Low Cost Legal Services Available to Eligible Consumers
For those victims of consumer frauds (ie. foreclosure rescue scams, deed thefts, home improvement scams, home repair scams, etc.) who are looking for looking for low cost legal services, LawHelp.org may be a good starting point in finding these services. LawHelp.org helps low and moderate income people find free legal aid programs in their communities, and answers to questions about their legal rights.
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) website is another source of civil legal assistance to those in need. LSC funds 138 legal aid programs with 700 offices around the nation to help poor Americans gain equal access to the judicial system. For a list of those legal services providers that are funded by LSC throughout the country click here, then pick "All States" & "All Counties" from the two dropdown menus, then click "Proceed" (those providers with website links can be found here).
To find an LSC-funded program by specific state, select your state here.
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) website is another source of civil legal assistance to those in need. LSC funds 138 legal aid programs with 700 offices around the nation to help poor Americans gain equal access to the judicial system. For a list of those legal services providers that are funded by LSC throughout the country click here, then pick "All States" & "All Counties" from the two dropdown menus, then click "Proceed" (those providers with website links can be found here).
To find an LSC-funded program by specific state, select your state here.
Examples of the type of legal aid help that is available to eligible consumers throughout the country
In Delaware, the Legal Services Corporation of Delaware handles a variety of consumer and housing type cases, including consumer fraud, foreclosures, and evictions.
In Illinois, the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago has been providing free legal aid to eligible individuals in a variety of cases, including (through their Home Ownership Preservation Project) representing clients facing the loss of their homes through foreclosure or tax sale, focusing on homeowners who have been victimized by predatory lending or by some other type of fraud or overreaching. Illiinois Legal Aid provides a search engine allowing an individual to locate low cost legal assistance throughout the state based on their zip code.
In Nevada, Clark County Legal Services (Las Vegas) handles many types of cases, including those involving consumer fraud scams and housing issues. A list of sources of low cost legal assistance to eligible individuals all over Nevada can be found at NevadaLawHelp.org.
In Ohio, Ohio Legal Services provides a search engine that individuals can use to find low cost legal help throughout the state by county, zip code or by keyword.
In Massachusetts, Massachusetts Legal Services also provides a search engine that can be used to find legal assistance throughout the state by county, city, or town. A list of sources of low cost legal assistance throughout Massachusetts can be found here.
In Illinois, the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago has been providing free legal aid to eligible individuals in a variety of cases, including (through their Home Ownership Preservation Project) representing clients facing the loss of their homes through foreclosure or tax sale, focusing on homeowners who have been victimized by predatory lending or by some other type of fraud or overreaching. Illiinois Legal Aid provides a search engine allowing an individual to locate low cost legal assistance throughout the state based on their zip code.
In Nevada, Clark County Legal Services (Las Vegas) handles many types of cases, including those involving consumer fraud scams and housing issues. A list of sources of low cost legal assistance to eligible individuals all over Nevada can be found at NevadaLawHelp.org.
In Ohio, Ohio Legal Services provides a search engine that individuals can use to find low cost legal help throughout the state by county, zip code or by keyword.
In Massachusetts, Massachusetts Legal Services also provides a search engine that can be used to find legal assistance throughout the state by county, city, or town. A list of sources of low cost legal assistance throughout Massachusetts can be found here.
In Florida, Legal Services Of Greater Miami, Inc. has served Miami-Dade & Monroe Counties for 40 years. Click these links for samples of the types of real estate consumer fraud cases they handle:
For individuals in any state, using LawHelp.org and/or the Legal Services Corporation website should facillitate your search for low cost legal services throughout the country.
Eligibility requirements for these legal services providers are generally based on income. Be sure to ask what the eligibility requirements are in your area. These organizations generally handle only civil cases. Legal services in criminal cases to those who cannot afford an attorney are provided by your local county Public Defender's office.
For those seeking legal assistance but don't qualify for low cost Legal Aid, The National Association of Consumer Advocates provides a list of their members on their website who practice "consumer law" and may possibly be a source of legal assistance. Their membership list, by state, can be found here. Click the "View Details" button next to the specific attorney's name to find their contact information.
Keep in mind that, generally speaking, violations of Federal & State Consumer Protection Laws are written in a way so as to encourage private attorneys to take on Consumer Fraud cases on behalf of individuals (either rich, poor, or in between) on a "contingency fee basis", where he/she only gets paid if the case is won.
What that means, in the context of a consumer fraud case, is that if a private attorney takes your consumer fraud case and wins, the attorney can ask the judge to order the company you sued to pay your attorney his/her legal fees.
Bottom line is that, win or lose, even being represented by a private attorney experienced with consumer fraud matters on this basis should cost you little or nothing (whether you're rich, poor, or in between), even though you may not otherwise qualify for a local Legal Aid Attorney (who generally represents only those who are elderly, low-income, disabled or children).
Eligibility requirements for these legal services providers are generally based on income. Be sure to ask what the eligibility requirements are in your area. These organizations generally handle only civil cases. Legal services in criminal cases to those who cannot afford an attorney are provided by your local county Public Defender's office.
For those seeking legal assistance but don't qualify for low cost Legal Aid, The National Association of Consumer Advocates provides a list of their members on their website who practice "consumer law" and may possibly be a source of legal assistance. Their membership list, by state, can be found here. Click the "View Details" button next to the specific attorney's name to find their contact information.
Keep in mind that, generally speaking, violations of Federal & State Consumer Protection Laws are written in a way so as to encourage private attorneys to take on Consumer Fraud cases on behalf of individuals (either rich, poor, or in between) on a "contingency fee basis", where he/she only gets paid if the case is won.
What that means, in the context of a consumer fraud case, is that if a private attorney takes your consumer fraud case and wins, the attorney can ask the judge to order the company you sued to pay your attorney his/her legal fees.
Bottom line is that, win or lose, even being represented by a private attorney experienced with consumer fraud matters on this basis should cost you little or nothing (whether you're rich, poor, or in between), even though you may not otherwise qualify for a local Legal Aid Attorney (who generally represents only those who are elderly, low-income, disabled or children).
In conclusion, keep in mind that not all attorneys handle all types of cases. You may have to contact several legal services providers to find one who handles the "predatory lending", "consumer fraud" and/or "real estate / foreclosure prevention" issues that typically exist in "foreclosure rescue", "home equity theft", and home improvement and repair scams.
posted by Home Equity Theft Reporter at 3:12 PM
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