A Guide to Legal Aid Services
Legal aid services are essential assistance provided by non-profit organizations to people who face a legal dispute and are unable to afford representation. Many people in society are unable to pay out of pocket for an attorney. It is the mission of legal aid organizations to provide free or low-cost legal services to people with financial hardships. Legal aid can help with a variety of cases, including family, housing, consumer, employment and child advocacy cases. Legal aid services are provided for all components of a legal issue, from initial advice, to representation throughout a court proceeding. Certain legal aid organizations also offer resources to help people not represented by attorneys . Most legal aid organizations offer pro bono services, which refers to representation given by a lawyer for free or at a reduced rate. Attorneys from all over the county contribute pro bono services to ensure that everyone has access to representation when needed. Many law school students also become involved with legal aid organizations, which provide valuable experience in the field while assisting low income society members in a meaningful way. Legal aid organizations work with society members of all races, backgrounds, sexual orientations and social statuses. They are a vital bridge between society members in need and the legal system, ensuring that everyone has representation when accused of a crime or faced with a civil case.
Eligibility for Legal Aid in Cumberland County
Legal aid is traditionally intended to assist people with limited financial resources. In Cumberland County, individuals and families wishing to access legal aid must meet certain requirements in addition to exhibiting a financial need. The primary source of financial support that shapes eligibility requirements is Legal Services of Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the Legal Services Corporation.
Those who wish to obtain legal aid through Legal Services of Pennsylvania must first demonstrate that they qualify for assistance by exhibiting financial need. To qualify as "legally needy," applicants must exhibit an income at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. As of 2021, these thresholds are as follows:
- Individual: $15,775
- Family of Four: $32,187
- Family of Five: $38,693
- Family of Six: $43,077
- Each Additional Member: $4,384
Wealthier families and individuals may still qualify for legal aid, but only in limited circumstances. If you earn between 125 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for "modest means" assistance in certain cases, such as eviction and domestic violence cases. In addition, some organizations specifically target assistance programs to certain populations, such as victims of domestic violence, veterans, people with HIV/AIDS and the elderly.
Top Legal Aid Organizations in Cumberland County
Legal aid in Cumberland County is provided by a variety of public and nonprofit organizations. They include the following:
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont (LSSP) is a nonprofit law firm that provides professional and efficient legal assistance for the most vulnerable individuals and families throughout the eight counties of Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union and York in South Carolina. Among its principal areas of practice are family law, custody and auxiliary matters, and domestic violence. Additionally, LSSP assists in youth defense and adjudication, public benefits and individual advocacy. LSSP also helps prosecute and defend consumer issues.
North Carolina Senior Law Project
North Carolina Senior Law Project (NCSLP) provides legal expertise on issues surrounding older adults such as health care, financial and retirement matters and Social Security benefits. NCSLP attorneys often assist in or help lead advance advocacy and program development in these areas.
North Carolina Victim Assistance Network
North Carolina Victim Assistance Network (NCVAN) is a statewide nonprofit that advocates for the legal rights of all victims of crime. NCVAN provides resources to crime victims and acts as a liaison between victims and state agencies. It ensures that victims of sexual assault have legal representation at no cost to them.
North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center
North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center is dedicated to helping people obtain legal help through referrals and new programs. Pro Bono Resource Center promotes volunteerism from the private bar to and for the public to increase the number of clients served. It also provides online and in-person training for members of the legal community and the public on a variety of topics.
North Carolina Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program
The North Carolina Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program helps the poor and needy gain access to justice in civil legal issues. Its panel of eligible lawyers volunteers to represent low-income and elderly residents for free in most civil matters, including home foreclosures and domestic abuse cases.
Indigent Defense Services of North Carolina
Indigent Defense Services of North Carolina is an agency of the state judicial system that provides legal counsel to citizens unable to afford an attorney. Service to the state’s impoverished citizens is handled through public defender offices, private attorneys, and contract association services. Indigent Defense Services also provides competency restoration services and appellate representation.
North Carolina Justice Center
North Carolina Justice Center works through a combination of policy innovation and grassroots advocacy to help the most underprivileged residents of the state. Its areas of outreach include affordable housing, environmental, financial and tax reform, health care, housing, immigration, LGBTQ and civil rights, living wages, poverty, public education, immigrants’ rights and criminal justice.
How to Secure Legal Aid
To apply for a lawyer under the legal aid guidelines, you must apply for legal aid where you reside. Cumberland County Legal Aid applications can be obtained at the Benefits Service Center (BSC) at 411 Pendleton St. or Somerset County Court House – 300 N. 2nd Street. The application must be filled in at that location. The application will be reviewed and either accepted or rejected by the Cumberland County staff. The Cumberland County staff will then contact the client on their acceptance or rejection of the application. After it is approved and a client is assigned to an attorney, a retainer agreement will be prepared by the legal aid staff (not the attorney) and the new client will be asked to come to the office for that purpose. The staff explains to the client what services are provided by the program and refers the client to an attorney.
All applications must be made in person or in case of an emergency, by phone. You can contact the Central Intake Unit by calling the Cumberland County Legal Aid office to find out how you can obtain a self-help application kit. Cumberland County Legal Aid staff will ask questions concerning your income and assets. They will not look at your court file. They will only use the information you provide to them to determine whether you meet existing policy guidelines, both financial and non-financial, for program eligibility. Depending on the type of case you are requesting, additional information may be needed to evaluate the merits of your case.
Many individuals seeking legal assistance are eligible for legal services. However, because of limited resources, legal aid staff must set priorities for clients accepted for service. Pending cases within the priorities and meritorious pending cases are handled as quickly as possible. Emerging legal issues of public concern may be handled on a pro se basis, or referred to a private attorney or another program.
Common Issues Associated with Legal Aid Access
While the process for obtaining legal aid in Cumberland County is relatively straightforward, there are often barriers that hinder a successful application process. The most immediate problem that first-time applicants face is long waiting times, which often extend beyond several weeks and even months. Those requiring immediate assistance for urgent legal matters are often subjected to intensive wait times and may even miss critical deadlines as a result of the backlog during certain times of the year. Unfortunately, severe resource limitations constitute a substantial barrier to accessing legal aid in Cumberland County , which includes excess waiting periods, rising screening standards and declining availability of services. Moreover, legal aid offices across the state of Pennsylvania have tightened their minimum criteria for applicants in order to cope with the growing demand for these services. Applicants should carefully review the minimum eligibility requirements for Cumberland County and all other counties to determine if they qualify for legal aid assistance and carefully review the application requirements for submitting their application.
Legal Aid Success Stories
Consider this recent example from a nonprofit that provides services to victims of domestic violence. A single mom of an autistic child was being denied food stamps she and her children desperately needed. She was trying to get the remaining balance of her child support from her ex-husband, but was unable to. Because they had been receiving welfare benefits, she was ordered to pay back thousands of dollars to the state. Realizing that the chances of success on her own were slim to none, a friend encouraged her to contact Legal Aid. She went to the nonprofit legal clinic and persisted in seeking legal assistance, eventually getting an attorney who could help her. Legal Aid attorneys successfully represented her in her numerous legal battles, getting her child support arrears dropped, her food stamps reinstated and getting her caught up on her rent payments. Another example is a disabled man who was being mistreated by his landlord. He ended up homeless after facing eviction. Legal Aid staff secured him more than $20,000 in benefits and approximately $600 in back rent. He also received an apartment and his subsidized housing status reinstated. While these stories are local, they echo the sentiments of consumers nationwide. Hope and belief in a better future have been restored.
The Future of Legal Aid in Cumberland County
The future of legal aid in Cumberland County appears promising, as community partnerships continue to flourish and the demand for legal services remains high. Ongoing initiatives seek to expand access to legal aid, while technological advancements may play a role in providing cost-effective solutions.
One central development is the ongoing collaboration between legal aid organizations and local bar associations. The 8th District Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee works diligently to connect low-income residents with legal resources. By actively engaging community members, raising awareness, and coordinating with legal service providers, the Committee continues to foster a climate of support for those in legal need.
Online resources also hold much promise for the future of legal aid in Cumberland County. Virtual legal clinics and chatbots offering real-time advice may alleviate some of the burden on legal professionals. As people grow more comfortable with these resources , there may be a decrease in pressure on in-person legal aid organizations.
Technological advancements in dispute resolution are also on the horizon. Online dispute resolution tools offer a new avenue for resolving conflicts, potentially decreasing the number of cases requiring in-person hearings. As these technologies develop, they may transform the legal landscape, making it more efficient and accessible.
Despite these advances, the need for legal aid is expected to remain. The growing population and increasing socio-economic challenges will likely create more demand for legal resources and support. Yet, the resilience of the legal aid system, with the collaboration of the community, may successfully meet the sustenance of vulnerable populations.