What are the legal services statewide websites?
The Legal Services Corporation has funded statewide legal information websites in 54 states and territories. These websites provide accurate, easy-to-understand information in the legal areas most affecting low-income and vulnerable people. These websites also provide information on free legal aid offices (also called legal services) in each state.
What is the Legal Services Corporation?
The Legal Services Corporation is a not-for-profit corporation established by the United States government. It is the largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. You can learn more about the Legal Services Corporation here http://www.lsc.gov.
Who keeps the information up-to-date?
Each website is kept up-to-date by one or more local not-for-profit legal services programs. Often the sites are managed by several groups working together to share and post resources statewide.
Visit LawHelp for a list of some of the programs involved. Pro Bono Net developed and maintains LawHelp.org.
Where can I find the legal services website for my state?
Go to LawHelp.org and select your state from the list. Some statewide websites are part of the LawHelp.org network of websites, while others are not. However, LawHelp.org provides links to all statewide websites funded by the Legal Services Corporation.
What areas of law do statewide websites usually cover?
The information available on each state site varies. However, statewide websites generally cover civil legal issues that most impact low-income people such as:
- Family law
- Housing issues
- Domestic violence and protection from abuse
- Consumer issues
- Employment and unemployment
- Disability
- Senior
- Health Care
- Public Benefits
- Citizenship and Immigration
What kind of information can I find on these issues?
Statewide websites often contain information such as fact sheets, brochures or videos to help you understand your legal rights. Many statewide websites also provide links to other helpful websites.
Some statewide websites have free fill-in-the-blank or interactive self-help forms to help you prepare legal documents and court forms. Many sites provide information in languages other than English.
What kind of information can I find about services in my area?
Many statewide websites provide detailed information on free and low-cost nonprofit legal aid programs in each state. This information is often organized by zip code or county.
Some organizations can only serve low-income individuals. They may also limit their cases to certain areas of law or types of services. A program’s listing on the statewide website may provide further information about eligibility requirements.
What if my statewide website doesn’t have information about my legal problem?
Here are some other national resources that may be helpful:
- For information on finding a Legal Services Corporation funded law firm, visit www.lsc.gov
- For information on finding a lawyer in your state, visit http://www.findlegalhelp.org
- For immigration legal services providers, visit http://www.immigrationlawhelp.org
- Your local law library, public library or court may provide self-help legal information as well.
Disclaimer
This guide was prepared for general information purposes only. The information it contains is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. Also, the law may vary from state to state. Some information in this guide may not be correct for your state. To find local resources, visit LawHelp.org and select your state.
About this Guide
This guide [PDF] was created by the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York in partnership with the New York LawHelp Consortium and Pro Bono Net, with support from the Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grant program.