What Is a Legal Aid Society?

A legal aid society provides free legal assistance to people who live at or below the poverty level and are unable to afford an attorney when dealing with a legal problem. Founded in 1876, the purpose of the first legal aid society was to defend the individual rights of German immigrants who could not afford to hire a lawyer. This society coined the official name “Legal Aid Society” and built its first office in New York. Over the years, the Legal Aid Society has become a nationwide non-profit organization that provides a full range of civil legal services to low-income individuals and families, including criminal defense work and juvenile rights representation in family court.

Staff and Funding

The Legal Aid Society now retains a staff of more than 800 lawyers and more than 600 investigators, social workers, and paralegals to help those in need. The society receives government money for its work in criminal and juvenile cases and counts on donations to support its civil case services.   

How to Qualify

Because the Legal Aid Society offers free legal assistance to those in financial need, those seeking aid must meet several qualifications. One of the most important requirements for free legal services is financial eligibility, which is determined by adding one’s family income before taxes and the value of any property the potential client owns. The Legal Aid Society then compares this gross income figure to a scale that takes into account the size of one’s family. Applicants who are on the borderline for qualifying for free legal aid may receive coverage on a contributing basis, which requires the applicant to make monthly payments to receive legal aid.

Civil Legal Aid

Free legal aid is available for both civil and criminal cases. Some of the main civil cases covered include the following:

• Family law: divorce, guardianship, custody, access, and matrimonial property
• Child welfare: temporary and permanent guardianship issues and secure treatment issues
• Immigration: refugee claims and deportation/departure orders
• Mental health issues: review panels and boards of review
• Administrative tribunals: social aid, workers’ compensation, and unemployment issues
• General lawsuits

The Legal Aid Society’s main focus is on helping those who are unable to help themselves when it comes to legal matters. Because of the generosity of a small group of attorneys, there are now legal aid societies throughout the United States and Canada. To determine whether one is eligible to receive free legal assistance, the best thing to do is determine whether a legal aid society exists near his or her home and fill out an application for assistance. For those ineligible for free legal aid, consulting with an attorney and asking about possible payment options is the next best choice.