter 7 bankruptcy information remains on your credit file for 10 years. This can make it difficult to get loans, buy a home, get life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy and other options for dealing with debt. Legal aid programmes help to ensure the fairness of the judicial system. Nearly 47 million people and more than one in five children in the United States live in near poverty.

Legal aid providers protect the rights of millions of low-income Americans each year in areas such as housing, consumers, family, education, and employment, and advocate for access to services for people from all walks of life, including children, veterans, victims of domestic violence, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Your eligibility for free legal aid depends on a number of factors, such as your income, health, safety, location, and whether your problem is civil or criminal. While the impact of accessing civil legal aid still requires further research, many studies show that people who receive legal aid on a range of issues perform better than people who do not. For example, a randomized controlled trial found that 51% of tenants lost their homes in eviction proceedings without a lawyer, while only 21% of tenants with lawyers lost property; And research by two economists shows that the only public service that reduces domestic violence in the long run is women`s access to legal aid. Armed Forces Legal Assistance – Find nearby military facilities with legal aid offices. U.S. veterans with mental and physical disabilities may be eligible for free legal assistance on issues ranging from rent assistance to child visitation issues. For eligibility criteria, check with your local veterans` association to see if you or a member of your household is eligible for free legal aid for a range of services. NC Legal Aid`s team of lawyers, paralegals, social workers, staff and volunteers are dedicated, hard-working and resourceful.

But they can`t do it alone. They need your support to increase their service and support capacity. If you have a civil law problem but can`t afford to hire a private lawyer, you can still access the legal system through your local legal advice and legal aid organization, which provides free or low-cost legal services to low-income people. Information on many of these local services can be found online at the websites listed below. If your income is currently below the national average for the number of people in your household, you may be eligible for free legal aid. Most legal aid clinics and pro bono lawyers (private lawyers who offer free legal aid) serve people whose household income is less than 125% of the government-recognized poverty line. The exceptions are Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher income thresholds. If you currently receive financial assistance through other public assistance programs such as SSI/SSP, Food Stamps Program, County Relief, Older Americans Act, and Developmentally Disabled Assistance Act, you may be eligible for additional free legal services in your state.

And even if you qualify for free legal aid, you may have a hard time finding a free legal aid agency that can handle your case – especially if the agency has limited staff and resources, or if your legal problem is not part of what the agency covers. You may be entitled to free legal aid from a court-appointed lawyer or public defender if your freedom is threatened (in other words, you must go to prison). A public defender is a lawyer who represents defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, and the Constitution guarantees the right to legal assistance in certain cases. Civil legal aid is provided free of charge by non-profit legal aid organizations, pro bono volunteers (lawyers, law students and paralegals), law schools, court services such as self-help centres, and online technologies such as document compilation and legal information websites.