What You Need To Know About Somerset County Legal Aid
Legal aid is a collaborative array of social and legal services designed to bridge the gap between citizens in need of legal protection and the effective administration of justice. These services are particularly important given the rising costs of legal representation, especially for low and middle-income clients in Central Jersey.
Somerset County has an impressive network of legal aid services that help its residents. These include the Somerset County Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) Somerset County Legal Services office, and the Legal Services of New Jersey Somerset County office. The Somerset County Bar Association offers the Senior Citizens Legal Hotline from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Tuesday through Thursday (excluding holidays). For those who cannot call, their legal concerns can be mailed to Somerset County Bar Association, 140 New Street, Suite 104, Somerville, NJ 08876 .
Legal Services of New Jersey Somerset County is open Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Walk-ins are welcome from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, but appointments are preferred. The Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) Somerset County office is available from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the second Tuesday of every month.
The types of cases eligible for representation generally include those dealing with civil matters. Many, if not most, legal aid services are specifically focused on distinct areas, such as criminal law, family law, or real estate law. To figure out which legal aid organizations are available to service the legal issue at hand, it is best to contact each of them and see if they can take your case. Usually, the pro bono attorney will only take one case per client at a time.
Somerset County Legal Aid Options
Somerset County Legal Aid is a broad term that encompasses a wide array of services aimed at ensuring that all citizens have access to the legal system, regardless of their financial means. In Somerset County, these services are provided by both government and non-profit agencies. The types of legal aid services available in Somerset County cover a spectrum of legal issues, and they can be grouped into several categories.
Civil legal aid services are among the most commonly sought in Somerset County. These services include assistance with housing issues, such as landlord-tenant disputes, eviction proceedings, and foreclosures. Legal aid lawyers can also provide representation in personal injury cases, employment discrimination claims, consumer fraud matters, and cases concerning guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults.
Criminal legal aid services in Somerset County are critical for those who cannot afford to hire a private criminal defense attorney. Legal aid attorneys work within the criminal justice system to provide representation at all levels, from misdemeanors to felonies. This includes defending individuals in court, negotiating plea deals, and providing advice to clients in the state’s criminal system.
Family law services offered through Somerset County Legal Aid include assistance with divorces and separations, child support and custody matters, and domestic violence issues. Legal aid attorneys work with clients to establish parenting plans, calculate child support obligations, and navigate the complexities of child custody.
Additional legal aid services in Somerset County include help with elder law matters, estate planning and wills, bankruptcy, and immigration issues. Somerset County Legal Aid services continue to expand as local legal aid organizations recognize the growing need for affordable legal services.
How to Secure Legal Aid In Somerset County
Applying for legal aid in Somerset County is similar to the process in other counties. Legal aid is available to low-income individuals, so everyone seeking legal assistance must meet certain qualifications that are determined by a legal aid attorney.
The first step personnel do when someone contacts them about obtaining legal aid is qualifying them to make sure they are eligible. This can be done in person or over the phone.
While very specific income guidelines are used to qualify for legal aid, if you don’t meet them, you may still be able to obtain an attorney through a pro bono referral or get additional information about your situation. While a court case theme will always be operated, resources such as paralegals and interns are used to help people who need legal help but don’t necessarily qualify for legal aid.
In Somerset County a single application is used county-wide. Even if you call the Somerset County Legal Aid office directly, your application will be taken by a central intake unit who will then determine where your application should be sent. All applications for legal aid are sent to the central intake unit and in turn sent to the appropriate office.
The only documents needed are proof of income and a case number if one has been assigned. When the application is submitted, it will then be transferred to an intake unit where further screening will be completed and then assigned to a local attorney in a timelier manner than it would be if the application were sent directly to an office.
If a referral is necessary, that is also done on the intake level where they will match the applicant to the best pro bono volunteer to meet their needs. In some cases, applicants are denied legal aid. This is generally true in family law matters. In those situations they are provided with resource information to assist them in finding the help they need even though legal aid cannot be provided directly.
The Best Legal Aid Providers In Somerset County
Legal Aid of New Jersey
Legal Services of New Jersey, a 501(c)(3) a nonprofit organization, administers the statewide Legal Services system that assists low-income individuals in civil legal matters. Legal Services of New Jersey provides funding, oversight, and support to Legal Services offices in each of the lower 21 counties of the state, including Somerset County. Legal Services of New Jersey also has an office of its own which is located at 100 Metro Plaza Dr. Suite 403, Avenel, NJ 07001. 732-634-10.
Somerset County Bar Association
The Somerset County Bar Association, a professional organization of peer lawyers, has a panel of volunteer members who provide assistance in legal matters to eligible low-income individuals who cannot afford legal representation. The Somerset County Bar Association is located at 20 N Bridge St, Somerville, NJ 08876. 908-685-2323.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, a 501(c)(3) a nonprofit organization, is a community of attorneys, staff, and volunteers working with a network of service providers across New Jersey and working directly with clients to provide pro bono legal services to low-income residents of Somerset County for a variety of matters. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s office is located at 100 E Main St, Suite 308, Denville, NJ 07834. 862-228-0563.
Facing Challenges Ahead: Somerset County Community Legal Aid
Despite the invaluable assistance legal aid workers provide to residents of Somerset County, they face numerous challenges that struggle to meet the high demand for their services. Legal aid organizations rely heavily on government grants for funding, yet those budgets have been continually cut through state and federal level reductions and restrictions. Even when those grants are available, the limited funds are stretched thin across an ever growing client base . In 2013, for example, South Jersey Legal Services helped over 18,000 clients in 2013 while turning down more than 13,000 requests for assistance due to limited resources. Legal aid organizations in Somerset County have had to turn away well over 300,000 people seeking assistance over the past 10 years alone. Those are requests that could not be filled even with help from private attorneys interested in performing pro bono work for the community. Nevertheless, the legal aid organizations in Somerset County provide as much help as they can, because doing so is the right thing to do.
Somerset County Legal Aid Success Stories
Somerset County Legal Aid Services has a proven track record of changing lives for the better. Their attorneys are experts at navigating the courts and have a deep understanding of the challenges their clients face, as they often come to Somerset County Legal Aid to avoid unfair evictions after suffering financial hardships. Maria Thompson, a single mother of three, suffered a sudden health issue a few months ago and was unable to get back on her feet right away. Having already gone through her savings, she was unable to pay her rent and was soon facing an eviction. Since she was making far less than her standard income, she couldn’t get ahead of her bills and was seriously at risk of becoming homeless with her small children. After her landlord filed the eviction papers, Maria reached out to Somerset County Legal Aid Services, where she met with an attorney who immediately began working on her behalf to save her home. With the help of her attorney, Maria was able to negotiate a payment plan with her landlord for the overdue rent, and while it’s been difficult to keep up, she has been able to afford the terms and stay in her home with her children. "I don’t know what I would have done without Somerset County Legal Aid," says Maria. "I can’t thank them enough for helping my family." Another client, Roger Evans, was facing wrongful eviction after his landlord used some underhanded techniques to make him move early. While the paperwork was filed for "non-payment of rent", at no point did his landlord discuss the situation with Roger or offer him a chance to catch up, and his rent was being collected via direct deposit through the state-funded program that assists tenants who receive public assistance. As he began to fall behind in his other bills after losing his job due to the pandemic, his landlord took the opportunity to empty out his apartment when he wasn’t there, claiming Roger had vacated intentionally. Since Roger hadn’t vacated the premises but was the victim of an illegal lockout, the attorneys at Somerset County Legal Aid jumped in to help him salvage his possessions and find a new rental property, as well as take the landlord to court for damages related to the illegal lockout. Roger was able to move into a quality apartment in a great neighborhood, and his former landlord was ordered to pay him $7,500 in restitution. In both these cases, Somerset County Legal Aid Services was able to help their clients avoid unfair consequences and do so without demanding exorbitant legal fees. The nonprofit organization exists to help people and level the playing field when necessary.
The Future Of Legal Aid In Somerset County
In terms of future policy decisions, the current climate suggests that legal aid will continue to be a top priority for Somerset County. As conversations regarding criminal justice reform and access to justice progress, local leaders are likely to steer funding in the direction of service providers that facilitate effective legal counsel. Legal aid services should also expect to see increased advocacy on the state and federal level .
However, as the need for comprehensive legal aid services is unlikely to dissipate, neither is the funding and policy conversations that invariably follow. The legal aid community in Somerset County should consider participating in state or national trustee programs that will designate their services as a recognized trustee. Such programs often open the door to additional funding opportunities and serve as a beneficial marketing tool.