legal Archives - ECO LEGAL

Iowa Legal Aid’s new mobile unit to help after natural disasters

Iowa Legal Aid will be out showing off its new Justice Bus in Cedar Rapids this weekend, encouraging survivors of natural disasters to use their free services.

The bus is ADA accessible, comes with enhanced cell service, and has tons of power outlets and data ports for people to charge their phones after a natural disaster.

The bus was specially made by a Winnipeg business that specializes in custom mobile units, and the business told Iowa Legal Aid this was their first custom bus with a pull-out murphy desk in it.

The goal is to provide more outreach and free legal services by meeting people in their own communities.

“It’s not always immediately apparent to people that there’s a legal issue that they’re talking about, but a lot of times there are legal solutions to problems that people have,” Iowa Legal Aid Executive Director Nick Smithberg said. “If someone is having problems with a contractor, for example, they think that’s just a contractor problem. We can help.”

Iowa Legal Aid is inviting residents to check out the new bus and sign up for legal help at a disaster preparedness and recovery event at the Cedar Rapids Public Library on Saturday.

They especially encourage people who’re still dealing with problems from the 2020 derecho to come out, as they may be able to help sort some of those issues out.

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Legal Aid DC’s 34th annual Servant of Justice Award Dinner

Vikram Swaruup, the executive director of Legal Aid DC, facilitated the 34th annual Servant of Justice Award Dinner on April 9 at the JW Marriott hotel in Northwest in front of scores of people.

Former U.S. Commission on Civil Rights member Debo P. Adegbile as one of the honorees.

The event served as a fundraiser for Legal Aid DC, which helps indigent and working-class District residents in civil matters such as family law, affordable housing and eviction prevention, public benefits and consumer law, immigration, and appellate advocacy.

Swaruup expressed pride in his co-workers at Legal Aid DC.

“As I conclude my first year as executive director of this more than 90-year-old organization, I am proud that we get to share some of what we accomplished–and the stories of some of the brave clients we worked with along the way–with you tonight,” he said. “I’m particularly proud of the more than 100 people who actually do this hard work alongside our clients: my wonderful Legal Aid colleagues… I have seen first-hand their dedication to their work, sheer legal ability, and commitment to making our city a fairer place.”

Swaruup said the organization accepted 1,300 cases for full representation, a 16% increase from 2022. He noted that within the first three months of this year, “we have accepted 76% more cases than the same time period in 2023.” Swaruup said between the relaunch of the walk-in intake center in Northwest and community office in the Anacostia neighborhood of Southeast has generated nearly 4,750 clients, a 22% increase from 2022.

However, Swaruup said that the budget District Mayor Muriel Bowser recently submitted to the D.C. Council is not kind to his organization.

“That’s because just last week the mayor proposed a 67% cut to legal services in her budget for next

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Flood victims receive much needed legal help at clinic event

The legal clinic helped families with the necessary paperwork needed to move forward.

SAN DIEGO — Flood victims who need legal advice were able to get much needed help Wednesday at a legal clinic held those affected by the January 22 flood.

The event aimed at helping families in need as they navigate through the process of getting back inside their homes.

Nearly two months after the devastating floods, many people across San Diego are still displaced from their homes, the event helped families with the necessary paperwork needed to move forward.

“Right now, people are in a state of crisis,” said Annie Rios, Executive Director of Uprise Theater. “We have attorneys here, paralegals, law clerks that are hoping to help the community with the various different legal issues that they have, especially in regard to the flood.”

The event was held by Uprise Theater, a local nonprofit organization, that’s helping with FEMA applications and denials, insurance claims, small court claims and more.

“Our community here in Southeast has been impacted so heavily by this and there’s so much more to be done,” added Rios.

Kanasia Owens, who lives in Spring Valley with her mom and son, says they’ve been working to get back into their damaged home since the floods.

“It’s been tragic, to be quite honest, we’ve been having to figure what to do with little ones that live with us and being forced to move out of the situation and not knowing where you’re going to next, it’s just a lot of unknowns right now,” said Owens.

Owens and her family need housing and are working to repair some of the damage caused by the flood.

“Honestly if it hadn’t been for small companies like this helping us out, we probably would be completely stranded not knowing

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Lawyers offer legal tips to Topekans on how to get driver’s licenses back

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas Legal Services is holding a special clinic this weekend to help Topekans with suspended driver’s licenses hit the road again.

27 News spoke with Director of Driver’s License Restoration Project Micah Tempel to learn more about how this special opportunity can benefit locals with suspended licenses. He said the clinic is meant to help Topekans learn the ins and outs of how to get their licenses back with professional legal help from lawyers with Kansas Legal Services.

“Each situation is a little different, but what’s the same with all of them is once you’re suspended, it ignites a web of bureaucracy that is difficult to navigate,” Tempel said.

These services are provided free of charge to attendees. However, people must be at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines and walk-ins are not guaranteed an appointment. Tempel said the focus is on people from a lower socio-economic status.

350,000 pounds of trash cleared from Kansas River homeless camps in Topeka

“This will be our second clinic,” Tempel said. “In the past, we did one back in January. We were able to serve about 60 people that day. They met with attorneys and left with steps to get their licenses back.”

Tempel said Kansas Legal Services is working with the local municipal court to arrange for special dockets to hear motions to help people get their licenses back and take care of tickets. These efforts are meant to also have the secondary impact of getting people back to work by restoring their ability to travel longer distances.

“When your license is taken away, you can’t get to work,” Tempel said. “Getting a new, better job is hard. That’s a drain on the community as a whole, not just on the individual.”

The clinic will

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Injured in Phoenix? Understanding Your Personal Injury Rights

Embarking on the Journey of Understanding

When the unforeseen strikes in the form of a personal injury, the ensuing turmoil can be overwhelming. Phoenix, a bustling urban sprawl, is no stranger to such incidents. This exploration is not just about the bare bones of personal injury law but an intricate tapestry of rights, responsibilities, and the nuanced dance between them.

The Breadth and Depth of Personal Injury Law in Phoenix

The Many Faces of Personal Injury

A kaleidoscope of scenarios falls under Phoenix’s personal injury law. Imagine the sudden screech of tires leading to a fender-bender or a simple misstep on a wet floor turning into a painful tumble. The law casts a wide net, encompassing everything from the tangible pain of a surgical error to the silent suffering from a work-related stress injury.

Crafting the Pillars of a Personal Injury Claim

In the labyrinth of legal proceedings, certain signposts guide the way:

Duty of Care: An invisible, yet omnipresent, moral compass guiding actions.
Breach of Duty: A deviation from this path, whether by a misstep or a willful turn.
Causation: A direct line connecting this deviation to the harm suffered.
Damages: The tangible and intangible aftermath of this journey.

Navigating the Legal Labyrinth

The Role of Legal Sages

Phoenix personal injury lawyers are akin to seasoned navigators in the treacherous waters of legal complexities. They are the torchbearers in the caverns of evidence gathering, the negotiators in the high-stakes game with insurance titans, and the champions in the courtroom coliseum.

Time’s Sand in the Legal Hourglass

The clock ticks with a two-year countdown in Phoenix’s personal injury scene. This temporal boundary, known as the statute of limitations, is relentless. Miss this window, and the path to

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EU parliament threatens legal action amid row over Ukraine aid

The European Parliament has passed a resolution paving the way for possible legal action against the European Commission over the release of €10 billion in frozen funds to Hungary. The move comes as the bloc’s members tussle over aid packages for Ukraine.

The commision, the EU’s executive arm, released the €10 billion to Hungary on the eve of a summit last month as Brussels looked to win Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s backing for more support for Ukraine.

The commission argued that Hungary had passed legislation to improve the independence of its judiciary and therefore had the right to access the funds.

But lawmakers said Budapest had not fulfilled the reforms and instead accused the commission of caving in to pressure from Orban, a far-right populist.

“Parliament will look into whether legal action should be pursued to overturn the decision to partially unfreeze funds, and notes that it can use an array of legal and political measures,” the legislature said in a statement.

It also called for EU member states to push forward a procedure against Hungary started in 2018 over its backsliding on key EU democratic standards.

That procedure could lead to Hungary’s voting rights in EU meetings being suspended.

Billions frozen

Billions of euros earmarked for Hungary remain frozen by Brussels pending progress on rule-of-law issues such as stricter conditions for awarding public contracts, protecting academic freedom, ensuring the rights of LGBTQ people, and accepting the right of migrants to claim asylum.

In return for lifting his veto, Orban had demanded in mid-December the payment of all EU funds allocated to Hungary.

(with AFP)

legal-action-amid-row-over-ukraine-aid” data-ylk=”slk:Read more on RFI English;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “Read more on RFI English

Read also:
Is the EU facing a ‘New Right’ surge in Europe’s 2024 elections?
EU and Western allies

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SNAP benefit increase approved after legal pressure in DC

WASHINGTON – D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office is now set to fund an increase in SNAP benefits, according to the director of the D.C. Department of Human Services and Legal Aid DC.

In a statement sent to FOX 5, DHS Director Laura Zeilinger said the agency will move forward with implementing the temporary SNAP increase.

“Due to major budget shortfalls and workload pressures, in November I advised the Mayor that it is in the best interest of residents to prioritize sustaining vital human services programs, over administering a new temporary local SNAP supplement. While fiscal and administrative pressures still exist, this evening I advised the Mayor that DHS will make this program work while we attempt to solve ongoing challenges,” the statement reads.

Legal Aid D.C. was planning to snap-increase-dc-mayor-faces-possible-lawsuit-over-delay-in-benefits” data-ylk=”slk:file a lawsuit;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link rapid-noclick-resp”file a lawsuit on Thursday over the withholding of $39.6 million in food assistance from over 140,000 low-income District residents.

“For Legal Aid’s clients, full implementation of the increased SNAP benefits isn’t about politics – it’s about putting food on the table,” said Vikram Swaruup, executive director of Legal Aid DC. “We are deeply grateful to Legal Aid’s clients who were willing to go to court tomorrow to vindicate the rights of their neighbors to be treated fairly by the Administration. It should not have taken the threat of a lawsuit for the Administration to follow the law and help families who need it, but we are glad they have committed to beginning that process. We will need to hear much more about how the Administration plans to fully and promptly implement this policy, and we will continue to zealously advocate for the rights of our clients in that process.”

The D.C. Council appropriated money to boost SNAP benefits from Jan. 1 until Sept.

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AI could change how we obtain legal advice, but those without access to the technology could be left out in the cold

The legal profession has already been using artificial intelligence (AI) for several years, to automate reviews and predict outcomes, among other functions. However, these tools have mostly been used by large, well established firms.

In effect, certain law firms have already deployed AI tools to assist their employed solicitors with day-to-day work. By 2022, three quarters of the largest solicitor’s law firms were utilising AI. However, this trend has now started to encompass small and medium firms too, signalling a shift of such technological tools towards mainstream utilisation.

This technology could be enormously beneficial both to people in the legal profession and clients. But its rapid expansion has also increased the urgency of calls to assess the potential risks.

The 2023 Risk Outlook Report by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) predicts that AI could automate time consuming tasks, as well as increase speed and capacity. This latter point could benefit smaller firms with limited administrative support. This is because it has the potential to reduce costs and – potentially – increase the transparency around legal decision making, assuming the technology is well monitored.

Reserved approach

However, in the absence of rigorous auditing, errors resulting from so-called “hallucinations”, where an AI provides a response that is false or misleading, can lead to improper advice being delivered to clients. It could even lead to miscarriages of justice as a result of courts being inadvertently misled – such as fake precedents being submitted.

A case mimicking this scenario has already occurred in the US, where a New York lawyer submitted a legal brief containing six fabricated judicial decisions. Against this background of a growing recognition of the problem, English judges were issued with judicial guidance surrounding use of the technology in December 2023.

This was an important first step in addressing

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Legal Aid Society Calls for Reforms to Serve Tenants, Low-income Individuals

Attorneys called on Albany to enact a package of reforms to serve vulnerable New Yorkers.

The Legal Aid Society is calling on Albany to enact a package of reforms to serve tenants, low-income individuals, new arrivals and other vulnerable New Yorkers.

In the newly released list of Statewide legislative priorities, the Legal Aid Society highlighted housing, homeless rights, and access to public benefits, including cash assistance and delays in receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and State Cash Assistance Benefits, as areas that need immediate improvement.

“New Yorkers everywhere — but particularly low-income New Yorkers — are facing a litany of obstacles including a historic affordability crisis, citywide housing shortages, delays in receiving critical public benefits, and more,” said Adriene Holder, chief attorney of civil practice at the Legal Aid Society. “Our leaders in Albany have a responsibility to address these concerns by prioritizing legislative measures that will help improve the lives of all tenants, immigrants, low-income individuals, and other vulnerable New Yorkers. The Legal Aid Society looks forward to working with Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to usher these bills into law immediately next session.”

Additional priority legislation includes “Good Cause” eviction, which would provide tenants in unregulated units basic protections against unjust evictions and exorbitant rent increases, and the “Housing Access Voucher Program” to provide homeless New Yorkers a path to permanent and affordable housing.

Reforms to make Medicaid more accessible for all New Yorkers, increased employee benefits and protections, legislation to increase basic needs assistance, a shelter allowance increase, and a personal needs and special needs assistance increase were also noted as priorities.

Legal Aid also called on Albany for increased resources to help new arrivals find housing and to assist asylum seekers

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Entergy Provides Free Legal Assistance To Vulnerable Community Members During Second Empowering Pro Bono Day

(MENAFN- 3BL) For the second year in a row, Entergy participated in EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day , an industry-wide service day that we helped found to provide pro bono legal support for low-income, vulnerable community members in electric companies’ service areas. The event was launched in 2022 by the Pro Bono Institute in partnership with Entergy’s legal department and the Edison Electric Institute. The event serves to spotlight the need to increase access to justice by providing legal services to marginalized communities and promote in-house pro bono collaboration with law firms and legal services organizations.

“While our attorneys prioritize incorporating pro bono efforts into our work year-round, we also feel it’s important to create these opportunities to join our colleagues across the company and the industry in a focused effort to make a positive impact,” said Pro Bono Counsel Christy Kane. “We feel privileged to be able to use our skills and training to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

During the day of service, more than 30 Entergy volunteers assisted more than 60 clients with life-planning documents for seniors, small succession affidavits for low-income homeowners, expungement of criminal records, brief advice hotlines, clinics, and more. This event followed Entergy’s internal company-wide day of service on Oct. 24 in honor of National Pro Bono Week.

Since 2012, Entergy attorneys have contributed more than 20,000 hours of pro bono services, for an in-kind donation to the community of over $5.6 million. These attorneys offer free legal advice and representation to community members in need on matters ranging from life-planning documents for first responders, to FEMA claims after natural disasters, to veterans’ benefits access, to family law issues, to post-conviction relief for incarcerated survivors of domestic violence, to assistance for non-profits and

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Cleveland Legal Collaborative looking to bridge legal services gap

The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) states thousands of modest-income earners earn too much to qualify for free legal aid but not enough to hire an attorney, which can lead to people not getting help or receiving inadequate assistance.

It’s why they’re helping to launch the Cleveland Legal Collaborative– a social justice legal incubator that will be housed at the CMBA.

“It will provide substantive training to our region’s next generation of legal professionals while helping those caught in the justice gap,” said Meredith Shoop, president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation.

“This is designed to address the civil legal needs. So that could be an eviction (or) that could be a divorce,” she said. “There are all sorts of legal issues that arise that have nothing to do with criminal conduct and are issues for which folks of modest income have trouble finding representation.”

Shoop said it’s a critical time to expand access to justice community-wide.

“We know that three out of four low-income Americans had at least one civil legal problem last year, and 40% had five or more issues. Now, out of that group, 92% received inadequate or no legal help,” Shoop said. “Now, that’s not to downplay the tremendous impact of other partners for justice, such as legal aid. But many of these individuals who can’t get legal help have income above legal aid’s requirement of 200% of the poverty level, but they still can’t afford a lawyer at market rates. And it’s the gap that the Cleveland Legal Collaborative is designed to fill.”

More than 100 CMBA volunteers are involved in building the Cleveland Legal Collaborative.

“We have tremendous allies in the up-and-coming generation of new legal grads,” Shoop said. “And we are thrilled to give them this opportunity. And at the same time,

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Free legal advice presentation on adult guardianships to be hosted in Fort Myers

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Nonprofit hosting a free limited legal advice presentation on adult guardianships at the downtown Fort Myers library Thursday.

Law at the Library is a quarterly conversation sponsored by Lee County Legal Aid Society with support from AARP Foundation.

The session is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Fort Myers Regional Library meeting room, 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers 33901.

Three local attorneys will discuss the guardianship process followed by an audience question-and-answer session and 20-minute individual appointments on any legal issue.

Unlike in criminal law, there is no constitutional right to counsel in civil law, which includes landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, evictions, probate, debt collection, child custody cases, domestic violence orders of protection and more.

Law at the Library follows a similar series of free legal workshops “Just for Seniors” offered Lee County Legal Aid Society in prior years through support from The Community Foundation.

For more information on Lee County Legal Aid Society, visit leecountylegalaid.org or call 239-334-6118.

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allsynx and LegalShield Join Forces to Offer Industry-Leading Legal Assistance and Identity Theft Protection Services to Families Across America

Partnership drives value for employers and staff

Signals new wave of benefit innovation

Collaboration aims to simplify and innovate HR solutions

ADA, Okla., November 17, 2023–(BUSINESS WIRE)–allsynx, a leader in providing simple HR and benefit solutions, products, and services nationwide, has partnered with LegalShield, the nation’s largest voluntary benefit provider for legal and identity theft protection services. This collaboration aims to enhance allsynx’s offerings for their network of brokers, group administrators and carriers.

“LegalShield has an unparalleled 50-year track record of making legal help accessible and affordable through their innovative group plans,” said Chris Wood, president and COO of allsynx. “By offering LegalShield and IDShield’s benefits to the allsynx family, we will undoubtedly bring our clients and their families more value as we continue simplifying work life together.”

“allsynx has redefined the voluntary benefits space with their boutique approach, unique solutions, and innovative technology,” said Emily B. Rose, President of Business Solutions at LegalShield. “It’s an honor for LegalShield to join their pioneering platform. Their spirit of innovation and empowerment aligns perfectly with our values.”

allsynx supports a diverse portfolio of voluntary and ancillary benefits for employers, including accident, critical illness, dental, vision, pet, and supplemental insurance. By leveraging relationships with top-tier carriers, allsynx makes trending voluntary benefits accessible to employers and their staff at competitive rates.

In recent years, more employers have realized the value of providing legal benefits for their staff. LegalShield’s plans connect employees to a network of dedicated, vetted lawyers and law firms to offer affordable legal advice and services for every day legal matters like contracts, estate planning, family issues, consumer protection, and more.

LegalShield’s identity protection product, IDShield, features full-service identity restoration with access to in-house licensed private investigators, 24/7 monitoring and alerts across credit, financial and

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Legal Aid to have free clinic in Jennings County

JENNINGS COUNTY — Legal Aid will have a free Legal Aid Walk In Clinic for Jennings County community members on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon. The clinic will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and is for low-income residents.

The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program utilizes local volunteer attorneys, offering free legal consultations to low-income individuals to those who might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.

Individuals coming to the Legal Aid Clinic can expect to receive a 10-minute consultation to answer general and eviction questions, offer legal information, or to receive other limited pro se assistance or advice, in person, on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no need to register in advance.

The general advice clinic for items such as adoptions, advance directives, family law, guardianships, protective orders, simple wills and small estates, is from 3 to 5 p.m.

The eviction clinic is from 4 to 5 p.m. covering negotiations with a landlord, legal defenses to an eviction damage hearings and eviction records. No criminal law questions will be answered.

For more information, visit legalaidpbi.org/services.

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Responsiv Raises $3 Million to Bring AI to in-House Legal Teams

From being duped by ChatGPT to putting sensitive client data at risk, lawyers face numerous pitfalls as they consider using AI in their work. But by building a program with “guardrails,” a new legal tech company is working to bring all of the benefits of artificial intelligence to companies’ in-house legal teams without the risks.

The startup, Responsiv, just raised $3 million in pre-seed funding from Greylock Partners in a round led by general partner Mike Duboe.

Based in Chicago, Responsiv is an AI assistant for in-house legal teams. It was founded earlier this year by Nikita Solilov and Jordan Domash, who both spent more than a decade at legal tech powerhouse Relativity — a company that has been valued at more than $3 billion by its largest shareholder, the private-equity firm Silver Lake.

“Jordan and Nikita are thoughtful and strategic, with deep empathy for the problem and expertise in the space, which is just the kind of team we love to back at Greylock,” Duboe said in a statement.

Generative AI programs like ChatGPT aren’t a good solution for lawyers because they can provide incorrect or out-of-date information, Domash explained. Responsiv, on the other hand, was designed specifically for in-house attorneys and generates correct legal information with citations so lawyers can jump into a referenced case and see the data for themselves.

“We exist because ChatGPT is a problem,” he told Insider.

Responsiv is geared toward in-house attorneys whose daily work could include employment issues, M&A, contracts, drafting policies, and more. As they work through a diverse set of tasks and need help understanding a topic, these lawyers traditionally would need to spend hours researching or calling outside counsel for backup — many of whom charge hundreds of dollars an hour.

With Responsiv, in-house counsel can quickly get

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Can’t Live Up to Reality: AI Will Not Replace Human Lawyering in Personal Injury Litigation

Bring up the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) to a group of attorneys—odds are the responses you receive will vary, but at least one doomsayer is guaranteed to warn you about AI leading to the total collapse of the legal profession. My interest in the idea of AI replacing lawyers was piqued earlier this year while attending an event at which I had the privilege to witness the celebration and recognition of many seasoned attorneys’ careers. I intently listened as each of these honorees took to the stage to accept their awards and shared sentiments unique to their own backgrounds and experiences. Though no two speeches were the same, I could not help but notice an overwhelming majority of them similarly commentated on the rise of AI and its looming threat to eliminate the need for human lawyers. One part of my brain thought, “Well, being a lawyer was fun while it lasted!” while the other immediately (and predictably) opposed the notion that what we do as personal injury attorneys could ever realistically be replicated by robots.

The latter thought led me to question whether I was overestimating the value of human lawyering in the age of rapid technological advancement, especially when I decided to dive further into the prevalence of legal AI by turning to my internet browser and customarily opening LexisNexis … before abruptly recognizing the irony in relying on an AI-generated search engine to educate myself about the very capabilities of intelligent machines. This was a humbling moment, and before long, I found myself reading about how the most recent version of ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot that can perform a litany of legal tasks, not only passed the July 2023 bar exam but also outperformed 90% of new lawyers taking the exam. Debra Cassens Weiss, “Latest

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Addressing The Justice Gap With A Legal Platform For Consumers And Small Businesses

If they encounter a legal problem, many individuals and businesses without a lot of resources can’t afford to hire an attorney. A 2019 study from the State Bar of California found that only 32% of Californians had sought help for civil legal difficulties over the past year, in part due to the high cost of doing so.

Carlos Hernandez

My Pocket Lawyer

That’s the issue Carlos Hernandez is aiming to address. In 2019, he launched a company called Crediverso to provide underserved communities in the U.S., starting with Hispanics, advice about credit cards, loans and money transfers. Now, he’s expanded into a new area: addressing what he calls “the justice gap” with a legal services platform called My Pocket Lawyer for consumers, small businesses and freelancers, launched in September. “For many people, hiring a lawyer is almost a luxury,” says Hernandez.

Cost isn’t the only hurdle to using a lawyer that people face. For some, there’s the fear of what might happen to them if they pursued legal action. Or they might lack access to legal help. According to Hernandez, 40% of counties in the U.S. are what he calls “legal deserts,” with one or no lawyers per 1,000 people.

How It Works

Users who have a question about, say, a rental contract, take a picture of the document and upload it to the platform, which then provides a summary of what it says in English or Spanish. They can also ask questions in their native language. In addition, there’s an overview of the questions people frequently ask lawyers, with answers. “A lot of people often just don’t know what to ask,” says Hernandez. “These are preemptive questions.” And the platform raises red flags when it encounters issues likely to cause problems. According to Hernandez, My Pocket Lawyer will

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$5M in legal aid will help Arizona renters facing eviction. Where to go for help

Arizona is giving four nonprofits $5 million to provide legal help to renters facing eviction.

The funding comes as metro Phoenix eviction filings climbed to almost set a new record in September. The money is coming from American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Community Legal Services based in Phoenix will receive $2.4 million, and $1.3 million will go to Southern Arizona Legal Aid. DNA People’s Legal Services and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education will each get $600,000.

Navigating the fast eviction process in Arizona is difficult for many struggling renters. The funds can be used for eviction prevention, fixing damaged credit records so people can rent again, and helping with social security or disability income enrollment.

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“This funding is a historic, first step towards increasing equal access to justice and will help keep Arizonans housed, keep families safe, and protect the rights of low-income families,” said Kevin Ruegg, CEO of the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education.

There’s still some pandemic-related arizona/2023/10/03/how-do-i-get-emergency-housing-assistance-in-arizona/70857823007/” data-ylk=”slk:renter aid available;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link “renter aid available for struggling tenants. Information on where and how to apply is available at azevictionhelp.org.

The courts provide eviction-related information for tenants and landlords at www.justicecourts.maricopa.gov and www.azcourts.gov/eviction.

Gov. Katie Hobbs said services provided by the groups to share the $5 million will help “families access the housing protection and other critical services they need.”

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8040. Follow her on Twitter @CatherineReagor.

Coverage of housing insecurity on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: $5M will help Arizona renters facing eviction. Where to go for help

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Free legal help available to Long Islanders at Mineola event

The Nassau County Bar Association will host an open house Oct. 26 for Long Islanders seeking free legal consultations on issues ranging from foreclosure to family law.

The annual event at the bar association’s headquarters in Mineola, which will be held from 2 to 8 p.m., gives locals a chance to speak with a lawyer before taking formal steps to address their legal issues, said Madeline Mullane, director of pro bono attorney activities at the bar association. This way, attendees might better understand whether they have a legitimate legal claim before spending money on an attorney.

“It gives people a realistic perspective,” Mullane said. “It’s going to give them the ability to discern whether hiring an attorney would be something that is in their best interest.”

Attorneys can address issues related to bankruptcy, divorce, family law, employment, foreclosure, elder law and tenant concerns. The bar association aims to have attorneys spanning a wide range of legal specialties, so it can field all questions, Mullane said. She noted it helps to reach out to the bar association before the event to ensure there is an attorney with appropriate expertise available and to bring all relevant documents to the event.

The NCBA is partnering on the event with The Safe Center LI, a Bethpage-based nonprofit which helps survivors of family violence and sexual assault, and public-interest law firm Nassau Suffolk Law Services.

The consultations are not intended to connect attendees with attorneys who will represent them but individuals may learn about programs providing free legal representation.

The NCBA also has a separate lawyer referral service, which can help people find attorneys, and the first 30-minute phone consultation with an attorney is $50.

About 110 people sought help at the open house last October from about 50 attorneys and 20 officials

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Lone Star Legal Aid offers free legal help for those impacted by opioid crisis

HOUSTON – “I got sort of dependent on pain pills because I had an emergency C-section,” said recovering addict Brie Cook.

And that dependency on opioids got worse Cook says when she lost her 5-month-old daughter.

“I started taking a bunch of Xanax and pain pills every day,” she said.

“Opioids can impact your family and your friends in lots of ways and can impact your life,” said Lindsay Eustace, Supervising attorney for Lone Star Legal Aid.

That’s what prompted Lone Star Legal Aid to launch Rise to Recovery.

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It’s a groundbreaking initiative to provide legal aid to individuals and families impacted by the opioid crisis.

“Anyone that’s misused or used opioids any family member that has been impacted by someone who used or misused opioids,” Eustace said.

“I’ve been sober 28 months on the first,” Cook said.

Lone Star Legal Aid is helping Cook in Family Court.

“I have a set of twins that just turned 5,” she said.

Lone Star Legal Aid is offering much more than providing low-income folks with legal representation in court.

“Put more money into people’s pocket by helping them with public benefits,” said Eustace. “Helping them get into a safer environment if they need a divorce or helping them make sure their children are safe.”

The Rise to Recovery initiative can help those impacted by the opioid crisis with child custody and visitation divorce and property division employment issues debt.

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The program can also assist with bankruptcy housing, eviction, and much more.

Rise to Recovery has a dedicated hotline at 888-251-4492.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child,” said Cook. “It takes a village to help a recovering addict

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