Legal Aid Society of Orange County
| File:Legal Aid Society of Orange County logo.jpg | |
| Founded | November 6, 1958 |
|---|---|
| Type | Legal Services |
| Location | |
Area served | Low-Income and Elderly |
| Product | Legal Services |
Key people | Robert J. Cohen Iris Ma |
| Endowment | $8 million |
Employees | 100 |
Volunteers | 45 |
| Website | www |
Legal Aid Society of Orange County of Orange County, California, United States, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to providing legal services to the poor and indigent in Orange County and Southeast Los Angeles. The mission of Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Community Legal Services in southeast Los Angeles County is to provide civil legal services to low-income individuals and to promote equal access to the justice system through advocacy, legal counseling, innovative self-help services, in-depth legal representation, economic development and community education.[1]
History[edit]
The Legal Aid Society of Orange County was founded in 1958 by a group of local attorneys in Orange County.[2] It is primarily funded by federal grants from the Legal Services Corporation.[3] With its main office located in Santa Ana, California, the Legal Aid Society of Orange County also has smaller offices in Anaheim, California, Compton, California, and Norwalk, California.[4]
In the 1980s and 1990s, there were between 5,000 and 6,000 homeless in Orange County, California and the Legal Aid Society was involved with a case defending them from being ""either arrested or "moved along" and their belongings were confiscated and destroyed" in both Santa Ana and Orange County. In 1990, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Legal Aid Society won a lawsuit against the city of Santa Ana and 17 of the people affected by the "sweeps" were awarded $50,000 each and, although the homeless would still be subject to sweeping, their belongings would be stored as lost-and-found items rather than destroyed.[5] Six months later, when the city kept its promise, the Legal Aid Society and the Orange County Bar Association sought a jury trial for every individual homeless person and later secured another agreement from the city.[6]
Services[edit]
The Legal Aid Society of Orange County has three tiers of services that it provides eligible clients. The first tier is evaluation, advice, and counsel.[7] This initial level of service is primarily provided through the intake center and Hotline.[8] The second tier of services are clinics and workshops, on topics such as eviction defense and other common problems affecting the poor.[9] The third and final level of service is direct representation, where Legal Aid Society of Orange County attorneys represent the indigent in court or other appropriate forums.[10]
The areas of law that Legal Aid Society of Orange County practices is diverse and is a reflection of the many legal needs of the poor. If eligible for services, the Legal Aid Society of Orange County assists in Family Law, Protection from Abuse, Consumer, Housing, Health, Taxes, Public Benefits, and some Employment issues.[11] The Legal Aid Society of Orange County does not handle criminal matters, and only refers these issues to the County Public Defender. Similarly, because it receives federal funds, the Legal Aid Society of Orange County generally does not handle immigration issues, except in limited cases of domestic violence.
Eligibility[edit]
Generally, the Legal Aid Society of Orange County's clients must be income-eligible, meaning they must fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty threshold.[1][12] Some programs, such as the Senior Citizens Legal Advocacy Program, assists residents over the age of 60 regardless of income.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Logan, Dan (June 1989). "The Growing Power of Attorneys in Orange County". 15 (6). Orange Coast Magazine: 200. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ Milestones. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ 2013 LSC Office of Program Performance Report. Accessed February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Locations. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Morell, John (July 1991). "...And Justice For All". 17 (7). Orange Coast Magazine: 109. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ Mitchell, Don (2012). Right to the City: Social Justice and the Fight for Public Space. Guilford Press. p. 204. ISBN 1462509002. Retrieved July 3, 2015. Search this book on
- ↑ Services. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Services. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Services. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Services. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Legal Help. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
- ↑ Who We Help. Accessed on February 9, 2015.
External links[edit]
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