Most legal service organizations also have pro bono programs. Many private lawyers have agreed to provide free legal assistance to low-income people under this program. Your case can be referred to a pro bono lawyer who will represent you free of charge as part of the pro bono program. Many legal advice centres may be able to solve other problems such as immigration, consumers and disability. Some legal aid offices focus on an area of law, such as disability law or housing law. Some legal aid offices receive funding from the government, which can limit the type of cases they can handle. This information has been created to give you general information about the law. This is not legal advice on a specific issue. If you have any questions about the law, you should consult a lawyer. If you don`t know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Attorneys Reference Service between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
on weekdays. The number is 799-7100 in Richland or Lexington counties and 1-800-868-2284 in other parts of the state. Legal aid cannot help everyone with all legal problems. There are certain types of cases that legal aid does not cover, including criminal cases and paid cases, such as car accidents, where you want the other person to pay for your injuries or damage to your car. In determining whether a person is eligible for legal aid, income, family size and special financial needs are taken into account. Legal services are free for eligible low-income individuals, but clients are asked to cover legal costs where possible. Bar associations, the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission, Legal Aid, and community organizations across the state support existing legal clinics throughout the year. Some people who live in low-income households can get free legal assistance from legal aid offices. When you call the office, you will be asked about your income and that of the other people in your home. Your income must meet current poverty guidelines for you to qualify.
If you follow the guidelines, you will be asked questions about the nature of the legal problem you have. If that`s the kind of problem they can fix, you can talk to one of the lawyers or a paralegal. You can also ask your local bar if they offer any of the following free services to people who need legal assistance: Non-criminal legal services for people who cannot afford a private lawyer are provided by SC Legal Services. Some of the types of legal services that may be available include: evictions, bankruptcies, health problems, education, mortgage foreclosures, obstruction of Social Security, employment issues, some limited divorce and custody issues, and food stamp and welfare issues. Legal services programs do not deal with criminal matters; If you have questions about criminal law, visit Public Defence Services. What is a legal aid firm? Legal advisory offices, also known as legal aid offices, employ staff lawyers to provide legal assistance to poor clients. Lawyers are usually experts on the type of problems poor clients encounter most often. Check out our link to the Legal Services Corporation`s directory of legal aid programs in your state.
There are legal aid offices (also called legal counsel) in the United States. Legal consulting firms are non-profit organizations that provide free legal assistance to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. While many legal aid offices only help people with very low incomes, some offices have more flexible income rules. How to find a consulting office near you: Go to www. LawHelp.org and select the state you live in to find out who in your state can help you solve your legal problem. I do not have legal immigration status. Can legal aid help me? Each legal aid organization has its own rules on who is eligible for its services. However, if you become a victim of a violent crime or domestic violence, legal assistance can help you in any case that protects you from domestic violence or abuse, even if you do not have legal immigration status.
If you have been a victim of domestic violence, legal aid can also apply for immigration on your behalf. Some legal consulting firms specialize in a wide range of immigration law issues. Go to www. LawHelp.orgfor more information about the rules of legal aid offices in your area. Are there cases that are not handled by legal aid? Legal aid in civil matters does not deal with cases of pecuniary damage such as medical professional misconduct or car accidents, traffic offences or criminal cases. (For the difference between civil and criminal law issues, see The differences between the criminal court and the civil court). What can I expect from a litigant? Legal aid lawyers have the same qualifications as other lawyers. Everything you say to your lawyer is confidential, which means it won`t be shared with anyone outside the legal aid office.
Since everything you say to your lawyer is confidential, tell your lawyer the truth. Your lawyer can help you better if you tell your lawyer the truth. I am not entitled to legal aid, where can I ask for help? Information about the law or tools to solve simple legal problems. 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 about many of these local services can be found online on the websites listed below. Who else qualifies for an independent lawyer? In non-criminal or “civil” cases, you are not entitled to an independent lawyer. But there are many legal aid and pro bono programs that provide free legal assistance to the poor in civil matters. These programs generally help people whose income is below 125% of the federal poverty line, although in some cases they help people with slightly higher incomes. (See the table below for current income guidelines.) In addition, the elderly, the disabled, victims of domestic violence who have been recruited into the army or other special circumstances may be entitled to assistance, even if their incomes are slightly higher.
Since these community-based programs often operate on very small budgets and do not have enough resources to serve all eligible individuals, they only deal with certain types of cases and have to turn away many people who seek help. What should I do if I don`t get free legal assistance? If you can`t find help with a legal aid or pro bono program, some alternatives include contacting a lawyer referral service (some may be able to refer you to a low-fee lawyer) or hiring a lawyer only for part of the legal work and performing other parts yourself (this is called “unbundled” legal services). You can also try to get legal information and try to solve the legal problem yourself. Please visit our section on other free resources for more information. The Help4TN.org website and a toll-free helpline at 888-HELP4TN or (888) 395-9297 both provide information and access to legal references and advice, and TN Free Legal Answers brings people together with volunteer lawyers. Federally funded legal consulting firms provide lawyers who are experts in helping low-income people with legal problems. Looking for more information on this topic? Visit LawHelp.org and select your state to find more self-help resources and information about free, low-cost legal aid providers in your area. This guide has been prepared for general information purposes only.
The information it contains does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice depends on the specific circumstances of each situation. In addition, the law may vary from state to state. Some of the information in this guide may not be correct for your condition. To find local resources, visit LawHelp.org and select your state. There are several legal aid organizations in Tennessee. These organizations are non-profit law firms that offer certain types of free legal assistance to people who can`t afford to pay for a lawyer: If you can`t afford to pay for a lawyer, legal aid may be able to help you: Can I only hire a lawyer for part of my legal case? If you decide that you need legal help for part of your legal problem, you should hire a lawyer who will only work on that part. Some lawyers “unbundle” their services and only offer help with part of your case. You can ask a lawyer reference organization to help you find a lawyer to provide unbundled services. Legal aid offices do not charge a fee for legal assistance provided. You may have to pay court fees to take a case to court.
You may also have to pay for other expenses, such as copies of records, court reporters, etc. However, they will not be charged for the time or advice of the lawyer or paralegal. LawHelp Interactive helps you fill out legal forms. Who is entitled to an independent lawyer? The Constitution guarantees free legal assistance to persons accused of a crime that could result in a prison sentence and who cannot afford a lawyer. If you find yourself in this situation, seek the appointment of a public defence lawyer at your first court appearance. When a court decides that someone is “destitute” – with little fortune and no way to pay a lawyer – usually either a private lawyer is appointed by the court and paid with district funds, or a public defense program is appointed to represent the person. Some public defense programs are allowed to charge clients a “deposit fee,” although this is usually a small amount. Legal assistance for military personnel, veterans and their families. The ABA sets high standards for high-quality lawyer referral services.