What is Legal Aid?
Legal aid is a service that aims to provide assistance to those who cannot afford the fees for legal representation. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, legal aid is offered for a wide range of legal issues, including family law, housing, legal malpractices, and even some employment legal matters. Legal aid organizations also provide legal assistance in cases where the individual may qualify for public defender services, which are handled by the Louisiana State Public Defender Board. Depending on the type of legal aid services you require, you can apply with one of several organizations in Calcasieu Parish.
In recent years, the Legal Services Corporation has published several statistics that indicate the need for civil legal assistance among low-income populations. In Calcasieu Parish, legal aid is provided through academic institutions, individual volunteering attorneys, or organizations like the Louisiana Bar Foundation, West-Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, and/or the Southwest Louisiana Law Center.
According to statistics released by the Legal Services Corporation:
- As of 2013, the most recent data available, 20 . 4% of the U.S. population qualified for low-income legal services, which translates into approximately 63,500,000 people.
- 70% of all Americans will face legal issues that require the counsel of an attorney at least once in their lifetime.
- 84% of those who contact a legal aid office for help will have legitimate legal concerns.
- Of the 63.5 million people eligible for legal aid lawyers, only 20% will receive those services.
- 86% of legal aid-seekers will not be able to make a significant change in their quality of life without receiving the assistance of an attorney.
- According to the National Association of IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) Programs, $354 million in funds was provided for civil legal services nationwide in 2010.
If you believe you qualify for legal aid representation, you can fill out an application form through any of the organizations that provide legal assistance. Many organizations will review applications over the phone, while others will accept walk-in applications, such as the Southwest Louisiana Law Center.
Who Qualifies for Legal Aid in Lake Charles?
If you reside in Lake Charles, you may qualify for legal aid services. For most legal aid programs, the criteria for eligibility go beyond just demonstrating that you cannot afford an attorney. For the most part, legal aid providers take into consideration your financial situation—such as the size of your family, available assets, and income. Non-financial issues, such as case type and location, are also taken into consideration.
Generally, while there will always be exceptions at the discretion of your provider, legal aid services are provided on a priority basis. Priority is often based on the following factors: As a client of a legal aid program, you will be expected to participate in the work needed to resolve your case. The legal aid attorney will accept some cases without requiring any participation from the clients, however, most cases will require clients to assist attorneys with the preparation of forms and background research. Lake Charles residents may qualify for assistance in the following areas: bankruptcy, family law, general civil matters, housing, litigation representation, and guardianship. Legal aid programs in the Lake Charles area may also provide services for cases involving custodial visitation and abuse and neglect. When local programs are unable to provide assistance, the referral will be made to a national or statewide network of legal aid providers.
Types of Legal Aid Services Offered
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, legal aid services cover a broad range of issues, from family law to unemployment benefits to even legal issues revolving around the recent natural disasters that have impacted Western Louisiana. Through legal aid in the area, families and individuals can seek assistance with their pressing legal matters. One of the most frequently-addressed areas of legal assistance is family law. Family law encompasses several different types of legal situations, including child custody issues, divorce, adoption, termination of parental rights, and even name changes. For instance, there are plenty of people who may want to change the spelling of their name or choose to change their name entirely for personal reasons. These issues, along with others surrounding the changing nature of families today, can be assisted through legal aid services in the area. Of course, family law is not the only way that legal aid in the area can help people. There are tons of other types of legal issues that can be addressed, including housing issues (both landlord and tenant issues), unemployment benefit appeals, Medicaid denials, wills, and more. Legal aid offices in the Lake Charles area try to do their best to help citizens find resolution to their legal problems and achieve better quality of life through effective legal representation.
Major Providers of Legal Aid in Lake Charles
In the Lake Charles region, several organizations and firms provide legal aid to those in need of legal assistance. Here are some of the key providers in the area:
The Louisiana Bar Foundation, based in Baton Rouge, offers a pro bono project in the Lake Charles area. The Division of Children and Family Services and the Calcasieu Parish Public Defender’s Office are two organizations partnered with the Louisiana Bar Foundation to deliver this free legal service.
Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana provides numerous community-based resources that range from advocacy for the vulnerable to mental health resources, refugee services and even hurricane relief. Catholic Charities also provides aid through the Louisiana Bar Foundation in the forms of pro bono services.
Pro Bono Calcasieu is a community-based organization providing free legal services in 12 parishes of South Louisiana. The organization has offices in New Iberia and Lafayette but serves Calcasieu Parish as well.
The Calcasieu Parish Public Defender’s Office is run by the Louisiana Office of Indigent Defense. The Office of Indigent Defense contracts local public defender offices to provide legal representation to indigent defendants in criminal cases.
Applying for Legal Aid in Lake Charles
To apply for legal aid in Lake Charles, you must follow a specific process to determine eligibility for the available services. Each region has its own guidelines, but generally, you first need to contact the legal aid office that serves your area. In Lake Charles, this means calling the Southwest Louisiana Law Center.
Their staff members are trained to assess whether you qualify for assistance provided by the agency. In most cases, legal aid will provide support to individuals who cannot afford an attorney along with other low-income citizens who require help with civil legal issues. Most importantly, legal aid generally cannot offer support to persons who are concurrent recipients of Medicare, Medicaid, or other similar forms of low-income support.
Those interested in qualifying for legal aid can reach the Southwest Louisiana Law Center at 337-433-8256. Spanish-speaking individuals can also receive assistance over the phone with the 800-749-6160 number. You do not need an appointment to call for an initial screening. Instead, an intake process occurs over the phone.
When you call, you need to be prepared to provide background information about yourself, your household, and your current legal issue. If you’re concerned that this is too much information to provide over the phone, you will have an opportunity to request that the information be collected via a face-to-face interaction at a later date.
It’s important to note that during the intake process, the agency will gather information about any current or recent case numbers related to your legal issues . You must be sure to provide the staff member with complete and accurate case numbers if it turns out that you have had legal proceedings concerning your legal issue in the past or if such proceedings are ongoing.
At any point in the process, including during the initial screening process, you can ask for a lawyer. Be aware that even if you make this request, you may not qualify for the level of help for which you apply. If this is the case, you will not incur any costs or fees or be required to pay the law center for their services.
Because the Southwest Louisiana Law Center serves 13 different parishes, you may be placed on a waiting list while staff members contact Attorneys and Judges within the region to assess their availability to work on the case. Therefore, if you require immediate assistance, including representation at an upcoming court date, you may not want to seek legal aid.
Cases in which clients have a net income equal to or less than 125 percent above the federal poverty level may qualify for legal assistance through the regional center. However, the legal aid agency does not provide support for customers who have certain assets and income such as:
There are exceptions to some of these asset rules, so providing complete information about your current financial situation remains essential throughout the intake and screening process.
Legal aid services often require a specific level of income and asset restrictions per the applied guidelines. If your income level falls above the restrictions or if you have sufficient assets, it’s necessary to explore other options for legal representation and assistance.
The Ins and Outs of Legal Aid: Challenges and Opportunities
Given the increasing demand for legal services, launching a successful legal aid program in Lake Charles may require additional community partnerships. While current providers are working hard to meet the need, the ever-growing gap between available lawyer time and legal aid’s client demands keeps widening. One study suggests, "Legal aid programs serve 20% of their eligible clients during a given year." That number is further strained by fluctuations in state and federal funding for legal services, particularly in times of government cutbacks. Angus Love, former executive director of Louisiana’s Equal Justice Center, argued that Louisiana’s budget shortfalls have led to cuts in several anti-poverty programs, including legal aid. Undercuts in legal aid particularly hurt low-income people and minorities, as they are the largest groups who rely on these services. Future improvements in Louisiana’s civil legal aid system will depend on adequate funding, collaborative efforts from public and private practice, and a concerted focus on equal access to justice.
In 2016, Calcasieu Parish received an overall grade of "F" in the American Civil Liberties Union’s statewide assessment of Louisiana’s civil legal aid system. Calcasieu Parish’s grade significantly contributed to the "F" average grade we saw in the Central Region. In particular, the number of lawyers accepting new civil legal aid cases, and the total number of pro bono volunteers dropped significantly over this two-year period. The entry barriers to pro bono work in the region last year remained the same as the previous year: lack of aware 24% and scheduling conflicts. Importantly, the network of pro bono attorneys has a good attitude towards future services, with nearly 84% being willing and able to take on pro bono cases in the next year. This is a positive long-term indicator for the region, as local legal aid organizations continue to expand their services while leveraging the region’s most effective asset—the willingness of local attorneys to provide legal assistance to those in need. A significant boost for the Lake Charles area came when the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution encouraging states to repeal statutes of limitations for lawsuits seeking compensation for any offense that is racially discriminatory. The resolution is a direct result of the group’s acknowledgement of the connection between the state’s racist laws and its "economic and social disparities" after Hurricanes Laura and Delta. By eliminating the statutes of limitations, victims will have the confidence to seek compensation for racist offenses. The hope among advocates is for comprehensive reparations to be offered for Black residents who suffered through the rise and fall of the state’s racially-based laws. The need for legal aid in Lake Charles is obvious. But, the last two years have shown that perhaps the question should not be "how do we expand legal aid in Lake Charles, Louisiana?" but rather, "how do we fix legal aid so that it can keep pace with the needs of the community it intends to serve?"
Legal Aid Success Stories and Case Studies
Brenda, a single mother of two, found herself in a difficult situation. After her partner abandoned her and the children, she realized she needed legal assistance with child custody and support. She heard about the local collaborative legal aid program through a community center brochure and welcomed the help. Legal volunteers helped her apply for child support as well as a custody agreement. The program’s resources allowed her to gain sole custody of her children and to receive financial support from her former partner.
Michael, an elderly Vietnam War veteran, was facing potential eviction from his apartment complex due to unpaid rent. As someone who was permanently disabled and on a fixed income , he sought help from a legal aid organization in Lake Charles that offered free services to veterans. They were able to negotiate a settlement with his landlord, allowing him to pay the rent over time.
Sophia arrived in Lake Charles after fleeing an abusive relationship back in her hometown. She needed legal assistance to obtain a restraining order against her former abuser as well as to expunge her criminal record of previous drug-related charges. The local Women’s Shelter referred her to a legal aid clinic, and they successfully helped her navigate the court process to secure the order and clear her record.