Legal Aid in Pembroke: An Introduction
Legal aid service is a significant resource for those living in low-income situations that may need an attorney’s assistance. The legal situation may involve anything from a landlord-tenant dispute to a plan for child custody. In the Pembroke area, the resources for legal aid include the Centralized Intake Unit and the North Carolina Legal Aid Offices. The Centralized Intake Unit provides North Carolina citizens with information on available legal assistance and referrals to agencies that can help. Calls are answered Monday through Friday between 7 AM and 7 PM, although applicants can file online after hours . The Centralized Intake Unit may be able to provide legal aid assistance for situations that include: The North Carolina Legal Aid Offices have information on refugee and migrant worker assistance and domestic violence assistance. Each office is staffed by attorneys, paralegals, and outreach coordinators who focus on legal aid for the general public, as well as those with special needs. For example, immigration services are offered through 12 statewide offices, while rural free legal clinics and military legal assistance are provided through other offices.
The Advantages of Legal Aid
Legal aid services provide a myriad of benefits to residents, especially for low-income individuals and families. Legal aid organizations often provide services free of charge or at reduced fees, which is especially beneficial for those who cannot afford legal representation. This is one of the first advantages of legal aid services. By providing affordable access to legal counsel, legal aid organizations level the playing field and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have their day in court, regardless of their financial situation.
In addition to being cost-effective, legal aid services help improve access to justice in Pembroke. Without legal aid, many individuals and families would struggle to navigate the complex legal system on their own. Legal aid practitioners dedicate their time and resources to assist those in need, ensuring that vulnerable populations have a voice.
Legal aid services also promote a fair and just society. They help uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is not only available to those who can afford it, but to everyone. Legal aid organizations take on cases for low-income individuals and advocate on their behalf, helping them receive the legal representation they deserve.
Who is Eligible for Legal Aid?
Eligibility for legal aid in Pembroke, NC is determined by the type and extent of the legal issues at hand and the household income of the individual seeking services. The American Bar Association has put forth criteria for civil legal aid eligibility to help define the situations that need to be covered by provisions for legal aid. Legal aid is provided to those eligible based on the following:
Income eligibility
Single
Less than $12,000 a year
$12,000-$20,000 a year
Over $20,000 a year
For two-person household
$12,000-$20,000 a year
$20,000-$32,000 a year
Over $32,000 a year
Minor children in household
No minor children
1-3 minor children
4 or more minor children
Sources of income
None
Wages/salary
Public assistance
Social security
Other governmental agencies
Retirement/Pension
Other
Sources of assistance
None
Family/friends
Church/community
Housing
Homeowner
Live with someone else
Rent apartment
Rent house/duplex
Live in public or section 8 housing
Live in institutional housing
Other
Type of legal problem
Family law
Breach of contract
Bankruptcy
Domain
Individual bankruptcy
Tax
Social security
Public assistance
Wage earner compensation
Job-related disability
Unemployment compensation
Other
Tax
Child custody
Legal separation
Divorce
Adoption
Paternity
Child neglect/abuse
Terminate parental rights
Guardianship
Child support
Spousal support
Visitation rights
Kinship rights
Change name (person)
Change name (business)
Private child placement
Custody decree
Custody suit
Custody suit (military)
Breach of contract
Contract suit
Real estate purchase agreement
Employment contract
Franchise agreement
Shareholder agreement
Injunctions to compel contract adherence
Not suitable to be covered by legal aid
Only one lawyer needed
Incompetent lawyers
Undeserving clients
Lawyer talking to clients too long
Average case takes too long
Southerners like to shoot lawyers who sue for "too much"
Rhode Isanders like to sue for "too little"
Southerners usually want theft cases.
Rhode Isanders often claim theft injuries
Users wrong, offensive
Sexual abuse too unpleasant
Imprisonment cases wrongly fought
Poor
Crisis
Habitual
Potential
Undeserving
Solvent
Low income (less than $25K)
Middle income(less than $50K)
Upper income (greater than $50K)
Types of Legal Aid Cases
Legal aid organizations in Pembroke, NC, typically handle a variety of cases across several different legal practice areas. This may include family law, real estate, housing, contracts, consumer rights, and some employer-employee matters. A large portion of their practice involves cases that deal with family law.
Family law covers a range of issues, from guardianship to alimony, and common cases that legal aid will take on include such issues as the following:
Legal aid services may also assist with divorce matters. The attorneys from these programs can help you navigate your divorce forms so that you can represent yourself in this type of case without the expense of hiring an attorney. It’s helpful to contact the legal aid program closest to you so that you can determine whether you qualify for reduced-cost legal services.
Real estate and housing-related disputes are another area where free legal services are in high demand. An attorney from the legal aid organization may be able to help you with such issues as eviction defense, home foreclosures, housing discrimination, unlawful landlord eviction, tenant holdover, or entry and detainer.
Consumer and employer-employee issues that may be appropriate for legal aid representation include consumer fraud, loss of benefits, and unemployment benefits. You can determine whether you qualify for free legal assistance for these types of cases by contacting the legal aid organization nearest you.
How to Get Legal Aid
In Pembroke, NC, the process of applying for legal aid is initiated by visiting the North Carolina Legal Aid society in person. Located at 216 S. Vance St., Pembroke, NC 28372, all of your legal aid needs can be met just steps from your home. The phone number is (910) 775-6005. Since most support services in Pembroke are provided by telephone, it is a good idea you bring a friend with you that can be trusted to give and receive sensitive information such as your personal background including the names of individuals with which you have previously dealt with.
The only thing required by the applicant for legal aid assistance is proof of income. You must show up in person to apply and all forms, forms of ID , and proof of income must be available at that particular moment. Having these documents ready ahead of time will help expedite the process and save a considerable amount of time. It is important to note that all applicants must be at or below 125% of the federal poverty income level, so if for example, you are 126% or higher it is recommended that you seek assistance from legal aid organizations instead of legal aid services.
Legal Aid may be available if you qualify based on income guidelines. For example, a person with an annual salary of $18,350 might be eligible; however, an annual income of $36,250 or more would not qualify. The legal aid guidelines for the state of North Carolina are updated each calendar year. On the other hand, the federal poverty income level guidelines are updated every year, as well, and generally published by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Legal Aid Resources in Pembroke
In Pembroke, the primary organizations providing free legal aid to low-income residents are Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) and the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center. LANC operates the Lumbee River Service Area Office in Pembroke. In 2017, the Lumbee River Office helped 1,317 people with free legal services in Robeson County, which encompasses Pembroke. In fiscal year 2017-2018, LANC expects to assist over 5,600 individuals through 26 attorneys, paralegals, case managers, advocates, and volunteer attorneys in the Pembroke office and its three other regional offices. Common forms of assistance for Pembroke residents include family law and domestic violence assistance, consumer and foreclosure assistance, Medicaid appeals, veteran legal services, farmworker legal services, access to justice advocacy, and the Military Pro Bono Project. Volunteer lawyers are often the backbone of LANC’s fight for justice. Twenty percent of PBRC clients receive legal help from pro bono lawyers and sixty-six percent of its pro bono clients earned less than the federal income poverty guideline of $15,180. PBRC reports that in fiscal year 2017-2018, volunteer attorneys donated 35,000 hours of service valued at more than $4.5 million. The Military Pro Bono Project (MPBP) helps military personnel obtain pro bono legal services via a nationwide network of volunteer attorneys. MPBP serves active duty military, reservists, trainees, and their families who live outside their permanent duty station. Any pro bono work MPBP volunteers undertake is done in their individual capacities, not on behalf of the military. Since its inception in 2008, MPBP has matched over 8,600 service members with pro bono attorneys on more than 10,600 cases.
Challenges for Legal Aid Services
Despite their critical role, legal aid and free legal services face a number of challenges. The most pressing of which is funding. In many areas of the country, insufficient funding leads to high case loads and unable to assist target populations. It also leads to cutbacks in open hours and centers. Compounding the problem is the increasing demand for their services. Federal and state financing have failed to keep pace with the growing need for pro bono services. Administrative constraints often hinder the efficient deployment of pro bono resources and there are difficulties in recruiting and retaining volunteers. The last of which is a problem that likely has an identifiable solution. The first two issues are less likely to be resolved in the immediate future as budget constraints are more likely to be the order of the day in the coming years.
Recent Impact of Legal Aid Services
Feedback from the clients is a powerful tool that legal aid groups use to keep their programs going. Here are some examples of helpful comments:
"I never had nowhere to turn when I was hurt on the job. Now I have someone I can really depend on."
"Thank you for believing in me and extending the opportunities to be successful . "
"You helped me get back on my feet after being railroaded by a business I trusted."
"My lawyer treated me like family. He listened to my story and really cared about me."
"I had lost all hope. I had given up. Without legal aid, my child would have been taken out of the state and I would never have seen him again."