The Ins and Outs of Legal Aid in Hammond, LA
Legal aid is a form of assistance designed to offer help to individuals in need who cannot afford legal representation. It includes a range of services such as legal advice, representation in court, and assistance with case research and preparation. Legal aid offices may help the low-income population, the elderly, those with disabilities, children and asylum seekers in some areas. Legal aid can cover sectors like family law, housing, education, health care, and immigration, among others. In Hammond, LA, specific legal aid needs arise that the community health center works to address via advocacy and intervention .
When it comes to legal aid in Hammond, LA, the community health center serves all ages and backgrounds. The legal aid residents need in Hammond can be particularly focused on family law (examples include divorce and domestic violence cases) and housing (i.e. tenant and landlord issues). The community health center works to address these legal matters in partnership with local lawyers who donate their time or with staff attorneys who work on-site. The center assists families in their time of need with referrals to pro bono lawyers or an experienced staff attorney to address family problems and resolutions.
Who is Eligible for Legal Aid in Hammond, LA
Legal aid in Louisiana is available to low- and middle-income residents who meet specific criteria. Broadly speaking, the primary qualifications for legal assistance through Civil District Court in Hammond, LA include: In order to be eligible for legal aid, you must meet income guidelines to establish that your household income is at a certain level—usually 125% of the federal poverty level —or that your household does not earn more than 250% of the federal poverty level.
Federal Poverty Guidelines In 2019, the federal poverty threshold was as follows: ● $12,490 for an individual ● $16,910 for a family of two ● $21,330 for a family of three ● $25,750 for a family of four To qualify for legal aid services, your household income or assets must fall at or below 125% of the federal poverty level: ● $15,612 for an individual ● $21,116 for a family of two ● $26,620 for a family of three ● $32,124 for a family of four A household that makes between 125% and 250% of the federal poverty limit may be eligible for some legal aid services, if they meet other qualifications.
Residency Requirements Eligibility for assistance also requires being a Louisiana resident and a US citizen or permanent resident. Most programs serving indigent defendants are limited to Louisiana residents only.
Who Does Not Qualify Not everyone will qualify for legal aid services, including individuals and groups such as: ● Individuals convicted of felony offenses ● Currently incarcerated inmates ● Individuals currently undergoing psychiatric treatment ● Individuals abusing alcohol or drugs ● People with sufficient income or assets to hire private counsel
Additional Considerations Different providers require different documentation for qualification. For example, those seeking legal aid from the Louisiana Bar Association must provide proof of income, residency and assets, while applicants for the Programs for the Unaccompanied Minor may never be turned away due to income level.
Primary Legal Matters Handled by Legal Aid in Hammond
The landscape of legal challenges can be especially daunting for individuals with low-income levels in Hammond. Legal Aid services in the area typically cover:
Housing issues: This is one of the most common types of cases for Legal Aid. If you are facing an eviction due to rent non-payment or if there are housing discrimination issues, Legal Aid can provide representation to help defend you in these matters.
Family law: Family court cases are among the most commonly addressed legal needs. This includes contested divorce petitions, child custody and child support cases, guardianship, and adoption issues. If you need a lawyer for matters regarding juvenile law or domestic violence and family abuse, this is also something Legal Aid lawyers can address.
Criminal law: Legal Aid can also help those who cannot afford to hire criminal lawyers. This is most often for resolving misdemeanors, such as DUIs and general criminal charges of other types.
Additional areas of practice: Legal aid lawyers may also help clients with wills and estates, bankruptcy and personal finance issues, tax law, and public benefits. Sometimes, representation may also be provided to those appealing an administrative decision, such as a Social Security decision or Medicaid claim, for example.
Legal Aid Services in Hammond, LA
In your quest to find the most suitable legal aid organization to suit your needs, it is important you know where to look. The following are resources that serve the Hammond area:
Louisiana Advocates for Outreach and Family Support
This organization receives federal funding to assist with outreach in the region. It provides a large array of services, including assistance with cases involving adoption, paternity and custody. Their contact information is as follows:
L.A.O.F.S.
49181 Lepage Dr. Suite 3
Hammond, LA 70422
Phone: (985) 542-8111
Cavendar Law Firm LLC
Located in Hammond, this law firm provides experienced legal support for many types of family law issues and other legal matters. Contact the Cavendar Law Firm at:
Cavender Law Firm LLC
1306 West Thomas Street, Ste. 12
Hammond, LA 70403
Phone: 985-234-5468
Louisiana State Bar Association
The local bar association also maintains a database of legal aid organizations and various other resources. You can find the Louisiana State Bar Association here:
Louisiana State Bar Association
601 St Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-566-1600
Equal Justice Works
This is a national organization that specifically addresses the accessibility and quality of legal aid services in the United States. You can find more on Equal Justice Works here:
Equal Justice Works
1730 M St NW Ste 1000,
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-466-3686
Pro Bono Net
This site offers both national resources and regional resources for finding a local legal aid service near you. Visit the following link for access to this and other resources to help you find the legal aid services you are looking for:
Pro Bono Net
405 Lexington Ave 16th Fl
New York, NY 10174
Phone: 212-760-2554
Advantages of Legal Aid in Hammond, LA
Legal aid services in Hammond, LA can provide much-needed assistance to those who are struggling to ensure justice is sought. For low-income communities and individuals, legal aid can be a huge boost in the struggle to even get an attorney to evaluate a potential case. In many cases, these services are provided for free or at a reduced cost to help low-income individuals seek justice. Here are just some of the benefits of seeking legal aid services in Hammond:
Affordable representation You may feel like your situation is hopeless because you don’t have the vast resources to hire a high-level firm to take your case. Legal aid services in Hammond can cut through this feeling of hopelessness, as they are designed to provide affordable representation for all, regardless of financial means.
Affordable access Even if you’re seeking to represent yourself , legal aid services in Hammond can provide you with useful resources to help you navigate the legal system as if you had an attorney. This is ideal for low-income communities and individuals who face challenges in accessing the legal process due to systemic barriers.
Civil and criminal representation Legal aid services in Hammond aren’t just for civil matters, contrary to popular belief. Rather, they can also help you put up a defense in a criminal case and protect your rights throughout the process. Your freedom is important, and legal aid services can help keep you on the right path.
Presenting your case In some cases, having legal aid services in Hammond just means they can provide guidance on how you should present your case in order to achieve favorable results. This is particularly true of family court matters and juvenile cases, which often involve sensitive information that can cause severe repercussions, both for you and your family.
No matter your representation needs, legal aid services in Hammond ensure you’re not alone in your fight for justice.
Obstacles for Legal Aid in Hammond
Hammond is no exception to the challenges that legal aid providers face throughout the state and country. One of the largest challenges is funding. Legal aid providers in the area often find it difficult to secure large amounts of funding. This largely comes from insufficient state and federal funding to cover high demand. While this may be an issue that is common amongst all legal aid providers, the lack of funding has a unique impact in the Hammond area. Hammond is next door to several of the state’s poorest parishes, and the need for access to attorneys has reached an all-time high. Because of this shortage, many legal aid providers are having to turn away an unprecedented number of people in the Hammond area. For instance, the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s 2015-2016 Aging Legal Services grant was cut by over 80%. The most recent available U.S. Census Bureau data also shows that the amount of people who speak a language other than English at home has almost doubled since 2000. Organizations in the Hammond area also struggle with providing cost-effective services to their clients. The Southern Regional Education Board 2009 report on Louisiana Counseling and Developmental Sciences states that people in the Hammond area have a median annual income below the national average, making services that charge fees out of their price range. Finally, the organizations in Hammond continue to limit the scope of their practice because they lack the resources to cover a greater range of services. Despite these challenges, the organizations based in Hammond continue to represent individuals in need of legal assistance in the Hammond area.
Supporting Legal Aid in Hammond, LA
Support for legal aid in Hammond, LA can come in many forms. By volunteering your professional skills, making a donation, or advocating for legal aid funding, you can have a positive impact on the community.
First, legal aid organizations rely on attorneys to volunteer their professional services to low-income clients to fill the gap of underfunded programs. Volunteer attorneys agree to take on pro bono cases when needed, as well as help mentor less experienced legal aid attorneys through the various volunteer programs run by organizations like Southeast Louisiana Legal Services and the Northshore Volunteer Lawyers Program.
Second, it is important to consider donating to legal aid organizations to help them maintain and expand their services . Donors can be both individuals and organizations themselves. In addition, some law firms donate to legal aid organizations in order to give their associates valuable experience early in their careers. It is also possible to donate time by providing pro bono legal services to low-income clients who cannot afford a private attorney.
Finally, those who do not work in the legal field can still advocate for indigent legal aid in order to raise awareness of the difficulties in accessing affordable legal services. By helping raise awareness of legal aid’s vital role in providing pro bono legal services, you are helping to keep legal aid organizations alive and well.