INTAKE UPDATE May 2010

Transcription

1 LEGAL ADVOCACY & RESOURCE CENTER, INC. a special project of the Boston Bar Foundation with additional financial support provided by the Massachusetts Bar Foundation 197 Friend Street, Boston, Massachusetts INTAKE UPDATE May 2010 The LARC Intake Update is a monthly newsletter that lists current intake information for major legal services programs throughout the state of Massachusetts. The first section lists general civil legal programs, and the second section lists programs that handle specific legal topics. Changes for May 2010 Boston Bar Association is temporarily conducting intakes in Spanish. Boston College Legal Assistance Bureau (BCLAB) is CLOSED for intake until the end of August They will however, still be accepting Elder and Social Security Disability cases. City of Boston Immigration Clinic is available through the Mayor s Office. The Immigration Clinic is held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. This month the clinic will be held on May 5 th and 19 th from Noon - 2 pm. The clinic takes place in room 804 of the Boston City Hall. For more information please contact the Mayor s Office of New Bostonians, Boston City Hall Room 810, (617) See Immigration Section more information. GBLS Employment Unit will no longer handle working condition cases. GBLS Family Law Unit has limited appearance representation available, and the divorce wait list is now open for clients with children who are victims of domestic abuse by opposing party where OP is parts unknown or client does not need immediate service GBLS Health Unit - Children's Disability Project is now OPEN. GBLS Immigration Unit is CLOSED for intake. If the Immigration Unit s case load permits, intake will reopen in June GBLS Medicare Advocacy Project (MAP) now handles cases related to MassHealth Buy-In and Senior Buy-In. GBLS Welfare Unit is now OPEN for EAEDC cases. Harvard Defenders have changed their web address. Harvard Legal Aid Bureau is CLOSED for intake in all practice areas until further notice. Health Care for All Helpline has changed their service hours to Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. International Institute of Boston has updated their section. Please refer to their listing. Irish Immigration Center new listing. See Immigration Section. 1

2 LARC s Debtors Rights Clinic is scheduled for Thursday, May 27 th from 1-3 pm. The Debtors Rights Clinic will be conducted in English. Client must be signed up for the clinic in advance and can do so by calling LARC. Massachusetts Bar Association is having a special Dial-A-Lawyer for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire county residents on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 between the hours of 3:30-7:30 p.m. ONLY. Call The Massachusetts Bar Association will provide free legal advice to callers on a wide variety of legal issues. Mental Health Legal Advisors will provide advice for benefit issues involving SSDI and SSI only. Also, their employment discrimination eligibility has changed. Merrimack Valley- North Shore Legal Services now handles cases of uncontested divorces where the parties have been separated for at least 6 months, and there are no disputed issues. MetroWest Legal Services have limited Government and SSI/SSDI Intakes and are CLOSED for Housing Intakes. MetroWest now provides immigration services - specifically assisting immigrant victims of domestic violence with their immigration matters including VAWA self petitions, U Visa Petitions, T Visa Petitions, and asylum applications. National Lawyers Guild has added an Online referral site: New Center for Legal Advocacy has changed their hours and members to their staff who can assist clients with languages other than English. See listing for changes. New England School of Law Clinic Law Offices will be CLOSED for intake until further notice. Tenant Advocacy Project s summer program begins on May 24, but TAP will RE-OPEN for intake beginning May 10. Tenants can leave a message on TAP s voic and someone will return the call within a day. Important Note: Summer interns will not be available for hearings until the second week of June. Victim Rights Law Center has updated their section. Please refer to their listing. Volunteer Lawyers Project is OPEN for tax cases and is CLOSED for SSI cases. VLP is accepting tax forgiveness cases for Clients who have been foreclosed on. VLP has expanding their housing intake criteria. VLP has expanded its priorities for divorce cases; they are taking ALL simple uncontested divorces for income/asset/service area eligible clients. They are now handling student loan issues. Western Mass. Legal Services has changed the address of their North Adams office. Women s Bar Foundation does intakes Monday through Friday, 9 am 5 pm. Clients will now need to call to schedule an intake. 2

3 **GENERAL CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS** The following programs provide free services within the priorities indicated. Program Intake hours are Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm unless designated otherwise. Program hours and priorities may change during the month; please call individual programs to verify information. BOSTON COLLEGE LEGAL ASSISTANCE BUREAU (BCLAB) 24 Crescent Street, Suite 202, Waltham, MA (781) TTY (781) Fax (781) **Boston College Legal Assistance Bureau (BCLAB) is CLOSED for intake until the end of August They will however, still be accepting elder and Social Security disability cases.** Service Area (see below for Elder service area): Newton, Waltham and Watertown. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 2 Attorneys, Spanish Cases Handled: Provides representation, no telephone advice. Housing: Evictions for tenants only (priority given to people with children or people being evicted for reasons other than non-payment); public housing denials or evictions; utility shut-offs. Family Law: No uncontested divorces. Contested divorces; custody (custodial and non-custodial parents); child support (priority given to custodial parents) and 209A emergency hearings. Government Benefits: Denials of TAFDC, EAEDC, Food Stamps, EA or disability benefits, Unemployment compensation denials. Medicare/Medicaid denials or terminations. Consumer/Other: Suspensions and expulsions from schools in service area. Some consumer matters. ELDER Service Area: Serves people age 60 and older in Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, and Weston. Provides both telephone advice and representation to elders. Elder cases handled: Free advice and/or referrals: Wills, Homestead Act, landlord/tenant, power of attorney, health care proxies, and real estate issues. Elder cases handled: Full representation: SSI/SSDI, SS retirement, eviction (tenants only), welfare denials, divorce, child support, 209A hearings. CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE LEGAL SERVICES (CASLS) 60 Gore Street Suite 203, Cambridge, MA (617) Fax (617) Service Area (see below for elder service area): Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Somerville, Winchester, Woburn. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 2 Attorneys Spanish (Housing/Government Benefits). Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Support Staff, Spanish Cases Handled (Under 60 Years Old): Government Benefits: SSI and SSDI denials at ALJ stage; SSI/SSDI terminations and other issues but not SSI/ SSDI Overpayments; DTA cases re: TAFDC, child care, education and training, Food Stamps, MassHealth, EAEDC, EA shelter, and some veteran benefits. Housing: Terminations/denials subsidized housing. Public housing, and Section 8. Eviction cases at the NTQ (and summons and complaint) stages and at grievance stage if public housing. Group Issues. Mental Health And Disability Rights: Considers cases where a mentally ill and/or disabled client believes his/her legal rights have been violated based on status as disabled person, including rights 3

4 to services from mental health and other disability service agencies; Housing and Public Accommodation discrimination based on disability; Institutional Rights and discharge advocacy from psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional settings; Guardianship defense; Special education cases for children with psychiatric disabilities. CASLS ELDER Unit Service Area: Cambridge and Somerville only. Cases Handled: Government benefits; Access to health care and mental health services; Housing (tenants only); Nursing home residents rights. Guardianship defense; Protective service issues. Limited advice on consumer issues. Intake located at GBLS Friend Street building: Call (617) for Elder Intake. Utility Cases: (Over 60 years Old): getting utilities turned on or restored & preventing termination of utility services (utilities include: telephone if needed for emergencies, gas, and electricity); Fuel Assistance denials. Not small claims or other court actions for collections Family Law: Located at GBLS; see GBLS Family Unit listing. Employment: Located at GBLS; see GBLS Employment Unit listing. Immigration: Located at GBLS; see GBLS Immigration Unit listing. COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES AND COUNSELING CENTER One West Street, Cambridge, MA (617) Fax (617) Service Area: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Somerville, Watertown. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 2 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, Spanish. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Office Manager, 1 Intake Worker, Spanish. Cases Handled: Housing (Cambridge tenants only): Offers pre-eviction advice as well as full representation in eviction cases. Evictions from Public and Private Housing; Loss of Housing due to DV; Denial of Application for Public and Subsidized Housing; Termination of Housing Subsidy (e.g., Sec.8, MRVP), discrimination (Section 8, children), reasonable accommodations, conditions. Government Benefits: SSI/SSDI: denials, termination or reduction, disability review, work-related overpayment cases, and applications for people who have barriers that prevent them from applying on their own. Immigration: Political asylum, U-Visas, immigration status for battered women where one spouse has legal status. Family Law: Intake is open on a limited basis as follows: 1. We will do Intakes for cases involving domestic violence in our service area, including Boston. 2. We will do Intakes for cases that do not involve domestic violence only for custodial parents living in Cambridge or Somerville who are seeking child support. *Also offers individual, couple and group psychotherapy/counseling services in English on a sliding fee scale. Call main number to see if there are services available. Ask for the Clinical Director.* 4

5 DISABILITY LAW CENTER Boston (617) TTY (617) Northampton: (413) TTY (413) Intake Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am 5 pm Intake is by telephone through the Boston office. Service Area: Statewide Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 1 Attorney, Russian; 1 Paralegal, Spanish; 1 Paralegal, Portuguese. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 2 Support Staff, Spanish; 2 Support Staff, French. General information about services: Information and referral, advice, short-term assistance, and legal representation for people with disabilities who have disability-related civil legal issues. Training and technical assistance to advocates and attorneys. All services are free. There are no Massachusetts eligibility for unemployment income limits for services, but income may be a factor in case acceptance if capacity is limited. Case-handling priorities: Abuse and Neglect: Abuse and neglect of people with disabilities by family members, caretakers, guardians or others, whether in the community, a facility, a school, or other settings. Education: Special education students who are out of school due to illegal action by the school district, or due to the school s failure to provide reasonable accommodations or physical or program access. Students with disabilities who have been inappropriately placed in overly restrictive settings. Students who have been improperly excluded from school programs or activities because of their disabilities. Students who are deaf or hard of hearing who have been denied qualified interpreters or other means of effective communication in educational settings. Special education students who have been subject to the use of restraint, seclusion or other forms of abuse in school. Cases where the school district has failed to protect students with disabilities from bullying or abuse at school. Students with disabilities who are seeking appropriate transition services and/or have rejected their high school diploma. Housing: Denials of admission to housing for reasons related to disability Rent subsidy (e.g. Section 8) terminations related to disability Denials of reasonable accommodations in housing Disability-related evictions, but only for callers who have been denied or are ineligible for representation by legal services. Employment: Discrimination based on disability, either through termination, failure to hire, or denials of reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Case acceptance preference for larger employers. Public Accommodations: Denials of full and equal access to places of public accommodation, including polling places. Case acceptance preference for larger places of public accommodation. Failure to provide effective communication to people who are deaf in places of public accommodation, government programs, and other settings. Community Services: 5

6 Denials of eligibility for services by the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Mental Retardation, and the Statewide Head Injury Program. Rights in Facilities (facilities include any public or private residential setting, with 3 or more beds, that provides overnight care accompanied by treatment services): Abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities in facilities. Discharge planning for individuals with disabilities who have been in facilities for one year or longer and who are clinically ready for discharge but are being unnecessarily institutionalized. Individuals at psychiatric facilities who are being denied their rights, including the Five Fundamental Rights, access to privileges, and fresh air. Legally competent individuals who are being denied the right to consent to, refuse, or meaningfully participate in their treatment. Incarcerated individuals who have been placed in segregation solely as a result of behaviors caused by mental illness. Individuals with disabilities who have been denied access to voting rights. Health Care Individuals who have been denied prior approval for MassHealth coverage of durable medical equipment, prescription medication, PCA services, transportation, or other medically necessary MassHealth covered services. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who have been denied interpreters or other effective communication in health care settings. SSI and SSDI Benefits: Technical assistance and training for attorneys, advocates and other providers about all aspects of the SSI and SSDI programs. Short-term assistance and advice in work-related overpayments for current recipients of SSI/SSDI. Legal assistance to individuals with a Ticket to Work who are experiencing problems using their Ticket. Advice and information to beneficiaries about SSI/SSDI work incentives. Special population priority: Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries who have disability-related civil legal issues in any of the broad areas DLC covers. GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS) 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA (617) OR TTY (617) Fax (617) Service Area: Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Everett, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weymouth, Winthrop, Wollaston. Cases Handled: GBLS ASIAN OUTREACH UNIT Serves Asian immigrant clients with linguistic and/or cultural barriers in the following areas: Employment: unemployment, wage and hour, priority given to groups of workers who share a legal issue. Family: abuse prevention, divorce (wait list). Immigration: all areas, priority for victims of domestic violence removal of conditional status, if there is Domestic Violence; VAWA (Violence Against Women Act); naturalization, if client is disabled. 6

7 Public assistance: all cash assistance programs, food stamps, MassHealth, where immigration status is the barrier to client receiving assistance. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 3 Attorneys and 1 Paralegal, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin); 1 Paralegal, Vietnamese.; 1 AmeriCorps Member, Khmer (Cambodian). GBLS ELDER LAW UNIT: ** Formerly the Greater Boston Elderly Legal Services** No income guidelines. Client must be 60 or over and in greatest economic and social need. Service Area: Acton, Arlington, Boston, Braintree, Bedford, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Everett, Harvard, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Malden, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, North Reading. Reading, Revere, Scituate, Stoneham, Stow, Wakefield, Weymouth, Winthrop, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 1 Part-time Paralegal, Italian. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Secretary, Spanish. Cases Handled (including advice and counsel, brief service and full representation, as appropriate): Housing issues for non-boston residents (refer Boston elders to GBLS housing unit): Evictions; public/subsidized housing issues. Government benefits: SSI, SSDI, Food Stamps, EAEDC, Veteran s benefits. Nursing Home issues. Health care access and Medicaid. Defense of guardianship. GBLS EMPLOYMENT UNIT: (617) **GBLS Employment Unit will no longer handle working condition cases.** Client Priorities: Clients must either: a) be living with their minor children, OR b) have lost a job at which their gross income was $50,000 or less, OR c) have difficulty communicating in English; OR d) have other reasons why a lack of representation will be especially difficult i.e. difficulty articulating problem, illiteracy, low level of education, cultural or disability barriers; OR e) the cases involve day labor or other temp work issues, OR f) allegations of abuse, neglect or misappropriation faced by certified nurses aides Access to Training: Will handle cases for clients attempting to secure job training and income through the unemployment system, the trade adjustment act, or through the one stop career centers. Family and Medical Leave Cases: Will handle denial of family and medical leave or termination due to absenteeism for these reasons only, we will not take wrongful termination cases. Representation of Community-Based Organizations: Will handle employment related advocacy issues and provide workers rights training, and assist with administrative or legislative advocacy. Tax Cases: The GBLS Low Income Tax Clinic (LITC) project provides free tax assistance and representation (but not routine tax return preparation) to low income taxpayers who are immigrant workers or who have limited English proficiency. People in need of representation who do not fit those priorities should be referred to Luz Arevalo who will evaluate the case and determine if it will stay with GBLS, be placed with the LITC pro bono counsel panel, or be referred to VLP. Priorities are given to immigrants facing audits/levy notices/unreported income/non-fliers, and EITC audits. Unemployment Cases: Will handle all Unemployment benefits appeals at any stage if application denied or employer appeals initial grant of benefits, or Division denies extended benefits for training, federal extended benefits, or medical security program benefits (health insurance for unemployed). Wage and Hour Cases: For immigrants only wage and hour issues where the amount owed is $1,000 or more. 7

8 Other Cases: The unit places special emphasis on the problems of day laborers, certified nurses aides, workers in temporary jobs and workers seeking access to education & training opportunities. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 4 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, Spanish; 1 Attorney, Portuguese, 1 Administrative Assistant, Haitian Creole. GBLS FAMILY LAW UNIT: **GBLS Family Law Unit now has limited appearance representation available. Divorce Wait List is now open: for clients with children who are victims of domestic abuse by opposing party where OP is parts unknown or client does not need immediate service. ** Clients must be custodial parents experiencing current domestic violence or other safety concerns caused by the opposing party and who have contested custody in Probate and Family Court matters (divorce, paternity, modifications, contempt s). Children at issue must be the child of both parties. Divorce cases may be assigned to a wait list depending on the circumstances of individual case. Limited appearance representation available. Representation in District Court to appeal a denial of a restraining order or to appeal the issuance of mutual restraining orders on behalf of the victim only; to be determined on a case by case basis. No services for DCF matters or in Guardianship of Minors cases. Does not provide services in cases where the only contested issue is child support. Does not offer service in modification cases where only issue is visitation unless domestic violence/safety is at the nexus of the request for modification. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 3 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, Spanish; 1 Attorney, Gujarity; 1 Attorney, Hindi; 1 Attorney, French. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Secretary, Spanish. Suffolk and Middlesex Domestic Violence Advocacy Project: Advocates are available at Suffolk County Probate and Family Court daily from 9 am 4 pm and at Middlesex Probate and Family Court Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am 1 pm. They assist victims of domestic violence with 209A and related protective order hearings, advice on other family law matters, development of safety plans, and referral to other services, including referrals to the Family Law Unit for full representation in the underlying case. Relocation Counseling Project: Provides counsel and advice and limited representation for victims of domestic violence and other crimes of violence regarding legal rights and responsibilities attendant to relocating to obtain safety. GBLS HEALTH UNIT: **GBLS Health Unit charges a fee for representation in initial Social Security and SSI disability cases. Children's Disability Project in OPEN. ** The GBLS Health Unit is OPEN for Intake for SSI/SSDI disability cases with a PIA of less than $1125 at the ALJ stage or higher. They will remain OPEN for Intake for all health related cases, including MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, the Health Safety Net (formerly free care), and Medicare. SSI disability applications and SSI/SSDI application problems at the hearing stage; SSI cases where the client has had an ALJ hearing and the hearing has been continued so the client can get an attorney; SSI and SSI/SSDI termination problems only if termination is due to SSA claiming caller has medically improved. SSA cases should be directly referred to Legal Services Center if within their jurisdiction. 8

9 **WILL NOT HANDLE: Cases at initial or FEDRO stage; SSI/SSDI overpayment cases; SSI financial issues; SSA paternity related issues; Representative Payee issues; SSA fleeing felon cases; private short term or long term disability (LTD) insurance claims.** Health Care Access: advice, counsel and full representation in access to public health insurance programs such as MassHealth, including CommonHealth, CMSP, the Health Safety Net (formerly hospital uncompensated care or free care); MA health reform act programs such as Commonwealth Care (in addition to usual referrals re: eligibility denials and terminations, please refer callers who are seeking or have been denied Commonwealth Care premium waivers or individual mandate penalty waivers. Access to public health insurance programs includes eligibility denials or terminations; denials of prior approval for services, or another problem with accessing services. If caller has no health insurance, and wishes to speak to someone about it, refer to Unit. Only the Children's Disability Project (CDP) will take child cases at the reconsideration stage. See also GBLS Medicare Advocacy Project. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 2 Paralegals, Spanish; 1 Paralegal, Haitian/Creole. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English:1 Secretary, Spanish. GBLS HOUSING UNIT: Evictions: Pro Se Clinic: Mondays at 9:30 am by appointment only. Clinic provides assistance in filing paperwork for eviction hearings. Also individual representation in eviction matters. Limited representation in obtaining subsidy or admission to public housing or if is having problems with a subsidy. Transfer problems for victims of DV Emergency Shelter Issues. Will handle cases involving EA (Emergency Assistance). Limited intake for shelter location issues if related to disabilities, employment, or education. No assistance regarding shelter conditions. GBLS IMMIGRATION UNIT: **GBLS Immigration Unit is CLOSED for intake. If the Immigration Unit s case load permits, intake will re-open in June 2010.** GBLS Immigration Unit will handle political asylum cases, cases involving battered women, unaccompanied minors, and language access issues. When Walk-in Intake is open, Telephone Intake messages can be left requesting call backs at and calls will be returned as time permits. Phone messages are not checked and calls are not returned when walk-in intake is closed. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 3 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, Spanish; 1 Attorney, French; 1 Attorney, Portuguese. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Intake Attorney, 1 Secretary, Spanish; 1 Secretary, Haitian Creole; 1 Volunteer Attorney, French. GBLS MEDICARE ADVOCACY PROJECT (MAP) located at GBLS: **Assists clients with marketing problems with private Medicare Advantage Plans. Now handles cases related to MassHealth Buy-In and Senior Buy-In. ** Service Area: Commonwealth of Massachusetts. No income guidelines. Caller must be Medicare eligible. Assists elders and person with disabilities with Medicare and Medicare related matters. Provides advice, referral, brief service, and full representation as appropriate in cases described below. Cases handled: Wrongful denial of coverage of benefits and services to which caller is entitled: 9

10 Medicare Part A: hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays, hospice care, home health care. Medicare Part B: physician services, durable medical equipment, ambulance services, oxygen therapy, etc. Part B enrollment problems: premium penalties & delayed onset dates; payment of Part B premiums; Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, managed care plans; fee for service plans; etc.: NOTE: marketing problems with private plans): enrollment dates, eligibility issues; Medicare Part D prescription drug issues: enrollment, low-income subsidy eligibility; penalties; medication denials; transition from MassHealth to Part D; IF CALLER WILL RUN OUT OF MEDICATION WITHIN THE WEEK: EMERGENCY Other: Prescription Advantage issues. Buy-In; Senior Buy-In. GBLS WELFARE UNIT: ** Now open for EAEDC cases.** For clients who speak English and do not appear to have a cognitive impairment, WLU does not take EAEDC termination cases based on adverse determinations of disability or Food Stamp cases involving denials, terminations, or reduction of benefits based on income or assets. WLU does not take (for any client): 1) BSI fraud investigations; 2) overpayment cases; or 3) underpayment cases (it is past the 90 day deadline to appeal the notice of adverse action.) Otherwise, WLU does take cases involving denials, termination, or other problems with: TAFDC, EAEDC, Food Stamps, disability and other exemptions, welfare reform rules, immigrant eligibility for welfare benefits, child care benefits, welfare recipients' access to job training or education, including ESL, adult basic education, GED, or college. (When the Poverty Law Clinic at NUSL is open, we refer some cases). Now taking utility cases. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 1 Attorney - Spanish (and proficient in Portuguese); 1 Paralegal Spanish; 1 Paralegal - Cape Verdean Creole. WLU uses the Language Line for calls and hires interpreters for appointments. HARVARD LEGAL AID BUREAU: 23 Everett Street, First Floor, Cambridge, MA (617) Fax (617) **HLAB is CLOSED for intake for all practice areas until further notice.** Service Area: Family Law, Government Benefits, and Wage & Hour cases: Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Everett, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Newton, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Sherborn, Shirley, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Westford, W. Townsend, Weston, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn. Housing cases: Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. Cases handled: Family Law: (note different service area) Divorce, 209A issues, child support, custody, contempt, etc. Priority for custodial parents and cases involving domestic violence, restraining order against opposing party or kidnapping/threat to kidnap. 10

11 Housing: (note different service area) Evictions-private, public or subsidized housing at Notice to Quit or Summons and Complaint Stage. Section 8 voucher terminations at court appeal stage only. Government Benefits: (note different service area) SSI/SSDI ALJ stage, no overpayments. Unemployment benefits DUA hearings at the Boston office only. Will handle cases involving reductions and denials for Food Stamps, TAFDC, EAEDC, MassHealth and Veterans Benefits. Wage and Hour: Representation to clients who have not been paid the wages, overtime and other compensation they have earned. JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN S SERVICES HOUSE OF JUSTICE (BET TZEDEK) 1430 Main Street (Rte. 117), Waltham, MA (781) x Contact: Rachel Pemstein Service Area: Greater Boston. Languages of Staff who regularly assist Clients in languages other than English: Russian. Provides information and referrals to pro bono attorneys for clients below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level in the following areas: Housing, Family Law, Public Benefits, Consumer Law, Immigration. LEGAL ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER, INC. (LARC) 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA (617) (800) 342-LAWS TTY (617) Fax (617) Portuguese Voic Box (617) Intake hours: 9 am - 1 pm; 2 pm 3:15 pm Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., and 9 am 12:30 pm Wed. Tuesday Evening hours: 5-7:30 pm **LARC s Debtors Rights Clinic is scheduled for Thursday, May 27 th from 1-3 pm. The Debtors Rights Clinic will be conducted in English. Client must be signed up for the clinic in advance and can do so by calling LARC. ** Service Area: Statewide. No income limits. Telephone information and advice, pro se assistance and referrals on civil law issues including housing, domestic relations, employment, consumer, public benefits, health, trust and estates, bankruptcy, and 209A abuse prevention orders. LARC is the central telephone advice hotline for CORI related legal issues. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 4 Attorneys, 1 Paralegal, Spanish; 1 Attorney, Haitian Creole; 1 AmeriCorps, Mandarin and Cantonese. **ALL languages can be accessed through Language Line (telephone interpreting service).** Clients must be registered for the Debtor s Rights Clinic and can do so by calling the Hotline. Client education session is conducted by LARC advocates. The sessions are offered in English. Information about their rights with respect to judgment proof status and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; Q&A session. Provides intake and referral services for Greater Boston Legal Services, Cambridge and Somerville Legal Service, Volunteer Lawyers Project and MetroWest Legal Services. 11

12 LEGAL ASSISTANCE CORPORATION OF CENTRAL MASS 405 Main Street, 4 th Floor, Worcester, MA (508) TDD (508) For non-elder intakes on family, housing and government benefits issues, call Mass Justice Project (Worcester), (508) an interactive website where income-eligible Worcester County residents can access real time, confidential legal advice and information on housing matters. Service Area: Worcester County Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 9 Attorneys, 2 Paralegals, Spanish; 2 Attorneys, Korean; 1 Attorney, Portuguese; 2 Attorneys, Hindi, Urdu; 1 Attorney, Russian; 1 Attorney, Kikuyu, Kiswahili Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Receptionist, 1 Support Staff, Spanish. Cases Handled: Family: Will handle divorces for custodial and non-custodial spouses if client is victim of domestic abuse. Will also handle restraining order cases if client is victim of domestic abuse. Also has an uncontested divorce project-will represent if no issues of custody, visitation, no issue of property division, alimony or custody visitation. Also housing, public benefits, disability and Medicare advocacy. ELDER Unit: Service Area: Worcester County (except: Athol, Harvard, Northborough, Petersham, Philipston, Royalston, Southborough, and Westborough) plus Ashby, Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, Bellingham, Franklin, Medway. Cases Handled: Social Security, SSI, EAEDC, Veterans benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, Food Stamps. Access to Health care-medicaid, MassHealth, Medicare. Nursing home discharges, transfers and quality of care issues. Guardianship/conservatorship defense. Elder abuse including financial exploitation. Evictions, public/subsidized housing denials/terminations, Homesteads, Healthcare proxies and Power of Attorneys. LEGAL SERVICES CENTER (Also known as Wilmer Hale Legal Services Center OR Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center) 122 Boylston Street, Jamaica Plain, MA (617) Fax (617) TTY (617) Intake Hours: Variable -- please call for schedule. Service Area: Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Roslindale, West Roxbury, parts of the Fenway, South End, Dorchester, South End, Roxbury, and Mattapan. Cases accepted outside of this area on an individual case decision. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 1 Attorneys, Spanish. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Interpreter/Receptionists, 1 Case and Business Manager, Spanish. Case Types Handled: Family Law: For custodial parent - 209A cases, divorce, paternity, guardianship, adoption, contempt, modification. Government Benefits: AFDC, EAEDC, Food Stamps, EA, SSI, Social Security. Employment Discrimination and Civil Rights: Employment rights and benefits including pension, insurance protection, employment discrimination and reasonable accommodation, discrimination, ADA and FMLA matters. Housing: Eviction defense, efforts to improve housing conditions and housing discrimination matters. Will take subsidy cases but no BHA cases. Weekly pro se housing clinic. 12

13 Estates and Financial Planning: Estate planning (wills and trusts), probate practice, debt counseling and bankruptcy, private insurance. NOTE: Community Enterprise Project has changed their name to Transactional Law Clinic and they are no longer housed at the Legal Services Center. they can be reached at (617) their address is 1563 Mass. Ave, Pound Suite 501, Cambridge, MA MASSACHUSETTS JUSTICE PROJECT Holyoke: 57 Suffolk Street, 4 th Floor, Holyoke, MA (413) Worcester: 405 Main Street, 3 rd Floor, Worcester, MA (508) Provides intake and referral services for Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Mass. Provides Intake and Referral services for Western Mass. Legal Services. Service Area: Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Berkshire, and Worcester counties Intake Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 am - 4 pm and Friday 9:30 am - 1 pm. Telephone information, pro se advice, brief services and referrals on most civil legal services problems, in particular housing, domestic relations, employment, consumer, public benefits, health, trust and estates and bankruptcy issues. Also provides full representation in a very limited number of cases. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: One attorney, six paralegals, and three support staff, bilingual Spanish; One Attorney, one Paralegal, Portuguese. MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL ADVISORS COMMITTEE 399 Washington Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA (617) , Ext Fax (617) **SSDI and SSI advice only for benefits issues. Employment discrimination issues includes eligibility for and termination of short and long-term disability benefits obtained through private insurance companies.** Intake hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 am 1 pm (Telephone only, no walk-ins). Callers leave a message and receive a call back within 48 business hours. No income guidelines for advice only. Representation for Indigent clients ONLY in Civil matters ONLY. Issue must be a mental health legal matter, i.e., one in which a primary factor in case is the mental health of the client. Illness can be undiagnosed. Primarily phone advice and referrals. Direct representation of persons with mental illness on a case-by-case basis. Phone advice only to all others, including clinicians and family members. Service Area: Statewide Cases Handled: Access to and appropriateness of state agency services: Specifically DMH, DDS, DCF, DYS. Benefits: SSDI and SSI - advice only for benefits issues. Consumer: Debt collection advocacy. Domestic relations: Domestic relations: Representation of parents with mental illness in family law cases, including divorces involving custody and/or visitation dispute, paternity cases involving custody and/or visitation dispute, contempts and modifications, and guardianship of a minor. NO representation (advice only) in 209A only cases, divorces without custody/visitation issues or child support only cases. Referrals to the Clubhouse Family Legal Support Project: 13

14 (same priorities as listed above) with preference for clients involved with a clubhouse and/or DMH services. Education and special education: Matters involving youth with mental health/emotional issues; discipline of youth with mental health/emotional issues. Employment discrimination: Advise persons who are discriminated against on the basis of a mental disability. Includes eligibility for and termination of short and long-term disability benefits obtained through private insurance companies. Guardianship: General information provided. Health Care/Managed Care: Advise consumers and clinicians on obtaining coverage of mental health services from private and public insurers; assist consumers with appeals to public and private insurers. Housing: Advise people with disabilities regarding how to maintain housing when at threat of eviction; reasonable accommodations, representation in Community Residence Tenancy law cases Mental health facilities: Legal rights information regarding treatment (both access to and right to refuse), civil commitment, restraint, basic civil rights, at public and private mental health facilities and hospital emergency rooms. Rights in the community: Legal rights information regarding services for people with mental health disabilities in the community, including in community based residences. Rights of DYS-involved youth: Advice and representation on civil matters to youth adjudicated delinquent and involved with DYS including both confined youth and youth residing in the community. MERRIMACK VALLEY NORTH SHORE LEGAL SERVICES 35 John Street, Suite 302, Lowell, MA (978) TTY (978) Fax (978) **Merrimack Valley- North Shore Legal Services now handles cases of uncontested divorces where the parties have been separated for at least 6 months, and there are no disputed issues.** Service area: Amesbury, Andover, Ashby, Ayer, Beverly, Billerica, Boxboro, Boxford, Burlington, Byfield, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groton, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lowell, Littleton, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Peabody, Pepperell, Reading, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Shirley, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wenham, Westford, West Newbury, Wilmington. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 1 Paralegal, Khmer; 1 Attorney, German; 1 Attorney, Spanish and Portuguese. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Intake/Reception Workers, Spanish; 1 System Specialist/Secretary, French. Cases handled: Domestic relations: Representation of custodial parent who has been a victim of domestic violence in a wide range of family law matters including divorce, custody, visitation, child support, contempt and modifications; 209A cases (Lowell District Court Clinic); limited acceptance for divorce cases which do not involve domestic violence (parties must be separated at least one year and there must be minor children of the marriage); guardianship of children in which the caller is at risk of losing the child(ren) living with him/her or has already lost custody of the child(ren); uncontested divorces where there is no domestic violence, parties have been separated for at least 3 months, and there are 14

15 no disputed issues; uncontested divorces where the parties have been separated for at least 6 months, and there are no disputed issues. Government benefits: Termination/ Denials of TAFDC, EAEDC, Food Stamps, Veterans Services, Medicaid, EA, SSI/SSDI/SS Overpayments. Housing: Eviction defense, bad conditions, terminations, public and subsidized housing, landlord/ tenant evictions. Consumer: Homeowners who are facing either a foreclosure or debt problems including bankruptcy. ELDER Unit (Lowell): (978) Service area: Andover, Amesbury, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rowley, Salisbury, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Westford, West Newbury. Elder Unit Cases handled: any of the above cases and opposition to guardianship, SSI/SSDI terminations, denials and reductions due to financial reasons and overpayments, nursing home/rest home/assisted living issues, regarding involuntary transfer, discharge or evictions elder abuse, and Medicare issues. METROWEST LEGAL SERVICES (Formerly Known as South Middlesex Legal Services) 63 Fountain Street, Suite 304, Framingham, MA (508) Fax (508) ** Limited Government and SSI/SSDI Intakes. They are CLOSED for Housing Intakes. MetroWest Legal Services now provides immigration services. Specifically, MWLS will assist immigrant victims of domestic violence with their immigration matters including VAWA self petitions, U-Visa Petitions, T-Visa Petitions, and asylum applications.** Service Area: Acton, Ashland, Bedford, Bellingham, Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Sherborn, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Wrentham. Cases Handled: Family Law: Divorce Wait-List for custodial parents or disabled clients; 209A cases. Also, maintain pro bono divorce panel. Government Benefits: Limited Intakes, will handle welfare cases (AFDC, EAEDC, Food stamps, Limited SSI/SSDI intake.) **Housing: CLOSED** Bankruptcy & Wills: Pro Bono referrals. Homeless Project: Cases in all subject areas for persons who are homeless or in transitional housing (except divorces). Immigration: will assist immigrant victims of domestic violence with their immigration matters including VAWA self petitions, U Visa Petitions, T Visa Petitions, and asylum applications. ELDER Project: Service Area: Ashland, Canton, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Walpole, Wayland, Westborough, Westwood, Wrentham. Cases Handled: Government benefits, health benefits, housing, nursing home issues, pro bono referrals for bankruptcies, divorces, simple wills (must be income eligible), health care proxies, and unemployment. 15

16 NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES 37 Friend Street, Lynn, MA (781) (800) Fax (781) Common Street, Suite 300, Lawrence, MA (978) (888) Fax (978) Service Area: Essex County and Northern Middlesex County. Not all services are available everywhere in the NLS service area. Southern Essex County includes the following communities: Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the Sea, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham. Northern Essex County includes the following communities: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Byfield, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury. Northern Middlesex County includes the following communities: Ashby, Ayer, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Westford, Wilmington.** Cases Handled: Family Law: Pro Se Divorce Clinic, Family Law Helpline, Elder Domestic Abuse, VAWA petitions, and High Risk Domestic Violence cases. Government benefits: SSI, SSDI, TAFDC, Food Stamps, EA, MassHealth, and Veterans Services matters. Housing: Eviction defense and Subsidized Housing matters. Community Development: Assisting individuals and low income groups plan and implement development projects designed to assist individuals escape poverty. Consumer Law: Debtor Relief Clinic: Clinic concerning debtor issues and bankruptcy taught by experienced attorney. Some Pro Bono referrals made after clinic attendance. Foreclosure: Counsel and Advice and litigation. Student Loan: PBA services on Student Loan matters. Employment: Unemployment Compensation matters. Immigration: Immigration Helpline. Tax Preparation: Free tax preparation services for simple tax returns. Elder Law Project: Call Neighborhood Legal Services, who will refer caller to local elder agency for intake. All services listed above, plus cases dealing with financial exploitation, abuse, nursing home issues. Age 60 and over, no income limits. NEW CENTER FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY Main Office: 257 Union Street, New Bedford, MA Fax (508) Main Street Extension, Plymouth, MA (508) Fax (508) Intake hours: Monday through Thursday 9:00 am - 2:30 pm, Tuesday Evening 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm Handles Non-Elder Intakes for South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. **New Center for Legal Advocacy has changed their hours and members to their staff who can assist clients with languages other than English.** Service Area: Counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Duke, Nantucket and Plymouth. Barnstable County includes the following communities: Barnstable (includes Centerville, Craigville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Hyannisport, Marstons Mills & Osterville), Bourne (includes Buzzards Bay, Cataumet, Pocasset and Sagamore), Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth (includes 16

17 Sippewissett, Teaticket, Waquoit and Woods Hole), Harwich, Hyannis, Manomet, Mashpee (includes New Seabury and Popponesset), Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich (includes Forestdale and Scusset), Truro, Wareham, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth (includes Bass River, Great Island and Yarmouthport). Bristol County includes the following communities: Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown (includes Assonet), Mansfield, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton and Westport. Duke County includes the following communities: Martha s Vineyard (includes Chilmark, Edgartown, Gay Head, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury) and Gosnold. Nantucket Norfolk County includes the following communities: Avon, Stoughton. Plymouth County includes the following communities: Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Onset, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 2 Paralegals, Spanish; 1 Paralegals, Portuguese. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 1 Secretary, Spanish; 1 Intake Screener, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Cases Handled: Telephone information, pro se advice, brief services and referrals for most civil legal services problems; in particular housing, domestic relations, employment, consumer, public benefits, health, wills and estates, including simple document preparation (durable powers of attorneys, health care proxies, simple wills, life estates), special education, and bankruptcy issues. Full legal representation in certain family, consumer, and some housing law cases with priority given to cases with domestic abuse and bankruptcy. Bankruptcy Cases and other limited consumer issues. Family Law: priority given to cases with domestic abuse. Divorce, Child Support, Custody, Guardianship, Paternity. Housing: Evictions, Subsidy terminations; Advice on Utility Shut-offs and foreclosures Government Benefits: EAEDC, TAFDC, Social Security, Food Stamps, MassHealth, Medicaid, Medicare. Unemployment Denials. Special Education/ Other Education Issues. NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF LAW-CLINIC LAW OFFICES (617) Fax (617) **New England School of Law Clinic Law Offices will be CLOSED for intake until further notice.** Service Area: Boston, Malden, Melrose, Wakefield Cases Handled: Domestic Relations: Child support, custody and visitation (even if parents have never been married). Family Law: Divorce only with children in the marriage. Government Benefits: SSI/SSDI and Unemployment benefit appeals only. Cases not handled: Consumer, Housing and DCF cases. 17

18 SHELTER LEGAL SERVICES (617) Fax (617) Intake through clinics. With the help of volunteer law students and attorneys, delivers legal services to the homeless and low-income in cooperation with area shelters. Legal issues handled are primarily in the following areas: Domestic (family), Landlord/Tenant, Consumer and Benefit s Law, No Longer Practices Labor Law. Please call in advance to verify date and time. Monday mornings 10:00 am at Chelsea Soldiers' Home, 91 Crest Avenue, Chelsea, MA Tel. (617) (low-income veterans). Monday evenings 5 7:30 pm at Rosie s Place, 889 Harrison Avenue, Roxbury, MA Tel. (617) (homeless low-income women). Tuesday mornings 8:30 am at Multi-Service Center for the Homeless, 19 Brookline St., First floor, Cambridge, MA (homeless low-income in Cambridge) Wednesday evenings 6-9 pm at New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA Tel. (617) (low-income Veterans) SOUTH COASTAL COUNTIES LEGAL SERVICES, INC. Administrative Offices: P.O. Box 2507, Fall River, MA (508) SCCLS Brockton Law Office 231 Main Street, Suite 201, Brockton, MA Call (800) for legal assistance. Service Area: Abington, Attleboro, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Hanover, Mansfield, N. Attleboro, Norton, Rockland, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman Elder Service Area: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Whitman Cases Handled: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare, Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Health/Disability/Mental Health, Housing, Immigration/Asylum, Public Benefits (including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food Stamps/SNAP), SSI/SSDI, Unemployment Compensation Benefits SCCLS Fall River Law Office 22 Bedford Street, Fall River, MA Call (800) for legal assistance. Service Area: Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Westport Elder Service Area: Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Westport Cases Handled: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare, Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Health/Disability/Mental Health, Housing, Immigration/Asylum, Public Benefits (including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food Stamps/SNAP), SSI/SSDI, Unemployment Compensation Benefits SCCLS Hyannis Law Office 460 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA Call (800) for legal assistance. Service Area: Aquinnah, Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Carver, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Duxbury, Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gay Head, Gosnold, Halifax, Hanson, Harwich, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mashpee, Middleborough, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, 18

19 Orleans, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Provincetown, Rochester, Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wareham, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, Yarmouth Elder Service Area: Aquinnah, Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Gay Head, Harwich, Mashpee, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, Yarmouth Cases Handled: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare, Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Health/Disability/Mental Health, Housing, Immigration/Asylum, Public Benefits (including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food Stamps/SNAP), SSI/SSDI, Unemployment Compensation Benefits. SCCLS New Bedford Law Office 21 S. Sixth Street, New Bedford, MA Call (800) for legal assistance. Service Area: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, New Bedford Elder Service Area: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Gosnold, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester Cases Handled: Consumer, Education, Elder/Medicare, Family Law/Domestic Violence, Foreclosure, Health/Disability/Mental Health, Housing, Immigration/Asylum, Public Benefits (including TAFDC, EA, EAEDC, Food Stamps/SNAP), SSI/SSDI, Unemployment Compensation Benefits TRI-CAP, INC. PRO BONO LEGAL PROJECT 110 Pleasant Street, 2 nd Floor, Malden, MA (781) Service area: Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Wakefield. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: Spanish Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Hindi Cases handled: (note: meritorious cases may be waitlisted for an available pro bono or staff attorney) Bankruptcy cases and Consumer cases: Pro bono panel attorney for bankruptcy. In house assistance with judgment proof determination. Brief advice. Family Law: Waiting list for In-house representation and pro bono panel attorney for divorce. Brief advice. Unemployment: In-house representation Government Benefits: Pro bono panel attorney. Housing: In-house representation for eviction defense. Subsidy terminations/denials. Brief advice and advocacy. Pro se answer and discovery clinic. Probate: Simple Wills and probate of simple estates. Wait list. VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS, a program of the ARTS & BUSINESS COUNCIL OF GREATER BOSTON 249 A Street, Studio 14, Boston, MA (617) Fax (617) TTY (617) mail@vlama.org Service Area: Statewide The VLA provides pro bono assistance for income-eligible artists and arts organizations, on all artrelated legal problems including but not limited to contracts, copyright, trademark, first amendment, not-for-profit incorporations, consignment of fine art, collections and live/work space. 19

20 VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT (VLP) 99 Chauncy Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA (617) TTY (617) LARC (617) (Use LARC s number for Intakes unless otherwise indicated.) **VLP is OPEN for tax cases and are CLOSED for SSI cases. Now accepting tax forgiveness cases for Clients who have been foreclosed on. VLP has expanded their housing intake criteria. VLP has expanded its priorities for divorce cases they are now taking ALL simple uncontested divorce for income/asset/service area eligible clients. They now handle student loan cases.** Service Area: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Cohasset, Everett, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Weymouth, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Wollaston. All clients, including elders, must be financially eligible for legal services. Languages of Advocates fluent in languages other than English: 3 Attorney, 1 Paralegal, Spanish; 1 Paralegal, French. Languages of Additional Staff who regularly assist clients in languages other than English: 2 Support Staff, Spanish. Cases Handled: Bankruptcy: Debt must be at least $5,000, client must own a home or have garnishable wages; call LARC for Intake. Consumer: Consumer cases including problems with student loans, foreclosures, denial of insurance claims. VLP also helps with tax issues such as requesting hardship exemptions. Call LARC first when dealing with consumer and tax cases. CORI: VLP will now assist clients in sealing their criminal records. Call LARC for Intake. Family Law: (Cannot handle emergencies, so active domestic violence issues should be referred to GBLS or elsewhere.) Divorce cases on behalf of the custodial parent or where there are no children of the relationship or the children are adults. Cases on behalf of a custodial parent who is seeking child support, where the non-custodial parent has income and/or assets. Simple uncontested Divorces. Adoption cases. Call LARC for Intake. Guardianship: Uncontested guardianship cases where the client is seeking to become the guardian of a minor child OR of an incapacitated person (including incapacitated elders). Call LARC for guardianship cases. Health: MassHealth prior approval cases. Housing Intake: VLP is accepting housing transfer cases. Evictions and home ownership issues for Low-income Landlords. Public Housing transfer cases. Foreclosures. Private housing where the tenant has bad conditions, but is not involved in a pending eviction case. Affirmative housing conditions where an eviction is not pending. Student loan cases: Borrowers who are delinquent on their student loans can face wage garnishment, seizure of tax refunds and very large collection fees. If a student becomes seriously disabled after attending school, they may be eligible for a student loan disability discharge. Borrowers' disability discharge applications are often turned down for minor mistakes in the application or the doctor's letter. With a little help from an attorney, these loans may be discharged, making a huge difference in the client's life. Completing an application and helping a borrower will take an attorney an average of 5 hours of intermittent work. This includes filling out the application, contacting the doctor, and following up with the loan holder. Utilities: Will accept cases concerning issues with utilities: service, termination, payment plan, etc. 20