Most communities are served by one or more legal services program offices. Services are provided by staff lawyers and paralegals who have expertise with those types of cases most commonly encountered by individuals living below or near the poverty level. Eligibility for service is determined, in part, by income guidelines. Because of the high demand for services, and limited staff resources, legal services programs cannot serve everyone who needs assistance.
Programs are only able to accept a limited number and type of cases.
They use local attorneys who have agreed to provide free legal representation to eligible persons referred by the pro bono program. There are tens of thousands of attorneys throughout the country who volunteer their services through these programs. Like legal services offices, pro bono programs generally have financial and case type limitations. Other programs provide legal representation for a wide range of legal problems. The American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono has developed a Directory of local pro bono programs.