Rockland Legal Aid: What You Should Know

An Introduction to Rockland Legal Aid

Since 1964, Legal Services of Hudson Valley has been the provider of legal aid services for low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Rockland County. Legal Services seeks to provide equal access to justice through legal representation, advocacy, litigation, collaboration, outreach, and education. In Rockland County, Legal Services primarily focuses on the following service areas: Family Law, Housing & Support (including eviction defense, protection from domestic violence and foreclosure defense), Immigration (limited to asylum seekers and VAWA applicants), Consumer, Disability Advocacy, Public Benefits, and Guardianship.
While Legal Services provides many helpful services, you should know that it does not provide free personal injury services, criminal representation, or services for those seeking immigrant status. If you are looking for a personal injury attorney, criminal representation, or help with your immigration case, you will have to look elsewhere.
Aside from its normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm), Legal Services also operates evening clinics every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, as well as Saturday clinics once a month. If you are seeking a legal consultation during those hours, you will need to arrive at the office prior to 8:30 am to be screened for eligibility and attend a short seminar before meeting with an attorney . However, you should remember that there is no guarantee of seeing an attorney, or even receiving extended advice. It is just as likely that they will give you basic advice and send you on your way without providing any further assistance. That is not to say that people do not find this service helpful, but you should be aware of this before preparing for your first appointment at Legal Services.
In order to be eligible for the free services provided by Legal Services, you generally must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and have a legal problem that Legal Services handles. The Federal Poverty Level can fluctuate each year, depending on current economic conditions, but for an idea of where you stand, 200% of the 2022 Federal Poverty Level for a family of four is approximately $57,000. Depending on your financial situation, this amount can be greater or less than what you can afford, so this is just a general guideline. On their website, Legal Services publishes charts that go into greater detail regarding income and household size.
It seems that Legal Services may be more focused on the "legal services" part of their mission statement, but like any other nonprofit law organization, Legal Services needs to operate on a budget, and use its limited resources where it sees the most need.

Who Is Eligible for Rockland Legal Aid?

Each program at the Rockland County Legal Aid Society has its own eligibility requirements. However, all programs at The Legal Aid Society are subject to financial eligibility standards. Generally, if a potential client household earns more than 125% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ poverty guidelines, then the household or individual is not financially eligible for Legal Aid’s services or assistance. These guidelines are updated each year and the society’s income eligibility screening worksheets are updated accordingly. Income eligibility standards vary for different programs and are specified in the individual program descriptions.
In addition, eligibility programs are limited by age, family status, and location. Some programs are limited to households of certain ages, such as the Senior Citizens Lawyer Project, which requires applicants to be age 60 or older. Other cases are limited by family status, such as the Consumer Credit Project, which is only open to families with minor children. Rockland Legal Aid Societies Office locations, in addition to their respective remote offices, are also a factor in eligibility.

Services Provided by Rockland Legal Aid

Legal Aid of Rockland County currently provides a number of legal services and resources for residents. These services are designed to comprehensively address the services in a manner that is affordable and effective. The various services and areas of support include: Housing and Utility Issues – allows those who may have experienced eviction or foreclosure to gain representation and support in resolving legal matters related to these issues. Support is provided by a dedicated housing staff that works closely with residents to determine their needs and develop a plan of action. Family Law Issues – encompasses several areas of law that pertain to domestic issues. Representation is designed to support those who are seeking divorce, establish legal custody or visitation, and other issues relating to family law. Immigration – provides service to immigrants and their families, handling issues including the process to obtain US citizenship and Green Card status, as well as other immigration and naturalization issues. In addition, the agency supports residents in navigating matters involving family petitions and work visas. Government Benefits – assists residents with legal issues pertaining to Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance and other related governmental benefit programs. Individual Representation – those who are facing issues with the legal system may seek out individual representation from Legal Aid of Rockland County. The organization fights for the rights of residents who need to gain justice and resolution in many legal matters. These represent only a few of the legal services that are offered by Legal Aid of Rockland County.

Applying for Rockland Legal Aid

Applying for Rockland Legal Aid is generally the first step those facing legal challenges should take. When caught in the middle of a complex legal situation, getting access to support is paramount. The good news is that if you can’t afford an attorney, Rockland Legal Aid can help. However, that doesn’t mean the application process happens right away. In fact, there are some things you should know about the process before diving in.
First, no matter where your case is based, Rockland Legal Aid offers additional info by phone. The local office can be reached at (845) 634-3626. This number provides direct access to a staff member who can help. The staff can answer any questions about the application process or programs offered by Rockland Legal Aid.
There’s also a free booklet available that goes through the process to obtain legal aid through Rockland. The process maps out what people need to know about eligibility, including net income requirements. The booklet also highlights what to expect when meeting with an attorney or support staff.
You can even begin the legal aid application process online with the efficient online form. The form requires basic information, including the applicant’s name, phone number, address, and email. Some questions help the legal aid team match applicants with the appropriate team member. By asking about your legal situation, the team at Rockland Legal Aid can match you with an attorney who specializes in your area of need.
The biggest consideration revolves around time. When dealing with any legal situation, you want the case handled as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there’s just no way around required paperwork. Additionally, legal aid offices require individuals to meet in-person to discuss their situation before moving forward. Sometimes attorneys will travel to meet clients, but this usually happens within certain parameters. Otherwise, meeting must happen at the Rockland office or another public location.
Once all paperwork is in place, applicants are generally put on a waitlist. New clients are picked from the waitlist depending on open availability. Those who can afford legal aid are encouraged to seek help elsewhere. If legal aid increases significantly, the waitlist grows. But patience is key. When it comes to resolving legal cases, waiting is almost always inevitable.
When you’re up against a legal issue, you need all the help you can get. That’s where Rockland Legal Aid comes in. These dedicated professionals want to help your case resolve as soon as possible. Never miss out on assistance for your court case. With support, you can focus on other priorities in your life outside of the legal issue at hand.

Rockland Legal Aid Successes

The impact of legal aid in Rockland goes far beyond the case law. For many families, legal aid for housing matters has kept a roof over their heads. In these cases as well as cases involving consumer matters, success is defined by averted disaster.
In one recent case, Legal Aid and All Our Kin, along with area housing advocates and housing providers, helped a family avoid homelessness after they lost their housing funding source under a prior rent voucher program.
For this family, legal aid support was immediately made available to assist with an application into an alternative rental subsidy program . The assistance included a review of the rental agreement and fair housing advise. Rental assistance was then provided through a faith based organization (a successful referral made by Legal Aid attorneys) while the new voucher application was processed.
Through a collaboration with local housing providers, Rockland volunteers and community based organizations, Legal Aid clients can be empowered in housing matters and avoid an otherwise disastrous situation in less than 30 days.

Issues with Rockland Legal Aid

There are many challenges facing Rockland Legal Aid, even as it stands to benefit from the current situation. First and foremost, funding is in flux. The organization saw a steady decline in state funding years ago, and has been greatly helped by the now expiring extraneous funds from the New York Times lawsuit. The decline in funding has lead to the need for an increase in pro bono work, as the number of cases that Rockland Legal Aid can take is limited by how much the Circuit Court of Appeals for the State of New York constitutionally must provide for legal representation. In addition, although there is the possibility of increased funding pending on renewal of an appropriation through the state, without that funding, Rockland Legal Aid would have to lay off attorneys, and request that pro bono attorneys take on more pro bono work. In addition, while there is some need for community education regarding its DUI and DWI practices, it competes with the growing interest in criminal law currently so there is no lack of highly intelligent individuals willing to volunteer. While the organization wants non-profits to help provide pro bono or other legal services, since 2009, legislators have filed a series of bills which would have the effect of broadly expanding the prohibition against any solicitation or advertisement of legal services by nonprofits. As a result of these issues, it is imperative that Rockland Legal Aid be properly funded, and that it find those who are willing to volunteer their time and talent in a capacity which would truly help society. On the bright side, the current situation has been a good opportunity for Rockland Legal Aid to get its message out, and towards that goal, it has succeeded.

Helping Rockland Legal Aid

Supporting Rockland Legal Aid is simple, and your assistance can make a real difference. As a non-profit organization, Rockland Legal Aid relies in part on the support of individuals and local businesses in the community to continue providing much-needed legal services. If you are looking for ways to assist Rockland Legal Aid, there are several ways you can help.
One way to support Rockland Legal Aid is by making a donation. As with most legal aid organizations, Rockland Legal Aid offers free and low-cost legal services, meaning that the organization must rely on alternate funding sources to cover some of its overhead costs. Consider making a one-time donation to Rockland Legal Aid, or set up a recurring donation so that you can provide regular support. Donating your time is another way to support Rockland Legal Aid. There are opportunities available for both attorneys and non-attorneys to volunteer with Rockland Legal Aid, and you do not have to be an attorney to make a difference . For example, you might be able to volunteer during clinics, conduct client intakes or even translate for individuals who speak different languages and need assistance. Not only can volunteering help provide assistance to those in your community who cannot afford legal counsel, but it can also open the door for opportunities to network with other attorneys and in some cases, even provide pro bono work experience on your resume.
A third way you can support Rockland Legal Aid is by telling others about the organization. Consider speaking at schools or community events and getting the word out about this valuable organization. You might also help by spreading the word on social media. Finally, you can encourage others you know who have legal issues that may require assistance to contact Rockland Legal Aid to see if they may be eligible for assistance.