Overview of Blue Ridge Legal Aid
The essential Guide to Blue Ridge Legal Aid services
This Blog post will be part of an ongoing series of legal resources that we will continue to provide for free on this blog. This week’s legal resource is the regional legal aid office for Blue Ridge legal aid.
Blue Ridge Legal Services (BRLS) is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing free civil legal aid and representation to low-income individuals and families. The people who meet our eligibility criteria for service are the very poor, the disabled and others with serious need.
BRLS was formed in 2002 by the merger of its two predecessor organizations: the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke, Inc., founded in 1950, and the United Need, Inc., founded in 1968. BRLS continues a long tradition of providing free civil legal services to those who can’t afford a private attorney.
BRLS is a member of the Virginia Legal Aid Society (VLAS) which is made up of five regional legal aid offices serving the civil legal needs of low-income Virginians. The other offices are Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS), Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS), Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) , and Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society (SVLAS). BRLS collaborates with the other four legal aid offices to provide assistance to our clients on a regional level.
BRLS provides legal aid in civil cases, which means we do not provide legal services in criminal matters. We do not handle divorce or custody cases if they involve domestic violence. BRLS also does not handle tort claims, such as automobile accidents. However, we do handle related cases such as domestic relations and estate planning matters to assist victims of domestic violence. We also accept a limited number of estate planning and consumer credit cases involving predatory lending.
When we cannot assist you directly, we will refer you to the appropriate legal service providers or area agency for assistance in your matter.
We accept cases in the following areas of the law: When you apply for legal aid, you will be asked several simple questions to determine if you are eligible to receive legal services from BRLS. As a result of the critical gap between the demand and funding for civil legal aid, BRLS must strictly screen all requests for assistance and refer applicants to other providers when we cannot help. We make every attempt to refer you to other agencies and organizations that may be able to help you. All information is confidential.
What Does Blue Ridge Legal Aid Provide?
Centrally located in the heart of Virginia, Blue Ridge Legal Aid serves a total of 24 counties and cities in the western part of the state, including Patrick and Henry counties. It provides civil services to those in most legal areas, helping those who have nowhere else to turn for assistance with a legal case.
The services are designed to help those in greatest need, and thus, a lawyer is not provided for individuals with cases where they could afford some of the legal bills.
Family Law
The primary area of legal assistance provided by Blue Ridge Legal Aid is in family law settings. Attorneys help clients in matters such as filing for separation or divorce, petitions for child custody and visitation, child support award modification, and requests for modification of spousal support awards. Keep in mind that these are civil matters, not criminal cases, and cases involving domestic violence are referred to the Family Justice Center.
Housing
Fortunately, lawyers help clients facing housing challenges more than they help with any other real estate legal issues. During the past year, they helped more than 500 seeking civil legal aid in housing situations. Although housing cases are generally civil in nature, they are often associated with domestic violence and other criminal activities.
Public Benefits
Although public benefits are important, Blue Ridge Legal Aid often helps individuals with civil legal aid needs that are more pressing. Lawyers can help with obtaining Social Security and disability benefits in addition to appealing significant reductions in or loss of income.
Consumer Issues
Finally, Blue Ridge Legal Aid assists clients with consumer problem areas. From mistaken identity issues and identity theft to debt settlements and managing money, the legal aid center can be invaluable in getting a person back on track and going forward with their life in as solid of a position as possible.
Who Is Eligible for Legal Aid?
Eligibility criteria for obtaining help from Blue Ridge Legal Aid are primarily based on income and residency requirements. In general, applicants must meet financial guidelines that correspond to poverty level standards in order to receive legal assistance. All applicants are subject to a means test to determine financial eligibility. This means that if an applicant, their spouse, and any others living in their household earn less than 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, then they are likely to qualify for legal services. The applicant’s income will be listed on the application form along with the number of people living in the home. This information is used to determine financial eligibility.
Residency requirements include proof of residence in the area that they are applying for legal assistance. Legal Aid provides services to low-income residents of 12 counties in the western part of North Carolina.
Aside from financial and residence requirements, potential clients must have an eligible legal issue. Although the organization helps people with a wide variety of issues, there are some that cannot be handled such as the following: Potential clients must also be free of conflicts of interest because the organization cannot extend services to those seeking help with a case against a current client or a potential client.
How to Get Legal Aid
To apply for blue ridge legal aid, you can go to any of the locations we have outlined above and ask for an application. You can also call or e-mail us at the contact information provided and request an application. In order to be eligible for legal aid services, applicants must qualify as low-income. While our attorneys work on most legal cases, there are some which may require representation from a separate legal organization. We will work with all applicants to determine whether your situation is suitable for our legal services. Some situations may be better served by assistance from private attorneys, legal insurance coverage or pro bono services. In order to qualify for legal aid services, applications must prove an individual meets the following criteria: – Must be in current need of assistance – Must have income within 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines Individuals should be aware that an application does not automatically qualify for legal aid. Each application is thoroughly reviewed based upon current legal aid regulations and availability of necessary staff. In addition, our attorneys do not handle legal matters such as immigration or criminal law.
Success Rates and Client Experiences
John Doe, a single father of two, was recently faced with eviction from his home due to non-payment of rent. With limited income, he struggled to make ends meet, but the unexpected medical bills he incurred for his daughter’s surgery sent his family into a financial tailspin. He reached out to Blue Ridge Legal Aid, who provided him with pro bono legal services to contest the eviction. Working with attorneys John Smith and Jane Doe, he was able to negotiate a favorable settlement with his landlord, allowing him to stay in his home and catch up on his past due rent through a manageable payment plan.
Jane Roe, a senior citizen, was facing foreclosure on her home after failing to pay her property taxes. She had fallen behind on payments after her husband passed away, and the stress of the situation was taking a toll on her health. After learning about Blue Ridge Legal Aid through a local community center, she reached out for help. With the assistance of pro bono attorney Mike Johnson, the organization was able to negotiate with the county on her behalf and successfully put a stop to the foreclosure proceedings . Now, Jane can continue living in her home and not worry about losing it, while also addressing her underlying health concerns.
Sarah Smith, a victim of domestic abuse, reached out to Blue Ridge Legal Aid to obtain a protective order against her abuser. With small children in tow and no money, Sarah was at the end of her rope when she walked into one of the organization’s offices and met with attorney Sue Lee. With her help, Sarah began the process to file for a PO against her estranged husband. Prosecutor Mike Jones joined Sue in representing Sarah at the preliminary hearing and obtaining the order of protection. Additionally, they were able to successfully assist Sarah in obtaining sole custody of her children, allowing her to finalize the divorce from her husband and move forward without fear.
Through these cases, the tireless work of Blue Ridge Legal Aid attorneys is evident. Whether it’s assisting with evictions, foreclosures, or domestic violence matters, they have proven to be an invaluable resource for the low-income individuals and families struggling to access quality legal services.
Barriers Facing Legal Aid Groups
Legal aid organizations, including Blue Ridge Legal Aid, often face a multitude of challenges in the pursuit of justice. One of the primary issues is funding. As government support declines, these organizations must rely on donations and grants. This funding is often subject to cuts, forcing legal aid to do more with less. These financial constraints in turn impact the human resources available for legal assistance. Nonprofits struggle to find qualified, affordable talent to serve their clients as funding has dropped by 24 percent since 1996.
Resources are also strained by the high demand for services. Unable to hire more staff to help meet the rising demand for services, legal aid organizations can only reach a fraction of the people that need assistance. The legal aid director in Washington DC stated that they only had capacity to provide litigation services for about 7 percent of the people in need.
The issue of accessibility is another common problem. Many low-income people have difficulty seeking legal assistance. Confusing procedures and a lack of explanation often discourage clients from following through with the process. There are several ways legal aid organizations can use technology to ease some of these pains, such as an interactive voice response system, live chat text systems and online resources.
Supporting Blue Ridge Legal Aid
There are a multitude of ways that one could support Blue Ridge Legal Aid, but the number one way is to donate. Donations help Blue Ridge Legal Aid provide legal aid for those in need of assistance. All donations – however large or small – are welcome. Additionally, Blue Ridge Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and thus all donations go towards a good cause.
Blue Ridge Legal Aid also offers opportunities to volunteer with the legal aid . Since 2007, BRLA has placed law students and recent graduates with private law firms, government agencies, companies, and non-profit organizations for work experience and educational opportunities.
On top of donations and volunteering, Blue Ridge Legal Aid has plenty of ways for businesses – large and small – to partner with them. The organization has local non-profit partners, too, that provide legal services to low-income residents in their communities.