Extensive Resource for Fayette County Legal Aid Organizations
All About Fayette County Legal Aid Centers
Legal Aid is a term used to describe a variety of legal services offered at little or no cost to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Sometimes referred to as "pro bono" legal services, "legal aid" services can vary from legal advice hotlines or access to resources via the internet to free legal representation provided by attorney volunteers.
As a result of the work of legal aid organizations, many low-income individuals, families , seniors and victims of abuse can find access to the legal services they need to help stabilize their lives, both safely and within the law. In Fayette County, legal aid is offered in several locations throughout the county, including the Law Office of Fayette County Pro Bono, Neighborhood Legal Services Association’s New Beginnings Domestic Violence Program, and various legal clinics held through local bar associations and at area churches.
How to Become Eligible for Legal Aid
The general rule of thumb is that if you earn less than 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, you will qualify for legal aid. However, some legal aid services have an income limitation of 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. A single person with an income at or below $13,590 for one year qualifies for legal aid. A family of two with an annual income less than $18,444 also qualifies. Typically, legal aid services assist with civil cases and do not cover criminal cases. In general, Fayette County legal aid services will not provide representation with divorce or child custody matters. Many child custody and divorce cases require a fee to file. Legal assistance for these types of cases is uncommon. Individuals are encouraged to seek legal representation for criminal cases.
Key Providers of Legal Aid in Fayette County
The following organizations provide legal aid services to low-income residents of Fayette County. This is not a complete list of all legal aid providers in the area; however, these are the primary providers in the region.
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) is the primary provider of free legal assistance in Fayette County. LASP is located in the Fayette County Courthouse. Attorneys provide legal advice and representation for eligible residents in civil matters. In addition to individual client issues, LASP also engages in broader advocacy efforts to address systemic problems faced by low-income residents of the region. Specifically, LASP seeks to address abuses of government benefit systems, domestic violence issues, racial justice issues, and barriers to employment, housing, healthcare, and education.
Attorneys with LASP have expertise in a variety of legal areas including:
Eligible residents must meet criteria for income and certain other restrictions to receive pro bono legal assistance. There is no fee for legal advice and representation services.
Pennsylvania Bar Association
The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) provides additional options for pro bono legal assistance in Fayette County. Low-income residents may be referred to specific organizations that have specializations in specific practice areas, such as family law, estate matters, veterans assistance, and immigration.
In addition to the PBA’s lawyers referral service, qualified residents may access a pro bono plan. To qualify for the plan, a resident must meet criteria based on income as well as availability of other legal aid services.
Access to justice and the PBA’s pro bono plan is available to residents of Greene, Westmoreland, Washington, and Fayette counties.
Typical Legal Problems Addressed by Legal Aid
Legal Aid and advocacy groups often cover issues in the following areas:
Family law – This is one of the most common legal areas for which Legal Aid assists. This encompasses divorce, child custody and support, and domestic violence. Many spouses may have valid concerns over the other spouse’s financial and emotional fitness for raising children, often leading to divorce or a custody battle. Lawyers can help navigate these turbulent waters.
Housing concerns – The problem of affordable housing has only increased in recent years, especially in areas of high economic development. Housing discrimination is also still a concern, and may not only affect income levels, but also sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, veteran status and family status. Legal Aid groups may assist in cases of eviction, rent control and income level-based housing discrimination.
Employment law – Although the employment landscape has improved since the recession, there are still issues with wage theft and instances of companies deliberately misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid paying premium rates and providing benefits. There is also the potential for illegal workplace discrimination, such as rejecting a job candidate due to age or religious affiliation.
Consumer rights – Companies often use high-pressure sales tactics to get consumers to pay for items they don’t need or that they cannot afford. This has been the case with products such as payday lending, credit repair, auto loan scams, fraudulent debt management services and deceptive telemarketing practices. Legal services can help enforce protections against scams and frauds as they occur and prevent them before they happen.
Applying for Legal Aid Resources
Applying for legal aid is an important step for residents of Fayette County who qualify for these crucial, no-cost services. The following is a step-by-step guide to applying for legal aid, as well as tips and tricks to make the process easier, and to ensure success.
1. Confirm Eligibility
The first step in the legal aid process is to confirm eligibility, as not everyone qualifies for these services. They are generally available only to low-income individuals who meet certain requirements. To verify your eligibility, you will be required to provide financial records that detail your income, how many people you support financially, whether you have any assets, and whether you receive government assistance.
2. Find a Local Legal Aid Office
Legal Aid offices exist in virtually every township, county and city throughout the U.S. There are a few ways to find your local office. One of the easiest ways is to conduct a simple Internet search specifying "Legal Aid near me" or something along the lines of "legal aid for low income near me." You may also be able to find your office by checking online with the American Bar Association (ABA) or Legal Services Corporation websites. Alternatively , you can call the local bar association or family court. Regardless of how you start the process, you will then be required to schedule an appointment with a representative for legal aid services.
3. Prepare for Your Appointment
After scheduling an interview time with a representative, there are a few things you can do to prepare for the appointment and ensure you have the information necessary for a successful application. Keep in mind that if you do not submit your application on the day of your appointment, it could be weeks, months or longer before you receive a response. This is because Case Handlers are inundated with applications and cannot always keep up. Timeliness is particularly important for housing cases, so ensure you apply as soon as possible and be proactive about meeting their requirements.
By following these steps and tips, you can make the process of applying for legal aid simpler, faster and more efficient.
Legal Aid Success: Stories and Statistics
The impact of legal aid services in Fayette County is profound, and the personal stories that emerge from their efforts help illuminate why such services are so crucial to the community. One such story involves a single mother who was facing an imminent eviction due to her inability to pay rent after losing her job. With two kids to look after and no family to support her, she was at a crossroads. She reached out to Fayette County Legal Aid and, before long, with their assistance, managed to restructure her payment plan and negotiated her landlady’s permission to stay two more months after mediation. This is just one example of how Fayette County Legal Aid has been able to transform lives in the community. In many cases, the service helps tackle critical issues such as domestic violence, wrongful termination, disability discrimination, or child custody disputes. Each success story adds to a larger narrative of empowerment, stability, and security for the residents of Fayette County who find themselves in otherwise dire situations. The testimonials of individuals and families who have benefitted from Fayette County Legal Aid resonate with gratitude and appreciation for the invaluable service they provide. They highlight the importance of having affordable, competent legal representation in critical times when the law can seem insurmountable.
Options Available Aside from Legal Aid
If you are not eligible for legal aid or government-funded programs, there are a number of options for you to explore in the Fayette County area. The Georgia Bar Foundation is one such option. This organization supports pro bono services to those who cannot afford them.
Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) is a private nonprofit law firm that has dedicated itself to providing legal assistance to low-income Georgians. GLSP helps people who have cases in the following counties: Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Fayette and Pike. They provide free legal services in areas pertaining to civil matters.
The Criminal Defense Resource Center operated by the University of Georgia School of Law provides assistance to those accused of criminal charges. It helps with indigent defense and other criminal matters.
Some law offices will consider helping you through a pro bono arrangement, which basically donates legal services to those who are unable to afford them. Pro bono representation does not need to be limited because you need it; it may be given out of courtesy, as the lawyer may want to give something back to the community . If you need a lawyer for anything, we recommend reaching out to attorneys in your area and asking whether they offer it.
USAFAS is the United States Armed Forces Advocacy Society. They provide free legal services to active duty and military veterans. They also provide lawyers to help with indigency defense.
The Georgia Legal Services Program also offers online forms for both self-representation and updates on their cases. Online forms by the Georgia Legal Services Program and the Georgia Bar Association include divorce forms, forms regarding garnishment, custody, child support and eviction as well.
Street Law is a program run by Georgetown University Law School. Lawyers offer in-person lectures in the courtroom in local schools, such as middle schools and high schools. They teach students about various aspects of the law, including the Bill of Rights.
If you are not eligible for a government-provided legal aid service, you may qualify for legal help through United Way. You can visit the website and tell them more about your situation. Your local United Way will connect you with lawyers in your area that can help you.