Introducing the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley
The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley has been serving low-income clients in Virginia’s Roanoke and surrounding areas since 1967, providing access to competent legal representation for people who cannot afford it. Legal Aid Society staff lawyers handle a variety of legal matters on behalf of their clients, who include the elderly, the homeless, disabled persons, and children. Under the leadership of the society’s executive director, Joan L. Page, executive director and general counsel, the society continues to make a difference in the lives of those it serves.
Over the past 50 years, the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley has developed an exemplary track record, with awards of over $3 million in combined federal, state, and local funding. The society also receives grants from private sector organizations and donations from generous individuals and businesses. Associated with the United Way of Roanoke Valley, the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley is a member of the Virginia Legal Aid Network and collaborates with the Virginia State Bar, Virginia bar associations , and law schools. tnalkinds of support are critical to the society’s continuing work in the community.
The society’s Area Plan of Action defines the vast scope of legal assistance that the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valle provides. These services include help with domestic violence, landlord-tenant issues, government benefits, consumer protection, family law, health care, immigration, housing, and education rights. The society seeks to provide good quality legal advice and representation, as well as technical assistance, to the low-income residents of the City of Roanoke, counties of Roanoke and Craig, as well as a small part of the city of Salem and some western sections of Botetourt County.
While there are no fee limits for legal representation, the society, under the guidance of the Virginia Supreme Court, must adhere to the income eligibility guidelines established for the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley. In addition, clients must demonstrate that they have a viable cause of action or defense, and the issue in question must be one that the society is equipped to handle. Except in certain criminal cases, no fee-generating cases are allowed.
Types of Legal Services Offered
Before individuals experiencing poverty can begin to address other problems in their lives, they need a stable home. Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley helps clients with housing issues, ranging from immediate landlord-tenant disputes, to long-term foreclosure prevention and mortgage modification strategies. In FY 2014 & 2015, lawyers helped 643 clients with their housing problems.
Family law is the primary area of legal representation for Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley attorneys. For 2014 and 2015, 886 clients received legal assistance with family law issues. They receive legal advice and representation with divorce, unlawful detention, custody, visitation, spousal support, and child support matters. When possible, lawyers use mediation instead of litigation to help families resolve these serious family law issues.
The second most common cases handled by Legal Aid Society attorneys are consumer issues, with 162 individuals receiving legal representation and advice in 2014 and 2015. Consumer law issues include bankruptcy, restructure or negotiation debt, automobile issues such as repossession, wage garnishment, eviction, landlord-tenant issues, housing issues, estate planning and probate. We have expanded our services to include law student interns and private volunteer attorneys to handle more of our growing consumer law cases.
Other civil legal issues lawyers handled included unemployment benefits, involuntary commitment, property issues, wills, powers of attorney, and guardianships.
These legal services reach low-income, rural communities in Salem, Covington, Roanoke County, Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Craig County, and the City of Lexington in Virginia.
Eligibility Requirements and Application Procedures
To receive assistance from the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, an individual must meet specific eligibility criteria. The organization primarily serves low-income residents of the Roanoke, Virginia area. Eligibility is determined based on a financial assessment, which looks at household income levels and the number of dependents in the household. The Society also considers whether the individual’s legal issue falls under its guidelines for assistance. This includes family law cases, tenant/landlord disputes, estate administration, and consumer issues among others.
The first step in the application process to determine eligibility is for the potential client to visit the Legal Aid Society website to fill out an online intake form. Alternatively, clients can contact the Society by phone to initiate an intake interview. During this interview, a client will be asked questions regarding their income, expenses, available financial resources, and a summary of their legal issue. The Society uses this information to determine if an individual or family qualifies for assistance. If there are questions regarding the applicant’s eligibility requirements, a qualified caseworker, such as a paralegal or attorney, can help resolve issues with an individual client.
If an applicant is determined to be eligible, the Society will refer the client to an attorney who specializes in the type of law required. Clients are not able to choose their own counsel for the legal representation offered through the Society. However, referrals are made after an attorney has an opportunity to speak with and assess the client’s needs and establish an initial attorney-client relationship. Once a case is accepted by an attorney, a retainer agreement is signed and the legal representation can begin.
Community Impact of the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley
Every day, the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley provides valuable legal services to individuals and families who would otherwise be denied access to the justice system. Low-income residents of Roanoke Valley understand the impact of the Legal Aid Society in their community. Some of these residents are prior clients with personal success stories to share. Others are low-income individuals who have never used the services, but know people who have.
Many of their client testimonials speak to their one-on-one experiences with a specific attorney. A 61 year-old client of the Roanoke office, for example, says that Director of Litigation Holly Davis gave him "the mental stability to go on with life." This client is a cancer survivor living on a fixed income who said he originally sought help for bankruptcy.
The impact of Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley extends beyond clients like this , however. The organization also plays a role in general tax and business preparations for lower-income residents and sometimes advocates on behalf of entire communities by taking on large cases. The Legal Aid Society maintains a staff of attorneys and paralegals who, thanks to the organization’s funding, work pro bono to provide legal services and related advocacy services.
Some of the Legal Aid Society’s most recent successes include: The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley has received several honors in recognition of this good work. The Roanoke Bar recognizes the organization through its annual Pro Bono Awards, where it has won several times. Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Justice Program also won an Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.
Supporting The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley
The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley offers numerous opportunities for individuals and organizations to support its mission beyond simply being a client or a matter pro bono attorney. The Legal Aid Society is actively seeking volunteer attorneys, paralegals, financial donors, and non-legal volunteers who can assist in a variety of ways.
Volunteer attorneys offer their legal services on a pro bono basis. Pro bono volunteers play an integral role in carrying out the mission of the society by devoting their time to providing high-quality legal services to low-income people. While the primary responsibilities of volunteer attorneys include meeting with potential clients, assisting with intake, conducting interviews, drafting pleadings, performing research, and appearing in court on behalf of clients, the opportunities are diverse and can encompass almost any type of legal or paralegal work. Volunteer attorneys tend to be seasoned professionals, but newly admitted attorneys or law students are also welcomed to participate.
Volunteers are needed in other capacities as well. Non-attorney volunteers can help with administrative tasks, translation, mentoring, and fundraising. Financial donations are welcomed and can be made in a number of ways. Monetary donations can be made via check or credit card. Annual fund drives, as well as special event fundraising, are also possible ways to contribute. Monetary giving can have a profound affect on the society’s services. In fact, every dollar that gets donated to the Legal Aid Society in turn generates $7 in services that go back to the clients and the community.
Future Objectives and Challenges
Challenges and Future Goals
Looking ahead, the goal of the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley is to increase its collaborative partnerships with other local non-profits in order to increase the number of eligible clients served and the number of cases accepted. Currently, according to the society’s website, it takes on only about a quarter of the 12,000 legal matters presented to it each year. Also, while Roanoke city has a population of about 97,000, only about 8,000 people are served each year.
To help expand its reach, the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley staff has adopted a theory of change called Collective Impact, a "cross-sector collaborative model for social change." This approach is based on several studies that show that when approaching social problems, it is much more effective to collaborate than to work individually with limited resources .
In addition to seeking to serve the 12,000 legal matters it receives, the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley plans to expand beyond the current focus on family law cases (68 percent of all its cases). Under the Collective Impact model, the goal of a "shared agenda" among organizations is to provide "stability and resources" for the community in a more holistic way.
One way in which it hopes to expand its services is through video conferencing technology. The society hopes to make these services available in churches or other community locations, which would allow it to reach a wider, more rural audience.
"Through the technology, we’re hoping to reach more clients," Carroll said. "The best way to help people is to offer assistance where they live or spend their time."