How to Quickly and Easily Locate Your Local Neighborhood Legal Services Phone Number
Why Neighborhood Legal Services Are Important
Neighborhood Legal Services are vital for the underserved in our community. Legal services provide access to family law attorneys, bankruptcy attorney, lawyer for elder abuse, consumer protection and many other legal fields, including immigration. Access to justice means having access to the legal system to enforce your rights. This does not mean that the court will give you money, but that the law has a process and rules, and if you follow the rules you have an opportunity to enforce the rights that the law gives you .
Legal Aid helps people with civil lawsuits when they cannot afford to pay for the services of a private attorney. Legal Aid handles cases such as battered women protection, divorce, custody, visitation, guardianship, conservatorships, domestic violence, probate and landlord tenant matters. They need volunteers to help the poor with their cases.
Finding Local Legal Services Phone Number
Finding the local legal services phone number for your neighborhood is quite simple. Many local legal services will have their own website featuring their contact information prominently. A good place to start is a basic Google search with your neighborhood name and the words "legal services" or "legal aid."
Don’t forget to also check the directory of your local bar association, which often includes listings for local legal services, pro bono programs, and lawyer referral services. They can often direct you to the resources you need. You can also reach out to local law schools, which often have legal clinics that provide free legal services to the communities they serve.
Finally, try looking for flyers on community bulletin boards or at community centers and churches. Legal aid groups and lawyers in your neighborhood will be more than happy to give out their phone numbers so they can provide assistance to those who need it.
Best Practices in Contacting Legal Services
You will have the most success finding answers and solutions to your legal issues by being prepared with the following information when you contact your local neighborhood legal services:
- Basic information about your situation in writing
- What help you believe you need
- Potential date(s) and time(s) that work best for you for an appointment
- Documents that are necessary to explain your situation
- Questions you may have
Keep in mind, legal services often provide assistance through brief or full representation. Brief means you will get an evaluation and any actionable advice or a letter written to an entity on your behalf. Full representation will mean your case will be handled—start to finish—by the legal services. The process may include an application period to determine eligibility, and the assistance you receive may vary according to what services are available in your local area.
What to Expect When You Call Legal Services
When you contact your neighbourhood legal services organization, most offices are set up to answer the phone and get the process started. In some neighbourhoods, there are call centres that receive all the calls for that area, and then provide the direct numbers or call forwarding information so that you can reach your legal services office directly. (Their job is to minimize the wait time on the phone, because if everyone tried to call at once it would be a disaster!) But in a lot of cities, the particular legal services organization you would like to contact will answer the phone directly.
If you are calling in , be patient. If you get voicemail, leave a message with your name, number and why you need to speak to them. They will either call you back or have someone else who can assist you with that matter. If it is an emergency, say so. Sometimes you will only be able to leave your phone number, but a lot of legal services organizations respond within a few hours. If you are not able to connect directly with someone and have to leave a message, do not give up hope. You will have several opportunities to communicate with them until you get through and get the help you need.
Other Ways to Make Contact
If for some reason you are unable to get through on the phone, or lines are busy, there are other ways to reach your local neighborhood legal services. Some places employ a triage system where they will take down your information and have someone get back to you within a few days. Some offices utilize a chat feature on their website, in addition to email. Most legal services do have opportunities to visit their offices in person during normal hours, and walk-in clinics are available in many communities.
If there is not much of a wait or you are visiting during a clinic, the staff will often be able to help you understand the process from there.
The bottom line is, however you contact them, there will be a way to gain access to the information you need.
FAQs About Legal Services
Do I have to go to the legal services office in person to get help?
No. Your local legal services office probably has a toll-free telephone number. In most cases, after you call the toll-free number, you will be asked a few questions. Then, a legal services worker will contact you for an interview. The interview will help to determine whether you are eligible to get free legal help.
Is there any charge to get help from a legal services worker?
No. Legal services workers do not charge for their assistance. They are there to help you. However, legal services workers cannot guarantee that they will take your case. They may not have the resources to help everyone.
How do I know if I am eligible for free legal help?
You are eligible for assistance from a legal services worker if you have a civil legal problem and if you meet certain income guidelines. Civil legal problems include divorce, domestic violence , child custody and support, or consumer fraud. Legal services workers are not allowed to help you with criminal cases, such as theft or assault.
Why are there income guidelines for eligibility?
Legal services workers are employed by the state, so they can use our taxes to help you. Because legal services workers are on the state payroll, the state wants to make sure that only people who qualify for legal services get them.
I do not speak English, but I do speak Spanish. Is there someone I call to get help from a legal services worker who speaks Spanish?
Yes. Your local legal services office can put you in contact with a Spanish-speaking legal services worker, translator, or interpreter. If you need assistance getting in contact with a legal services worker in a language other than English, you should ask the legal services worker who first responds to your call to have someone else help you.