PRO BONO LEGAL RESOURCES

Legal aid to the poor and disenfranchised in Oakland County underwent a change of unprecedented magnitude in 2003. Legal Services Corporation, the federally mandated agency responsible for funding legal aid for the low income and underrepresented, underwent a massive nationwide reorganization, accompanied by drastic funding reductions.

As a result, the Oakland County Bar Association became integrally involved in this crisis since our mission includes “ensuring the delivery of quality legal services to the public.” In this role, the OCBA is working with all of the current legal aid providers in Oakland County to ensure that the needs of our at risk Oakland County citizenry are met.

If you need an attorney but cannot afford to pay for one yourself, you need pro bono services and direct legal representation. Please call one of the following:

Direct Legal Representation

Legal Aid and Defender
Legal Aid and Defender provides legal assistance in civil legal matters including housing, bankruptcy, consumer protection, public benefits, etc. There is an income requirement to be eligible for services.

Contact: TOLL FREE (877) 964-4700

www.ladadetroit.org

HELP DESK

Legal Aid and Defender also hosts a HELP DESK each Thursday at the Oakland County Courthouse from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. The HELP DESK is located in the north lobby entrance of the courthouse at 1200 North Telegraph, Pontiac, MI. The program is designed to assist pro se litigants by providing legal information and referrals for legal services, as well as legal advice/representation for eligible residents. LADA may be able to assist with landlord-tenant problems, mortgage foreclosure, food stamps, medicaid, social security benefits, bankruptcy, school related issues, utility problems, collection cases, garnishments and other civil legal matters.

Family Law Assistance Project (FLAP)
A collaboration of Lakeshore Legal Aid and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School provides legal assistance in family law matters including divorce, custody, parenting time, paternity, child support, guardianship and domestic personal protection orders. Clients may access services by attending walk-in intake clinics at the Adams-Pratt Oakland County Law Library every other Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For additional information, as well as upcoming clinic dates please go to:  http://www.oakgov.com/libraries/Pages/events/familylaw.aspx

Additionally, FLAP offers forms and instructions to assist those representing themselves in custody and paternity actions. Clients must attend the intake clinic at the Law Library to be pre-screened for eligibility. For more information please contact (248) 335-0125. 

University of Detroit’s Mobile Law Office
The Mobile Law Office (MLO) provides legal assistance for elder law benefit matters, immigration cases, veteran matters, juvenile law matters and mortgage foreclosure cases.  On other matters a referral will be provided to pro bono or other attorneys. There is no cost to, nor financial limit on, speaking with members of the MLO group from UDM. However, cases undertaken for representation will be for persons whose income is within 200% of the poverty level.   

The Mobile Law Office visits the Adams-Pratt Oakland County Law Library every other Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Registration before 12:30 p.m. is required to be seen on that date.

Contact: Professors Michael Bryce or Peggy Costello at (313) 596-0262 or (313) 596-0235 for the Mobile Law Office’s scheduled visits at local Oakland County non profits.

www.law.udmercy.edu/about/mlo/index.php

Counsel and Advocacy Law Line (CALL)
CALL provides legal advice, brief services and referrals on non-criminal matters to people aged 60+ in Oakland County. There is no income requirement for service.

Contact: TOLL FREE (888) 783-8190
(248) 569-9658

Christian Legal Aid Clinics
Christian Legal Aid holds clinics every Tuesday afternoon from 12:00 to 2:00 for any legal matter if a volunteer attorney is available. There is an income requirement but no appointment is necessary.

Please call (248) 269-2027 for more information.

Location:
St. Vincent de Paul
46408 Woodward
Pontiac, Michigan 48342
www.clsnet.org

Common Ground
Common Ground offers legal clinics where free consultations, informed recommendations, and referrals are given without direct representation for any legal matter.  Clients are seen on a walk-in, first-come, first–served basis. The clinics are held weekly at the following days/times/locations:

Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Common Ground Administrative Offices
1410 South Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Oakland County Law Library
1200 North Telegraph Road
West Wing Extension, Second Floor
Pontiac, MI 48341

Please call the Legal Services Manager at (248) 451-3753 or visit www.commongroundhelps.org for more information.

Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) - Southeastern Michigan
Provides free legal advice, counsel and immigration representation on a range of immigration legal issues to immigrants with a household income at or below 200 percent of the poverty line. Legal issues include: adjustment of status, naturalization, family-based petitions, petitions for victims of domestic violence and other crimes. JFON does not handle detained cases, employment-based immigration cases, or criminal-based immigration cases.

Three intake clinics are hosted monthly in Dearborn, Pontiac and Ypsilanti. JFON operates by appointment only. To schedule an appointment please leave a message at (734) 709-1151 and your call will be returned.

For more information please visit the JFON website at www.jfonsemi.org

Legal Aid and Defender
The Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) is a nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission to provide comprehensive, aggressive legal advocacy and representation for residents of metropolitan Detroit. LAD holds clinics in Ferndale, Southfield and Pontiac on a rotating basis for any legal matter. There is an income requirement.

Please call (248) 253-1548, ext. 4005 for the schedule and location information.

www.ladadetroit.org

Southfield Legal Clinics
The Southfield Legal Clinic holds clinics every other Tuesday evening for any legal matter. There is no income requirement but you must be a Southfield resident.

Please call (248) 796-4540 to schedule an appointment.

Location:
26080 Berg Road
Southfield, MI 48033
www.cityofsouthfield.com

The Salvation Army William Booth Legal Aid Clinic
The mission of The Salvation Army William Booth Legal Aid Clinic is to improve and facilitate the administration of justice in the community. The Clinic provides general counsel and advice in the following areas: Consumer Debt, Landlord/Tenant, Juvenile/ Guardianship, Immigration, Wills, Public Benefits and General Advocacy.

Please call (313) 361-6340 for prescreening to determine eligibility and to schedule and appointment at the Pontiac location.

Location:
469 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. S.
Pontiac, MI 48342
wblac@usc.salvationarmy.org

Thomas M. Cooley Law School Estate Planning Clinic
This collaboration between Lakeshore Legal Aid and Thomas M. Cooley Law School provides free estate planning services to seniors in Oakland County.

The clinic accepts applicants if they are 1.) Oakland County residents; and 2.) age 60 or older; and 3.) have an estate valued at a maximum of $150,000 for single people or $250,000 for married couples (not including primary residence.)

Please email epc@cooley.edu or call (248) 33-0125 to schedule an appointment.

Attachments:

2012 FLAP Schedule
FLAP Clinic Schedule 2011
HELP Desk Flyer