What Exactly is Legal Aid?
Legal aid is the provision of free legal services to those who cannot afford an attorney. Legal aid attorneys help low-income individuals and families find solutions to their legal problems. Legal aid service providers serve a wide range of people, including families involved in domestic, housing, immigration and employment disputes. Providing legal assistance to these low-income populations helps level the playing field between privileged members of society and those struggling to make ends meet. This is particularly important in our complex legal system, where people that cannot afford legal services struggle to defend themselves against those with greater legal resources.
For decades, there have been various nonprofit organizations devoted to the provision of legal services to individuals of limited means. Today, there are multiple legal aid organizations in every community of every state devoted to ensuring affordable access to legal services for those who qualify . Legal aid organizations assist low-income individuals and families – often on a sliding-scale basis – with a variety of civil legal issues, such as disability, public assistance, immigration, housing, family law, and education law issues, as well as criminal legal issues for juveniles. Legal aid lawyers typically handle cases through:
Legal aid is funded through federal, state and local governments, as well as through private donations. Legal aid organizations often provide free consultations, and only charge fees for a limited number of types of cases that are more difficult or time-consuming to handle. Legal aid attorneys often take cases referred to them from private attorneys, non-profit organizations, local bar associations, state or federal agencies, and other sources. Most legal aid organizations specialize in one or a few specific legal issues.
Who is Eligible for Legal Aid in Pasadena?
Those seeking the services of LA Legal Aid must meet income levels established by the government. Generally, your income must fall within 200% of the federal poverty line for you and your family size. For instance, a family of four cannot earn more than $48,500 to be eligible for aid.
However, another factor plays into the equation. LA Legal Aid utilizes a two-step process to determine eligibility. If applicants meet the above criteria, they still must meet what is known as the "substantial hardship" threshold. A substantial hardship is defined as "having insufficient financial resources to afford private defense counsel." Legal Aid will determine whether or not this applies on a case-by-case basis, typically considering family assets, living arrangements, debts and net income.
Needless to say, the bulk of cases handled by Pasadena’s LA Legal Aid center are for individuals with no access to other legal resources and who cannot afford to pay for an attorney.
Top Legal Aid Organizations in Pasadena
The landscape of legal aid in Pasadena, CA, is diverse, with multiple organizations providing an array of free or low-cost legal services to the vulnerable community. The following legal aid entities are some of the prominent providers:
Pasadena Bar Association / San Gabriel and Pomona Valley Bar Association (SGBPVBA) The SGBPVBA is a nonprofit organization that has been around since 1888. It offers several pro bono programs for individuals in need of legal services in Pasadena, CA, and the surrounding communities. Those programs include: • Charity Disconnect: A national program providing free online legal forms for those who cannot otherwise afford a lawyer. • Charity Dental: Since 1996, this program has provided services for uninsured and low-income residents. • Pro Bono Family Law: This program provides volunteers to represent clients in family law matters for free. • English as a Second Language (ESL) Legal Clinics: These clinics help non-native speakers get the legal assistance they need by explaining California’s sample forms in simple language.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) NLSLA is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides legal representation, guidance, information about self-help law and community outreach to low-income individuals and families living in Los Angeles County. Programs NLSLA offers include: • Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP): This program offers free legal services, information, and referrals to help children obtain medical coverage and apply for supplemental security income. • Domestic Violence Prevention: This program helps domestic violence survivors with legal assistance and referrals to community resources, including personal protection orders and representation in civil court proceedings, including family law, dependency law, public benefits law, immigration law, and housing law. • HIV/AIDS Prevention: This program helps people with HIV/AIDS apply for SSI and Medicare benefits, as well as private insurance, and provides resources for disclosure of HIV status and emotional support even after patients are insured. • Healthcare Program: The Healthcare Program encourages the restoration of health for at-risk individuals through access to necessary healthcare services, including mental health and special education. Each free civil legal clinic provides expert assistance on various legal issues.
Volunteer Legal Services Project (VLSP) VLSO is a pro bono initiative established by the LACBA in 1979 and offered, by appointment only, solely through its volunteer lawyers. Its trained and experienced volunteers provide free legal assistance to low-income residents:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) LAFLA provides free legal support for low-income individuals in Pasadena, CA, in civil cases involving family, housing, and government benefits. LAFLA also provides brief serviced at the Pasadena Superior Court to help victims of domestic violence obtain domestic violence restraining order forms and assistance completing and filing those forms.
How to Obtain Legal Aid
Eligibility and Application Process with Pasadena Legal Aid services can vary based on the organization you are working with, but there are some universal guidelines to follow. As this guide focuses most on the Los Angeles-based groups, we will touch on what to expect from those groups.
Income Level
The American Bar Association says, "Every legal aid organization has its own guidelines and financial eligibility thresholds for determining which groups of people are acceptable for representation. Almost all have some form of income-based acceptance standards, usually based on poverty guidelines."
In California, in order to qualify for legal assistance programs, your income must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Below, we have included a table of how that breaks down for a household of different sizes:
Generally, each agency that provides legal aid will have its own criteria for accepting clients. The following is a brief overview to how our groups operate:
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services allows you to apply online. They generally accept clients who fall within Income below 125-200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for California.
• Legal Aid Foundation LA generally serves low-income residents of LA County who meet certain income restrictions as well as certain immigration status.
• Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County has set a threshold at or below the federal poverty level for considering someone for legal aid. They also often do not assist those who possess assets significantly above the poverty level.
• LA County Dependency Court provides resources for children in foster care or those enrolled in the dependency system. The organization represents these parties and their relatives.
• The Office of the Public Defender ensures that those who cannot afford representation receive fair representation.
Documentation Required
When you apply anywhere for legal aid, you will need to prove a couple of things:
• You make under 200% of the poverty line for where you live
• You have no more than $10,000 in cash and savings
• Your assets, such as jewelry, vehicles, stock and retirement accounts are under $25,000 (home equity is excluded)
The documentation that you can expect to provide includes:
• Proof of income
• Proof of assets
• Rental or mortgage agreements
• Bills and other debts
• Tax returns
• Copies of forms that require signatures and information
• Stock statements
The majority of legal aid groups have comprehensive guides to applying on their websites. We have linked some of the most frequently used organizations above. Most of the time, applications are submitted online. If you do not have a computer or smartphone, you can get assistance directly from the offices of the organization for which you are applying.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Legal Aid
One of the main advantages of utilising legal aid services is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your case will be handled by experienced professionals. The lawyers and legal assistants are familiar with a variety of cases and can provide the level of expertise necessary to ensure that all your needs are met. Furthermore, legal aid services are available to represent you even when you cannot afford to pay them.
Another benefit of legal aid is that legal aid and advice is provided free of charge. Lawyers may also represent clients in court at no cost. However, if the case must be appealed and is unwinnable, they are not able to continue lending support . Staff at legal aid services are designed to help you understand the type of representation you can expect.
There are certain limitations to legal aid services. Law firms that offer legal aid may not have the staff to represent you in a court case with the exception of minor cases. Most law firms that offer legal aid have limited case loads for legal aid affairs, which allows them to give you the high level of service that you need. Additionally, there may be a limit to the types of cases for which legal aid is available. In the event that your case exceeds these limits, however, it is possible that the same law firm staff may refer you to a senior lawyer in the firm or to another law firm.
Common Legal Matters Handled by Legal Aid
The legal matters brought to the attention of legal aid attorneys vary widely, encompassing a broad spectrum of issues. However, certain areas seem to be more prevalent than others. Here’s how some of the most common issues break down:
1. Housing and Eviction
Tenant rights, eviction defense and problems with landlords are all among the most common legal issues handled by legal aid services. Public interest lawyers frequently deal with housing discrimination and the rights of homeless people as well.
2. Family Law
Many low-income residents of Pasadena find themselves in need of family law assistance. Legal aid services help with custody disputes, divorce and spousal support, child support and visitation issues.
3. Employment
Low-wage workers often face a multitude of challenges when seeking to collect wages they are owed or receive unemployment compensation. Legal aid can also assist with workplace safety concerns.
4. Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy laws can be extremely complex. Legal aid services help debtors navigate the process and determine if bankruptcy is the best option for them.
5. Immigration
Immigrants frequently turn to legal aid services for assistance with visa applications, green card petitions and citizenship issues. These services may also help immigrants obtain money owed to them for services they performed before immigrating to the U.S.
Other Options Besides Legal Aid
While legal aid may be a great option for many people, some people just do not qualify for such help. Legal Aid is a great option if legal aid is not something that you need or want to pursue, then there are plenty of alternatives that could be considered. Some people are looking for reduced-cost services while others are looking for pro bono work with a legal professional. If you are looking for reduced-cost legal aid or alternatively, free legal advice, the following information may be of use to you. If you need legal advice, but you have a limited budget, you could always visit a legal clinic. A legal clinic is free of charge and takes place in a public location. If it is held at a specific time, you should arrive an hour ahead of time so that you can be seen. You will first have to fill out a form. This form will ask you about your income, your needs, and other basic information so the clinic’s staff can determine your exact needs. During the clinic, you will meet up with a lawyer who will be offering you assistance on certain cases and questions. These lawyers will have volunteer opportunities along with apprenticeships. Some clinics are held at law universities so that students can gain experience during their programs. If you’re in search of free legal advice and representation, you could consider pro bono services . Pro bono services are definitely not free, but they will be offered at a reduced cost to you. You may also receive services for free if you have a personal case or cause you would like to pursue. Pro bono is reserved for those who otherwise would not be able to afford legal fees. This could be determined based on your income and financial status. Keep in mind pro bono service may be offered or provided to you based on your specific case, situation, or interest, not just any legal situation you may be dealing with. Many people shy away from lawyers because of the fees. Fortunately, there are many lawyers who offer assistance on a volunteer basis. Generally, lawyers who focus on corporate law or public law will dedicate some of their time to pro bono services. Pro bono work demands a lot of time when the lawyer takes on a case. Likewise, it also demands experience. If you need assistance, this practice is a viable option for you. For someone who needs trial representation and can’t afford a lawyer, you can always consider a public defender. A public defender will take payments for your case or make arrangements for you. He or she will work solely on your case if you don’t have the resources to pay. All your fees will be handled on a sliding scale.