What is Legal Aid?

Legal aid refers to the provision of legal services to those who are unable to afford them due to a variety of reasons, most notably poverty. Legal aid services seek to ensure that every American has full and fair access to the judicial system and the opportunities that come with it. Historically, legal aid services have been a very important part of the American legal system and the legal system in general; without being able to afford legal representation , many people would lack a chance to improve their lives, avoid injury or danger, or otherwise gain the outcomes that they deserve.
In the modern era, legal aid has become particularly important. In many areas of the country, legal aid services are struggling to keep up with the need for public legal assistance, making them critically important to access for those who need such services.

Legal Aid Services in Rochester, MN

Legal aid is available in Rochester, Minnesota through a variety of different not-for-profit organizations.
The most significant of these is the Legal Assistance of Olmsted County (LAOC), which serves individuals and families in Southeastern Minnesota. It was established in 1967 to help low-income and vulnerable people meet critical legal needs, helping maximize client safety and security and obtain equal access to basic human needs.
LAOC is a member of the statewide Legal Aid of Minnesota network that encompasses more than 10,000 active volunteers and over 500 staff members. It administers 6 core legal services, including public benefits, housing preservation, family law, senior citizens, community development and protection from abuse.
The organization also offers a range of supplemental services, including veterans legal advice, tax assistance, self-advocacy education, family law moderation, bankruptcy, civil commitment and appeals.
Another organization in Rochester with a mission to aid individuals and families in need is the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistant Taskforce (SEMAAT). SEMAAT is a community-based organization dedicated to providing social, economic, and educational services to the local Southeast Asian and other under-served populations.
The organization advocates for the rights and services for victims of domestic violence, ensuring that they receive appropriate resources and information through a network of local and governmental agencies. It also assists clients with completing various forms, coordinating legal appointments, and making referrals to social service organizations and shelters.
The Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) will be moving to Rochester, MN on September 22, 2014 to better serve its current and potential clients from the greater Rochester area. It offers a number of services through its three primary offices, as well as at satellite offices in Winona and Minnesota City.
SMRLS strives to reduce poverty and empower low-income people to achieve healthy, stable and secure lives. The organization provides legal services, coordinates professional volunteer attorneys and offers community education opportunities to enhance the quality of client lives and allow individuals to have a say in those issues most affecting them.
St. Francis Service Corporation believes that everyone has the right to good legal representation. As such, it aims to remove the barriers of cost associated with legal representation by providing negotiated cost and pro bono representation to low income residents in Southeastern Minnesota.
The organization’s case acceptance criteria – which is used to evaluate each request for representation – considers client income, type of case, extent of medical and economic damages sought, and extent to which the client may have contributed to their injuries.
The Minnesota Disability Law Center is a program of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid that provides statewide advocacy to promote and protect the legal rights of individuals with disabilities through individual representation, systemic reform, training and education.
Finally, the Neighborhood Service Center in Rochester, MN located at 701 4th Ave. NE STE 104 provides legal representation to low-income tenants, families in need of estate planning assistance and persons seeking government benefits (SSI, SSDI, subsidized housing, and food stamps).
Together, these and other not-for-profit law organizations in Rochester, MN provide a range of legal aid for low-income individuals and families.

Who Can Get Legal Aid?

Legal aid is not available to everyone, and there are times when you must seek out private legal counsel. That being said, for a large number of people, services through a legal aid clinic or organization may be able to help with your case.
Below are some basic guidelines and information about who is and who is not eligible for legal aid services in Rochester, MN.
Income:
— Gross income requirements: In some cases — such as services provided by the Volunteer Lawyers Network — your income must fall within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. While this can change from year to year, for a household of one, that number is set at $17,655 for 2015. If you need assistance in obtaining these services, an attorney volunteer at VLN can help you navigate the eligibility process.
— Income and net worth requirements: It’s worth noting that some forms of legal aid differ from other types in that they require net worth, and income and net worth restrictions vary vendor to vendor. In many cases, these programs can look at the total resources of everyone in your household to determine whether your income is low enough to qualify for services. In addition, in some cases, a reduced hourly rate is offered rather than a free service, which means that your income and net worth will still be evaluated based on your eligibility.
— Must not have enough income to afford a private lawyer: This is one of the most basic eligibility requirements for legal aid services, and addresses one of the main reasons why legal aid programs exist. If you choose to go with a private attorney, you must be able to show that your income is insufficient to pay for legal advice or representation.

How to Get Legal Aid

How to Apply for Legal Aid in Rochester, MN
Applying for legal aid, when combined with other strategies, can be an important step for those needing a way to access the legal system without adequate means. You may be wondering if you qualify and if you do, how to apply. This overview will help answer those questions.
The Minnesota Legal Services Coordination, Inc. (MLSC) provides a list of legal services organizations as well as eligibility guidelines for each. If you’re over 60 and wish to apply for help in estate matters, you will call the Senior Law Project at (651) 222-4703. If you’re an income-eligible student looking for assistance with a housing or consumer issue, you’ll want to contact the Student Law Center at (388) 263-8350 for more information on their services. Some legal services are listed in detail below along with the eligibility requirements and contact information.
You’ll want to contact the organization first to determine if you do qualify based on the information they provide. Each organization does offer a preliminary application to determine if you qualify for aid. If you do, an attorney will be available to meet with you to discuss services. There is often a waiting period for legal aid, so it’s important to be patient and understand that these organizations are limited in the number of cases they can accept.
The timeline for the process should be very straightforward. As mentioned, once an organization receives your application, they will determine if you qualify, and if so, they will begin pairing you with an attorney. If you do not qualify, they will likely refer you to other resources that may be able to assist you.
The MLSC does include the eligibility requirements for those seeking legal representation for a number of civil law matters, so it’s best to apply to the program that offers your specific needs. Some of the services available to non-residents include housing and consumer-delivered assistance, special education advocacy, and juvenile delinquency representation for students.
If you find yourself in need of legal aid services in Rochester, MN, the following information will be helpful with the process.

Advantages of Legal Aid

Beyond the obvious financial benefit, access to legal aid allows disadvantaged individuals to feel a greater sense of degree of trust in their government, as they receive due process under the law without having to empty their wallet to do so. This access to an otherwise unaffordable service cannot only help to ease, but also to prevent, poverty and inequality in Rochester, MN and nationwide . Legal aid can also help to support the successful reintegration of those who are formerly incarcerated, as a lawful approach to these issues is often necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
Recent studies show that people are much more likely to believe they will get "a fair shake" in the court system when they are represented by a qualified attorney. Aiding your case with a legal aid services may have life-changing results and—and—greater return on investment than hiring a private lawyer would.

Challenges for Legal Aid Services

Despite the fact that so many people struggle to access legal aid services in Rochester, MN, many legal aid organizations still run into a number of common challenges. Here is a brief overview of a few of these challenges: Funding has been and continues to be a huge problem for such organizations. In order to provide sound legal aid solutions for all of their clients, legal aid organizations often rely on federal grants, as well as money from state and local governments, to keep their doors open. The economic crisis that started in 2008 has affected the way these funds are allotted, and legal aid organizations find themselves struggling to do more with less. A related issue caused by the above challenge is a lack of resources. When there isn’t enough funding to go around, the services provided to clients are significantly lessened. This means fewer staff members are able to do the work required, and funding for supplies—such as computers, transportation costs for clients and other necessary resources—are drastically reduced. Legal aid organizations need a certain number of resources in order to run efficiently, and when those resources run out, it becomes all but impossible to provide services that meet clients’ needs. The demand for legal services in Rochester, MN is simply too high, which often results in frustration on behalf of those looking for relief or guidance. There are a lot of people and families who require legal aid in order to escape serious predicaments, whether it involves family law, debt settlement, employment law or a personal injury claim. Unfortunately, what often occurs is that people aren’t able to get the help they need as soon as they think they do. There are organizations and groups that do what they can to alleviate this overburdened process, yet it’s still stressful, both for the client and for the legal aid professionals who can’t provide speedy services due to lack of staff members and resources. As such, it’s essential for legal aid organizations in Rochester, MN to strongly consider forming relationships with other organizations in the area to better meet the needs of clients. When legal aid organizations run low on funding, aren’t sure where to turn to get sufficient resources and experience a backlog of service requests, it’s time to expand the efforts to help a greater number of people. It’s important to seek referral sources, collaborate with other nonprofit organizations, and to keep the public informed of the group’s goals, requirements and any other areas of interest that could help clients become better informed of their legal rights.

Reviews and Success Stories

The transformative power of legal aid services in our community can be felt in the stories of those who have been fortunate enough to access them. We invite you to read about a few of these experiences below, and consider how you may also be able to benefit from Rochester’s legal aid resources.
Elizabeth’s Story: Elizabeth was a woman in her late 20s and she needed assistance with her divorce from her abusive spouse. After receiving expedited legal assistance through the legal aid clinic, she was able to avoid the expense of hiring an attorney and received expert, client-centered advice and representation.
Derek’s Story: Derek was a young man who desperately needed a divorce to dissolve his marriage so he could move forward in his life. He went to the legal aid clinic for help . With some guidance from the clinic, he was able to successfully represent himself and defeat his spouse’s request to reinstate the marriage!
Lisa’s Story: Lisa was a woman in her 30s who was facing foreclosure on her home of more than 15 years. She needed legal help, but didn’t know if she qualified for legal aid assistance. She met with a legal aid attorney at the clinic and, to her surprise she learned that she indeed qualified for assistance and received expert legal advice on her foreclosure.
Angela’s Story: Angela was a young mother living in public housing who was facing eviction because she was unable to pay her rent. After turning to the legal aid clinic for help, an attorney agreed to represent her in her eviction case. With the attorney’s help, Angela avoided eviction and stayed on her feet.