CIVIL LEGAL AID SUPPORTS LOUISIANA BY PROVIDING LOW-INCOME AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITH FREE LEGAL HELP
Civil legal aid is a federal funded nonprofit organization established through an act of Congress in 1974 to provide free legal representation to individuals whose annual income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. For an individual, the annual income may be approximately $18,000 per year or $30,000 per year for a family of four. Free legal assistance may include representation or advice in family law issues, consumer debts, housing or foreclosure assistance/prevention, domestic violence survivor support, military family issues, and veteran service among many others. Legal Aid does not include representation for any criminal proceedings.
Civil legal aid supports Louisiana through a social return on investment of $9.13 for every dollar invested. Source. To find out what issues are most pressing in your district, select the jurisdiction (Statewide/Federal, LA House, or LA Senate) and then select the one-page informational page to learn more. Also included in the statewide jurisdiction is information relevant to the two Legal Service Corporations serving our state: Acadiana Legal Services and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services.
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To learn more about how civil legal aid supports Louisiana, please watch an informational session (below) on civil legal aid from March 2021 with Executive Directors from the two legal aid organizations servicing our state. Please also review important informational bulletins on this and other issues, such as how to file in court as a result of COVID-19.