All About Legal Aid
Accessing legal aid services are specialized legal services that are offered to low-income individuals, which may include legal advice, representation, and assistance with paperwork. These services are provided by a variety of organizations, including private nonprofit legal aid organizations and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC).
Legal aid services are designed to ensure access to justice for all; regardless of financial status, and are typically at no or a low costs to the beneficiaries. They support a wide range of legal issues, including family law matters, domestic and sexual violence, immigration, and housing issues, among others.
In the Savannah area, several established legal aid organizations, such as the Georgia Legal Services Program – Savannah Office, the Georgia Legal Services Program – Savannah Office, and the Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness offer legal aid assistance in several types of legal matters. Other organizations , such as the State Bar of Georgia, Savannah Bar Association, and the Jubilee Justice Project, also offer a limited number of legal aid services.
Access to justice is in some ways a "private" good, meaning that people who do not reach out for assistance—whether because they think they may not be eligible or because they are not aware of the programs available to them—are less likely to receive legal aid benefits. Some legal aid services operate on a "sliding scale," allowing some clients to pay out-of-pocket fees for their services. There are a number of barriers to accessing legal aid, from eligibility requirements to bureaucracy. Legal aid in Georgia is limited by federal funding restrictions, but georgialegal-aid.org is an online information system that provides basic legal information for low to moderate income Georgians.
Legal Aid Eligibility in Savannah
The eligibility requirements to receive legal aid in Savannah, Georgia can vary slightly depending on the specific organization you are working with and the type of legal assistance you need. For general legal aid services in Savannah, applicants must be low-income, have residence or work in a twelve-county region in southeastern Georgia, and be experiencing circumstances that could result in a serious hardship if legal assistance is not provided.
Income Level: Referrals are made to applicants based on the income level of the individuals. Specific income levels are dependent on the number of people in your household. Those who are currently unemployed or on a fixed income or disability check also may receive a referral.
Case Type: Once the income level is verified, staff members of the legal aid organization speaks with you to determine what type of issue you are facing (an eviction, foreclosure, a restraining order, etc.) and if it can be addressed through the services offered by the organization. Most types of civil cases may be handled through legal services.
Specific Criteria: To be eligible for services, applicants must be experiencing an issue that the staff believes should be addressed through legal aid. This means that clients must be facing some type of adversity that, if not addressed, could worsen for themselves or their families. It is worth noting that legal aid organizations provide services on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is important to seek assistance as soon as possible.
Applying for Legal Aid in Savannah
Applying for legal aid in Savannah is a highly structured process designed to ensure that individuals have equal access to legal representation. To help you navigate this system, we have compiled an easy-to-follow guide. This is an application process for those who wish to receive legal aid from the Savannah office of the Georgia Legal Services Program.
First and foremost, it is crucial to have an idea of what your case entails and whether or not it falls under the purview of the services offered by Georgia Legal Services Program. Incoming applications are screened to determine eligibility, so having information about your situation will assist in this process.
The first step involves an introductory phone call for a brief interview to see if you qualify for services. The Georgia Legal Services Program highly recommends setting up an appointment with a qualified representative so that you will receive prompt and immediate assistance. If you wish, you can download a fillable Legal Aid Application and complete it online. After you fill it out, print and sign the form. Alternatively, you could print it and hand fill it out. After that, return the completed form to the Legal Aid office nearest you.
If you are using the online form, please keep in mind that depending on your internet speed, downloading and uploading the file may take some time. When your information is received from the form, a case worker will contact you the following day. Once you’ve submitted your application for legal aid, a comprehensive review will be conducted to determine your eligibility. If you qualify, Georgia Legal Service will assign you an attorney.
The entire process is free of charge and confidential. When applying for legal aid in Savannah, applicants are required to furnish all requested information. It is also essential that applicants are honest and forthright during the application process, as any information used to positively determine eligibility will be verified accordingly.
In summary, there are five straightforward steps for applying for legal aid in Savannah, Georgia:
Local Legal Aid Groups
Legal Aid Society – Savannah A Division of the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP), the Legal Aid Society has been providing free legal assistance to residents of the Eastern Judicial Circuit since 1966. Their mission is to "guarantee that cases involving basic human needs and the rights of its Georgia clients are handled fairly and justly." They provide free legal services in civil cases to eligible residents of Bryan, Chatham, Collum, Effingham, Liberty, and McIntosh counties. Client services include divorce & domestic violence, domestic relations, removal or exclusion of family members, child custody/paternity/inclusion in household, name changes, inheritance disputes, guardianships, wills, consumer issues, juvenile delinquency, landlord/tenant issues, public benefits, and many consumer issues. The Legal Aid Society’s office in Savannah is located at 601 E. Gordon St., Ste. A.
Savannah Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program Not a stand-alone organization, the VLAP is a program of the Savannah Bar Foundation to deliver pro bono (free) legal services to low income people in the Greater Savannah area. Original crafted in 1993, they are the first legal aid program in Georgia. They coordinate services of local volunteer attorneys and public service lawyers from the government agencies that help people with important, sometimes life-changing issues such as divorces, domestic violence, landlord/tenant issues, guardianships and conservatorships, debt, and government benefits. VLAP lawyers volunteer their time to assist with legal issues.
Growth Project When Grace House transitioned from a homeless shelter for men to a 36 bed home for women and children with roots in the Faith-based community they realized a need to provide Group and One-on-One therapy. They have partnered with local mental health professionals to provide Critical steps towards healing for residents and children. Growth Project’s mission is to provide education through experiential methods such as art therapy, & life skills training that can take place in individual settings or as a group therapy. Daily Living skills, Problem solving trainings, Boundaries and Respect, Nutrition and Health Education are just a few of the topics covered throughout the year.
Cases Legal Aid Handles
Legal aid services generally cover a broad range of civil matters. While there are various forms of legal aid, commonly provided services include family law services, housing related cases, employment disputes, public benefits matters, income tax and bankruptcy matters, consumer services and community development services. Legal aid lawyers in Savannah offer a variety of services. Family law matters specifically relate to divorce and legal separation, annulments, child custody and visitation, child support, adoption, paternity, grandparent visitation rights and name changes. Child custody is one of the most common family law cases handled by legal aid lawyers as it is frequently the most contested issue in divorce and legal separation cases. Legal aid services will also handle other family law related matters including domestic violence cases. Legal aid lawyers also work on a variety of housing related matters including landlord tenant disputes, foreclosure of homes and manufactured homes and tenant evictions. In each of these, your legal aid attorney will help you understand the law surrounding your case, represent you throughout the proceeding, research legal information, file documents with the court and go to trial for you if necessary . Employment related matters include unemployment compensation and wrongful termination. Wrongful termination cases are extremely complicated and may take a considerable amount of time. If you believe you were terminated from a job wrongfully, contact a legal aid lawyer in Savannah immediately. Public benefits matters in Georgia include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Medicaid, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare. For example, SSI provides payments to people with low income and few resources who are disabled, blind, or elderly. Consumer services include debt collection, citizen bankruptcy, home equity predatory lending and home improvement fraud. Even if you believe the Court made an error in your case or that the opposing party made a mistake, your lawyer cannot file a new motion just because you ask them to. You must have legal grounds for appealing and your legal aid lawyer will know if an appeal is appropriate.
Advantages of Legal Aid for the Community
The overarching benefits that legal aid service provides the Savannah community are undoubtedly improved social equity and protected vulnerable populations. The heart and core of legal aid services are examples of how people make sacrifices for others. Legal aid helps individuals navigate the complex legal system affording all persons an opportunity to be heard. Vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, receive protection from abuses when a qualified savior steps forward. Whole communities are safeguarded when legal aid services advocate for systems and policies reforms by working at both administrative and legislative levels.
A fascinating legal aid organization that is a great example of this philosophy is Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP). GLSP is a private, non-profit law firm made up of 12 offices with more than 120 staff attorneys providing free civil legal aid and services in more than 154 counties throughout Georgia. In 2016, GLSP handled over 23,000 cases assisting more than 39,000 Georgians who are low income and elderly. The slogan of GLSP and many other legal aid services is "Equal Justice for All." This slogan addresses the fight for a basic constitutional value and essential human right which is that each person has the inherent worth and must be treated not according to their circumstances nor socioeconomic status but solely according to the dignity of their humanity.
Challenges for Legal Aid Providers
Legal aid providers in Savannah encounter many challenges that do not have simple answers. From funding to changes in policies, within and without the Savannah legal aid community, there are constant changes to the landscape legal aid providers must be aware of so they can serve their clients well.
Funding is the biggest issue facing local legal aid providers. The funds necessary to perform legal aid services are delivered through Federal, State, and Local programs. Most, if not all of these funds have been reduced over the last decade. These cuts have led to the elimination and consolidation of some local legal aid programs.
Today, there are fewer legal aid programs in Savannah than there were just a few years ago. Some small programs serving specific constituencies like families with disabled children have been completely eliminated. Other local legal aid providers have been consolidated with nearby programs.
In response to the loss of federal and state funding for local legal aid programs, local legal aid providers have moved to save funds by combining operations. Only time will tell if these consolidations are successful or if they merely waste the scarce resources with inefficient duplication of service.
Funding from State and Federal sources for local legal aid programs is not expected to improve in the coming years. If anything, further cutbacks seem more likely than increases. This being said, thanks to the inclusion of a provision championed by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Congress is encouraging local governments to invest in local legal aid. For the first time, the federal appropriations bill for FY 2016 included language suggesting the States and local governments consider investing in local legal aid.
The provision encouraged legislators to consider allocating local funds to provide legal assistance to low-income individuals to meet specific needs in their communities. Like the traditional funding sources, the federal government is discouraging funding which comes from corrupt practices such as some court fees.
A lack of funding would not be so bad for local legal aid providers, but for the unintended fallout from the reduction in federal and state funding for local legal aid programs. While Federal and State programs have been reduced, the demand for local legal aid has increased as the economy has stumbled. The need for help has increased as more and more people suffer financial hardship. They face evictions and repossession while also struggling to receive proper medical care. Without legal assistance from a local provider, many are left to navigate the complex legal system by themselves, finding themselves in a quagmire if questioned by a lawyer representing the party in a position of power.
The answer to these problems lies not in legislation but a greater understanding of the important role legal aid can play in the local community. Local legal aid providers must continue to educate the Savannah community on the great work they do and the impact it has on their community. They are doing this through community events, lectures, and legal workshops. Local legal aid providers have even reached out to local religious institutions to get the message across to a larger audience about the great work they do to help their neighbors.
Local legal aid providers seek to improve on this outreach. It is hard work, but legal aid providers believe it is necessary so that local residents will be encouraged to provide financial support to their local legal aid programs, when available, in the future.
Future of Legal Aid
The future of legal aid in Savannah, Georgia, looks promising, with several new developments on the horizon that could expand accessibility and improve the quality of legal services. Currently, the legal aid system is supported by the combined efforts of several organizations, including Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP), the State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project, and the Savannah Bar Association’s Pro Bono Program. Each of these bodies plays a critical role in providing access to justice for low-income individuals and families.
One significant change expected to occur in the near future is the potential expansion of online services. Online resources have already transformed how many people access legal assistance, from basic information to full-fledged virtual consultations. The increased use of technology comes as no surprise, given the growing prevalence of mobile devices and the internet, even among lower-income households. While legal decisions should never be left to a computer, having access to online resources can help individuals make more informed decisions about whether to seek legal assistance and which avenue to pursue.
Additionally, we may see an increase in collaboration among local, state, and national organizations seeking to provide legal support to underserved communities. With the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many local organizations that may have fallen short in the past have been tasked with rethinking their approach for the foreseeable future. This reinvigorated effort could foster innovations that make legal services more accessible to those who need them the most. The Savannah Coalition for the Homeless, led by the United Way of the Coastal Empire, is just one example of a local organization dedicated to providing better legal services to homeless individuals in the area . Enhanced cooperation between such organizations and existing service providers will be vital to ensure that all Savannah residents have access to the quality legal services they deserve.
Other considerations for the future of legal aid in Savannah include ensuring a steady flow of funding sources and continual community outreach. Although Georgia is fortunate to have a robust network of volunteer attorneys, lawyers are always in short supply when it comes to meeting the needs of low-income clients. As such, staying engaged with local businesses not only increases funding options but also helps educate the community about what legal aid is and why it is important. These efforts extend far beyond a single solicitation campaign, however; they require ongoing, open dialogue with the community to address their legal needs. For example, local legal aid organizations and other community members can hold focus groups to gauge what issues are most pressing and what challenges residents are facing. This kind of feedback sets the stage for tailoring legal aid services to meet the community’s greatest needs moving forward.
Changes in the legal landscape will come fast and furious over the next few years. As concerns over social media and big data, immigration, and transportation continue to escalate and as international conflicts threaten to spill over onto U.S. shores, having ready access to the rules will be more important than ever. Equal access to legal aid services is a key element of securing this access to justice for all. The future is bright for legal aid in Savannah, provided that we keep our collective foot on the gas.