What is Legal Aid
Legal aid is a broad term used to explain a wide range of resources devoted to helping individuals locate and obtain legal representation and support. LawyerLink is an example of legal aid. Legal aid makes a direct impact on the lives of those who cannot afford the assistance of an attorney. In Wilkes Barre, PA lawyerlink provides individuals with suggestions about lawyers who might be able to provide assistance based upon their specific area of need. Legal aid encompasses many different services that are available in virtually all communities. While much legal aid assistance can create huge value for a person, sometimes just helping a person get connected with the right person or organization is extremely valuable. There are many situations , in which individuals do not know where to turn for help and assistance. Legal aid programs help fill that void by providing people with the ability to seek legal assistance on different levels. Businesses and individual identify legal aid programs all across Pennsylvania. There are legal aid programs for family law, criminal law, business law, immigration law and other areas. Legal aid programs may also assist individuals who are involved in litigation. For example, if you have been sued, you may not have the funds to defend yourself and may be unfamiliar with the rules of court. Legal aid programs that provide this kind of assistance are invaluable to members of our community.
Qualification for Legal Aid in Wilkes Barre
To qualify for legal aid services in Wilkes Barre, PA, individuals must meet certain criteria. Legal aid organizations in Wilkes Barre typically use 125% of the federal poverty level as their income threshold to determine eligibility. This means that individuals or families earning an income at or below this amount may qualify for free legal services, the provision of free informational resources, representation in court for certain cases and many other services.
Legal aid in Wilkes Barre covers civil legal issues, including housing, consumer protection, divorce, guardianship, child custody, estate planning and government benefits. As a general rule, criminal matters are not addressed by legal aid organizations, nor are traffic issues, bankruptcy cases or other civil legal issues expected to generate a fee for service or otherwise provide payment to a law firm.
A number of exceptions apply, however. For example, legal aid organizations may provide some advocacy services for individuals subject to abuse, neglect or exploitation. As a general rule, these special programs and services are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Legal aid services are also available through pro bono programs. People do not have to meet income requirements to receive pro bono legal services, but they still have to fit the specialization offered through the volunteer program.
People seeking help from a legal aid organization in Wilkes Barre can typically get more information about eligibility criteria by contacting the legal aid organization that provides the services they need.
Various Types of Legal Aid
Legal aid in Wilkes Barre, PA covers an array of civil legal services for those with low incomes who qualify for assistance. The services mostly come from Legal Services of Pennsylvania, which has its main office and state headquarters in Wilkes Barre. This organization serves the following counties surrounding Wilkes Barre:
Legal Services of Pennsylvania provides legal assistance in the following areas: The Wilkes Barre office of the Pennsylvania Bar Association works with county bar associations and legal services offices to provide pro bono legal services throughout the Pennsylvania bar with a focus on serving the low-income community. More than 250 local attorneys and 30 law firms volunteer each year to offer pro bono legal services. In addition to the types of legal aid provided by Legal Services of Pennsylvania, the PBA will match individuals in need of a lawyer with a pro bono member attorney and refer them to the appropriate bar association for legal advice or representation. The Civil Law Self-Help Clinic located in Wilkes Barre assists the general public in accessing the court system by providing free, limited legal information. It is a statewide program that helps more than 45,000 Pennsylvanians per year without the ability to afford an attorney. The organization does not offer legal advice but can help with most common civil matters, such as landlord/tenant issues, custody and divorce, tax disputes, mental health and disability rights, protection from abuse, name changes and bankruptcy. With the above-mentioned options, Wilkes Barre and the surrounding counties are served by a relatively sufficient number of legal aid and pro bono resources.
Applying for Legal Aid
The process of obtaining legal aid in Wilkes Barre, PA, is relatively straightforward but can be time-consuming. For residents seeking legal aid, the first step is to review eligibility guidelines. Given the limited availability of resources, these guidelines often state specific requirements that must be met for services to be provided.
In most cases, legal aid agencies in Wilkes Barre will assess your income and assets to determine your need for assistance. It’s not uncommon for households with more than four members to require review of more than $55,000 annually to qualify for legal aid benefits. Exceptions for certain circumstances may apply, but typically, $1,700 is deducted from annual income for every household member that is permanently disabled. Additional deductions are also made for residents over the age of 65. To begin the process, applicants must obtain a legal aid application form. These forms should be available online at your agency’s website. If you need assistance in locating or completing a form, the Wilkes Barre Public Library offers free computer access and internet usage for residents and visitors.
The completed application will require supporting documentation, which can include bank statements, information about real estate holdings, and evidence of income. Once your application is submitted, your case will be reviewed by a caseworker who will contact you if further information is required. Keep in mind that additional documentation may be needed, so preparing as much information as possible upfront is valuable.
In emergency situations, neglecting to follow the application process and going directly to court could hurt your case. You cannot receive legal assistance if you do not apply through the proper channels. Of course, legal aid agencies have limits on the types of cases they can accept, so they will review your application to determine how your case fits their criteria.
Local Legal Aid Offices
On a national level, Legal Services Corporation (LSC) helps the low-income population in need of some form of legal assistance by funding legal aid organizations spread all over the U.S. At the same time, you need to know that certain legal aid organizations are at times funded by states, counties, and even municipalities, allowing them to extend to even more clients.
In Wilkes Barre, PA, the legal aid organizations helping people in need are:
Administrative Office
Phone: 570-826-8833 Courthouse, Room 119, 200 N River St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18765
Website: www.lswpa.org
Services: Office of the District Judiciary, Adult and Juvenile, Department of Probation and Parole, and the Pre-trial and Parole Services.
The Wilkes Barre Administrative offices provide the community services related to the District Judiciary Office available to the public. Their office hours run from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Although the Criminal and Juvenile Court Dockets are generally open for business daily, the District is not holding sessions on a regular basis.
Foster Care Unit
Phone: 570-826-8741 200 N River St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18711
Website: www.lcwelfare.org/cms/
Services: Children and Youth Services, Adoption, and Foster Care .
All new intakes and requests for service for the Children and Youth Services program are received through 570-826-8741. If you suspect that a child is being physically or sexually abused, please call 570-826-8741. If there is no one available via telephone, please visit the Wilkes Barre office.
CYS Intake
Phone: 570-826-8782 200 N River St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18765
Website: www.lcwelfare.org/cms/
Services: Children and Youth Services, Adoption, and Foster Care.
The Wilkes Barre CYS Intake helps people get in touch with the Children and Youth Services intake office. The CYS helpline is open every weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Luzerne County Bar Association
Phone: 570-287-4540 1000 Miners Bldg., 30 N. Franklin St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18701
Services: The Luzerne County Bar Association is open to everybody and they have a social section, as well as activities and sports events associated with and organized by the Luzerne County Bar.
To find out more about the Luzerne County BAR Association, you can call their offices. They handle a lot of civil legal issues for those in need of help. For instance, they help with family law, child custody, divorce, property for civil litigations, and many more.
Success Stories from Legal Aid
Testimonial 1: "When I received a letter from the court saying I was facing eviction, I thought all hope was lost. I didn’t know how I was going to fight such a big corporation like my landlord. Thankfully, with the help of legal aid, I was able to beat the case. I learned so much through the process about my rights as a tenant." – Sarah M., former legal aid client.
Testimonial 2: "When my father passed away, my stepmom claimed power over his bank accounts. She closed them and denied me access. Legal aid helped me with the paperwork and even helped me get a hearing with the judge to determine rightful access to my father’s money." – David T., former legal aid client.
Testimonial 3: "My wife and I were struggling as immigrants when our child was diagnosed with autism. We had no idea where to start for help. Legal aid helped us with navigating Pennsylvania’s maze of social services for people with disabilities. We got connected to free doctors, financial aid, and programs to help us understand what the future might hold for our son." – Javi D., former legal aid client.
What Legal Aid is Up Against
The challenges facing legal aid services in Wilkes Barre and across Pennsylvania are complex and multifaceted. A primary concern is the availability of funding to support programs and services. Legal aid organizations, like other nonprofit agencies, often rely on a combination of government grants, private donations, and volunteer efforts for their operation. The ever-present uncertainty about the level of state and federal funding is enough to cause concern for management and staff at these agencies and make planning for those agencies difficult. When federal support is threatened or eliminated, as the new administration has proposed, that risk creates a chilling effect on how those agencies operate and how they plan for the future.
In addition to funding concerns, there is also the challenge of meeting the demand for services. For low-income residents of Luzerne County and the surrounding region, the need for services is ongoing and continues to grow. The Lusozne County Bar Association reports that its Pro Bono Program handled more than 3,600 requests in 2016, but was only able to place 1,500 cases for services. Other legal aid agencies likewise have clients seeking representation they are unable to assist with a full representation. The gap between the need for services and the ability of legal aid attorneys to provide those services continues to grow.
Efforts to increase awareness about unmet legal needs and funding issues are ongoing. The Pennsylvania Bar Association recently offered a free public seminar, "What Does Justice Look Like From Middle Class America’s Perspective?" which highlighted the impact of funding issues, among other issues, on access to justice in Luzerne County and around the state. Solutions will require all stakeholders – from government, private citizens, the bar and the nonprofit sector – to recognize the importance of including access to justice as a part of a comprehensive response to poverty.
Closing Arguments
In conclusion, it is vital that the community of Wilkes Barre support the legal aid services that have been outlined in this article. Without continued support, both financial and through volunteer services , these programs will have difficulty continuing to provide quality representation to those in need. There are many ways to support these programs, such as through foundations and donations, pro bono work, or simply becoming educated on the issues involved and spreading that knowledge among your network.
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