Our Legal Services
What Types of Cases Does The Legal Aid Clinic Accept?
The Legal Aid Clinic accepts a limited number of the following types of cases:
Mental Health
The Clinic represents:
- Individuals seeking guardianships of disabled friends and adult relatives
- Proposed wards who wish to contest a guardianship
- Both families and patients in civil commitment proceedings
The Clinic also:
- Serves as guardian ad litem for disabled adults
- Advocates for the rights of mental health consumers against treatment providers
Economic Justice
The Clinic provides assistance with:
- Mortgage foreclosures
- Land contract forfeitures
- Defense against debt collection
- Construction fraud
Immigrant Rights
The Clinic represents immigrants, especially women and children, in the following types of cases:
- Human trafficking
- Asylum
- Battered immigrants
- Immigrant victims of crimes
Tenants’ Rights
The Clinic represents tenants in housing-related matters including:
- Evictions
- Security deposit disputes
- Damages hearings
Disability Benefits
The Clinic represents persons with cognitive, psychiatric, or physical disabilities in appeals of the denial of
- Social Security disability benefits
- Medicaid benefits
What Types of Cases Does The Legal Aid Clinic NOT Accept?
The Clinic does NOT accept the following types of cases:
- Criminal
- Divorce
- Visitation
- Child support
- Custody
- Bankruptcy
The Clinic also generally does not accept cases involving emergencies.
What Are The Legal Aid Clinic’s Income Guidelines?
The Clinic generally adheres to the income guidelines of the federal Legal Services Corporation, accepting clients with household incomes up to a maximum of 150% of federal poverty guidelines.
When Does the Legal Aid Clinic Accept Cases?
The case intake schedule varies with the academic calendar. While cases may be accepted at any time during the academic year, more cases are accepted early in the fall and spring semesters (September-October and January-February). The Clinic ordinarily does not accept cases when school is not in session.
How Can Prospective Clients Contact The Legal Aid Clinic?
The Clinic accepts cases primarily by referral from non-profit and governmental agencies. Clients are screened for income eligibility. Agency staff and prospective clients may call the Legal Aid Clinic’s intake line at 574-631-6704.
