What is Legal Aid?
Legal aid refers to the provisions of assistance by an individual, organization, or establishment for the purposes of providing legal services to individuals who are unable to afford them independently. Many legal aid services are funded, so that they can be dropped of the expense of their patrons, however this is not the case all the time.
Legal aid services reach out to help individuals work in an array of situations, including the following: Support with court proceedings, including navigating proper documentation, filing requirements, or trial procedures
Representing clients in court on issues such as child support, domestic violence, family law, or criminal charges
In some instances, legal aid attorneys are referred to as public defenders. For individuals in less serious legal matters, legal aid works directly with non-profit and public interest organizations to help aid them with their legal issues.
Typically, legal aid services don’t help with every legal issue . They usually focus primarily on the following areas of law:
Family law – which includes divorce, custody hearings, child support, and domestic violence
Housing law – primarily evictions
Consumer rights and bankruptcy – including credit card fraud or student loan issues
Immigration law – covering asylum or citizenship issues
Criminal law – misdemeanors or felonies
It is important to note that legal aid will not represent you and, in most cases, will not give you any legal advice. They merely assist you with understanding the proper steps to take in a legal matter. This is important to understand from the outset because, while seeking assistance from a legal aid can be a wonderful and inexpensive step, your legal situation may need further addressing or more serious action.
At some point in your legal matter, you may find that having legal representation is necessary. If you find yourself needing the counsel of an attorney, either legal aid or private, you will want to be sure that you know what you need, how to proceed, and that you are properly represented.
Legal Aid Services Offered in Joplin
Legal Aid of Western Missouri (www.lawmo.org/joplin.htm)
A multi-state legal aid organization providing assistance in bankruptcy, elder law, family law, housing, consumer law and other areas. Legal Aid of Western Missouri provides legal support to low-income individuals in portions of Kansas and Missouri through the operation of twelve regional offices, including their location at 100 South Broadway Suite 200 in Joplin. Community volunteers also help the non-profit organization provide legal aid to those who cannot afford it in Jasper, Barton, McDonald, Newton, and vulnerable adults in Cedar County.
Legal Services of Southern Missouri (www.lssmos.org)
LSS provides a variety of civil legal services throughout this region of Missouri including representation for domestic violence or sexual assault survivors, landlord tenant disputes, denial of public benefits, consumer debts, fair lending, some bankruptcy cases, foreclosure, and neglect of children or the elderly. The Joplin location serves Jasper and Newton counties, and they are located at 501 South Main Street in Joplin.
Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates (www.missouricourtappointedbadvocates.org)
CASA recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who provide advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children who are involved in court proceedings at risk of or already in jeopardy of being removed from the home, or in the foster care system.
Missouri Volunteer Lawyers Project (www.lawyerscounsel.org)
Established to increase the availability of representation for low income persons in civil law matters by recruiting, training and supporting volunteer lawyers. MVLP readily accepts pro bono assistance from any licensed attorney in Missouri who agrees to abide by the attorney rules and standards of care.
Lawyers seeking pro bono opportunities can contact the law office at 417-623-8347 or visit their website and click "Get Involved."
Legal Aid Qualifications
Legal aid organizations in Joplin generally handle civil cases. As a rule of thumb, only the most basic of legal issues will be considered, such as child custody, guardianship, or bankruptcy.
Income criteria often determines eligibility to receive legal assistance from a Joplin legal aid organization. As a general guideline, applicants usually must earn no more than 125% of the federal poverty level income. However, income limits typically vary among providers. For example the income limit for Southwest Missouri Legal Services is somewhat lower, while Legal Services of Southern Missouri accepts applicants whose income is not more than 200% of the poverty guidelines. If you prefer to apply online, Missouri’s statewide services are listed by zip code.
When comparing legal aid organizations in Joplin, it may help to explore the types of cases that each provider accepts. In Joplin, legal aid offices almost exclusively assist low-income clients with family law (divorce and child support) and housing issues (eviction and foreclosure). However, most legal aid organizations do not assist clients with criminal cases or personal injury.
Legal aid organizations and pro bono attorneys in Joplin may also have additional requirements, such as submitting to a background check.
How to Obtain Legal Aid
The Joplin Legal Aid & Defender Clinic offers legal aid services at no cost to its clients. To receive legal aid, a prospective client must meet certain criteria and submit an application. To apply for legal aid, visit the Civil Legal Aid & Defender Clinic at 301 E 4th Street, Suite 101, in Joplin. The clinic is open during regular business hours, but applicants are encouraged to arrive early on Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. to allow adequate time for a review of the application. An online application may also be available. The application will ask for information about your identity, the problem for which you need help, and where you reside. Applications are accepted 24/7. The Civil Legal Aid & Defender Clinic accepts walk-ins on Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to meet with a volunteer attorney for an initial interview. Volunteer attorneys will meet with clients to provide brief advice on a first-come, first-served basis. The clinic sees a high volume of clients and cannot schedule specific appointments, so it’s best to arrive as close to 8:30 a.m. as possible. The first fifteen (15) individuals or couples in line on clinic days will receive free legal advice from a volunteer attorney. Some cases, like victims’ advocacy, are referred to specific organizations that are equipped to handle these types of issues.
Joplin Success Stories
The impact of legal aid services in Joplin can be demonstrated through the real-life success stories of individuals who have benefitted from their help. For instance, a recent case involved a senior citizen, Mrs. Thompson, who was facing unlawful eviction from her long-time apartment. Facing health issues and on a fixed income, Mrs. Thompson needed urgent assistance to assert her rights against the landlord who was attempting to unlawfully terminate her lease. With the support of legal aid, Mrs. Thompson was able to stay in her home and negotiate a fair settlement with her landlord. The outcome not only secured her housing but also saved her money in legal fees and prevented the emotional turmoil of a sudden move at an advanced age. Another success story involves Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez , a low-income immigrant couple who were struggling to gain legal residency in the United States. Fearing potential deportation, they turned to a local legal aid organization for assistance. With their expertise, the legal aid attorneys guided the Rodriguez’ through the often complex immigration process. After months of effort, the couple was finally able to adjust their status and obtain legal residency. These are just a couple of examples that highlight how legal aid services in Joplin have positively impacted the lives of its residents. As these stories show, having access to legal support can make all the difference in protecting one’s rights and securing a sense of stability for the future.
Barriers to Legal Aid Services
Legal aid providers in Joplin, like many parts of the country, face a myriad of challenges in providing the most effective services to those in need. The struggle to balance funding with the high volume of applicants for legal aid services is one such challenge. Many legal aid organizations face either a reduction in funding or must do more with the same amount of funding they receive. With a shortage of attorneys and high turnover rates of existing attorneys, accepting new clients in certain practice areas becomes a challenge. Legal aid in Joplin faces similar hurdles in attempting to serve as many people as needed.
Another challenge that legal aid services face in Joplin is the lack of strategies available to effectively and efficiently handle the high-volume of applicants. Limited additional resources and the lack of administrative support can inhibit legal aid organizations’ ability to provide full representation to clients. Unfortunately, the growing unmet needs indicate that legal aid services in Joplin are likely to continue facing challenges in the future.
Supporting Legal Aid
Local residents and businesses in Joplin, Missouri can play a pivotal role in promoting equal access to justice by supporting legal aid initiatives. Donations to legal aid organizations can help expand their services, allowing them to provide vital support to low-income individuals and communities charged with involving civil matters. Contributions may be used to fund pro bono initiatives, legal clinics, workshops, and public outreach programs, all of which contribute to the legal empowerment of self-represented litigants.
Volunteering your time and expertise is another great way to support legal aid. Many legal aid organizations rely on volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and laypeople to provide much-needed services to those in area who cannot afford representation . Whether through the pro bono referral program or by coaching individuals through pro se litigation, volunteers are the backbone of the legal aid community.
Finally, advocacy for net to increase funding for legal aid initiatives is essential to closing the justice gap in Joplin and beyond. Advocacy can take many forms, from signing petitions to collaborating public awareness about the need for increased funding. Encourage local business leaders and legislators to allocate more money toward legal aid, and incorporate legal aid initiatives into corporate social responsibility programs whenever possible.
With the support of local residents and businesses, legal aid initiatives in Joplin, Missouri can deliver justice to those who need it most.