You may be entitled to a free lawyer from a court-appointed lawyer or a public defense lawyer if your freedom is threatened (in other words, you have to go to jail). A public defence lawyer is a lawyer who represents defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, and the Constitution guarantees the right to a lawyer in certain cases. Many agencies offer free legal advice to immigrants and other non-citizens who need help with issues ranging from visa applications, green cards, deportation procedures, and work permits. Terms and conditions vary from program to program. What legal assistance is available in Connecticut? There are several options for legal assistance in civil matters for people who cannot afford a lawyer. These include the Legal Services Network, legal clinics affiliated with Connecticut`s three law schools, and various other organizations that provide legal assistance, often to specific populations. What is the Legal Services Network? The Connecticut Legal Services Network is an association of five nonprofit legal aid organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. Some of the funding for these programs comes from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an organization created by the federal government to fund state legal aid organizations. Other funding for the Legal Services Network comes from local organizations such as the United Way and special trusts established by local bar associations. Members of this Connecticut network are: To find free legal aid in your area, take a look at FindLaw`s legal aid resources for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Legal aid offices do not charge a fee for legal assistance provided. You may have to pay court fees to take a case to court.

You may also have to pay for other expenses, such as copies of records, court reporters, etc. However, they will not be charged for the time or advice of the lawyer or paralegal. Your eligibility for free legal aid depends on a number of factors, such as your income, health status, safety, location, and whether your problem is civil or criminal in nature. There are several HIV/AIDS legal counselling programmes that provide free legal assistance to low-income clients infected with HIV or AIDS in areas such as estate planning, discrimination in employment or housing, insurance difficulties, family law issues and other legal issues. Legal aid can help in many civil cases. They may be able to help you if you have a problem with your landlord, food stamps, Families First, TennCare, Medicare; Health or family problems, especially related to domestic violence. While legal aid cannot represent you directly in a case, it may be able to tell you where to get help or give you advice to help you handle the case yourself. What should I do if I don`t get free legal assistance? If you can`t find help with a legal aid or pro bono program, some alternatives include contacting a lawyer referral service (some may be able to refer you to a low-fee lawyer) or hiring a lawyer only for part of the legal work and performing other parts yourself (this is called “unbundled” legal services). You can also try to get legal information and try to solve the legal problem yourself. Please visit our section on other free resources for more information. Information about the law or tools to solve simple legal problems.

Federally funded legal consulting firms provide lawyers who are experts in helping low-income people with legal problems. Who is entitled to an independent lawyer? The Constitution guarantees free legal assistance to persons accused of a crime that could result in a prison sentence and who cannot afford a lawyer. If you find yourself in this situation, seek the appointment of a public defence lawyer at your first court appearance. When a court decides that someone is “destitute” – with little fortune and no way to pay a lawyer – usually either a private lawyer is appointed by the court and paid with district funds, or a public defense program is appointed to represent the person. Some public defense programs are allowed to charge clients a “deposit fee,” although this is usually a small amount. Who else qualifies for an independent lawyer? In non-criminal or “civil” cases, you are not entitled to an independent lawyer. But there are many legal aid and pro bono programs that provide free legal assistance to the poor in civil matters. These programs generally help people whose income is below 125% of the federal poverty line, although in some cases they help people with slightly higher incomes. (See the table below for current income guidelines.) In addition, the elderly, the disabled, victims of domestic violence who have been recruited into the army or other special circumstances may be entitled to assistance, even if their incomes are slightly higher. Since these community-based programs often operate on very small budgets and do not have enough resources to serve all eligible individuals, they only deal with certain types of cases and have to turn away many people who seek help. If your income is currently below the national average for the number of people in your household, you may be eligible for free legal assistance. Most legal aid clinics and pro bono lawyers (private lawyers who provide free legal assistance) serve those whose household income is below 125% of the state-recognized poverty line.

The exceptions are Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher income limits. And even if you`re eligible for free legal assistance, you might struggle to find a free legal counseling agency that can handle your case, especially if the agency has limited staff and resources, or if your legal issue is outside of what the agency covers. The Help4TN.org website and a toll-free helpline at 888-HELP4TN or (888) 395-9297 both provide information and access to legal references and advice, and TN Free Legal Answers brings people together with volunteer lawyers. If you have a civil law problem but can`t afford to hire a private lawyer, you can still access the legal system through your local legal advice and legal aid organization, which provides free or low-cost legal services to low-income people. Information about many of these local services can be found online on the websites listed below. If you are a victim of domestic violence or fear for your safety, you may be entitled to free legal assistance from organizations that can help you gather evidence of abuse and, among other things, seek injunctions. For immediate help, wherever you are, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). U.S.

veterans with mental and physical disabilities may be eligible for free legal assistance on issues ranging from rent assistance to child visiting matters. For eligibility criteria, check your local veterans` association to see if you or a member of your household is eligible for free legal assistance with a range of services. Bar associations, the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission, Legal Aid, and community organizations across the state support existing legal clinics throughout the year. Created by FindLaw`s team of legal writers and writers | Last updated June 20, 2016 Most legal service providers also have pro bono programs. Many private lawyers have agreed to provide free legal assistance to low-income people under this program. Your case can be referred to a pro bono lawyer who will represent you free of charge as part of the pro bono program. What are legal clinics? Each of Connecticut`s three law schools has a legal clinic that provides legal assistance to people who can`t afford a lawyer. Under the Connecticut Student Rules of Practice, law students are permitted to represent clients in civil and criminal matters before all courts and administrative agencies in the jurisdiction. Clinics are: Additional Legal Services Agencies Other agencies that provide civil legal assistance to special populations are: If you are not eligible to receive free legal services based on any of the above criteria, you can speak to a lawyer in your area to discuss other fee arrangements.

Legal aid cannot help everyone with all legal problems. There are certain types of cases that legal aid does not cover, including criminal cases and paid cases, such as car accidents, where you want the other person to pay for your injuries or damage to your car. There are several legal aid organizations in Tennessee.