Introduction to Pendleton Legal Aid
After reviewing the mission statement and information from their official site it seems they have a clearly defined vision and purpose, besides the basic legal assistance that they will of course provide as a law firm. So let us dive a bit deeper into what they do and how they can help you.
What is Pendleton Legal Aid?
Pendleton Legal Aid is a non-profit 501(c)3 law firm that provides legal assistance to low income families with children and other vulnerable members; their objective is to serve clients who cannot afford to pay for legal services. They have a vision of helping families become empowered to solve their own problems, and collaborating with local organizations and groups to build and enforce a fair and equitable community.
They believe that by obtaining access to justice they are provided with greater dignity and fairness in society is worth fighting for; they seek to empower self-reliance through advocacy, thoughtful leadership and collaboration with other groups to build an equitable community for everyone .
Services Offered by Pendleton Legal Aid
Pendleton Legal Aid provides many different services and legal support for low income families; the goal is to protect the rights of the poor against injustice and inequality. Legal Aid does this by providing assistance in advocacy, representation and community education. Some of the forms of assistance they provide are: Family Law assistance, Expungement Clinics addressing criminal records questions, Elder Law in regard to the elderly and their loved ones, Federal Jurisdiction to address matters like Social Security, and other civil issues and forms of relief for those that cannot afford an attorney or legal counsel.
In addition, there are a wide variety of community outreach modules that Pendleton Legal Aid offers; including juvenile justice initiatives through juvenile voter registration drives, they partner with the faith based community to help provide proper legal resources to local churches, and they advertise multiple workshops open to the general public to educate people and inform citizens of their legal rights.
Services in Pendleton Legal Aid
Pendleton Legal Aid provides a variety of vital services to those in need of professional legal help. Because it is privately funded and nonprofit, it is able to provide all of its legal assistance free of charge to the citizens who seek it. Some of the more common issues that Pendleton Legal Aid can assist with include family law, housing, unemployment, personal injury, adult guardianship and foreclosure. However, they are also equipped to assist with dozens of other areas of the law.
Family Law
The attorneys at Pendleton Legal Aid have experience in the courts of most surrounding counties in the context of family law. This includes child support, divorce, child custody disputes and more. In the context of child custody disputes, if you have been denied visitation or if you believe that your ex-spouse has violated a current court order, Pendleton Legal Aid can assist you in filing an appropriate petition. If you are in need of child support or have questions about withholding child support, an attorney from Pendleton Legal Aid can also ensure the equation is as fair as possible.
Foreclosure and Debt Management
If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, be advised that the trustee of the mortgage company will likely file a notice of default 90 days after you’ve missed your first payment. You don’t want to wait until this happens to think about looking for assistance in saving your home. Pendleton Legal Aid can negotiate a loan modification or other programs to provide relief. Foreclosure mediation services are also available, providing a forum for you and your lender to discuss the best options for saving the home. It’s important to keep good records throughout this process, including notices and letters sent by the bank, so be sure to document your efforts.
Civil Law
Termination of nursing home or medical care services; sibling visitation rights; adult guardianships and conservatorships; bankruptcy; and petitions to seal criminal records are only a handful of the areas in civil law that Pendleton Legal Aid can assist you with. Its attorneys will work with you to develop a personalized course of action suitable to your needs.
Other Services
Other services include mediation of both family and civil law disputes. Mediators help parties come to agreement before a trial becomes necessary and help to reduce the backlog of cases on the court docket. This service is usually conducted in the office at no charge. If you are a veteran or a senior citizen or disabled person, there are a number of additional legal matters for which Pendleton Legal Aid can provide free assistance.
Access to Pendleton Legal Aid
To access services through Pendleton Legal Aid, prospective clients must first contact the office to determine eligibility. Eligibility is based on factors such as income, the nature of the legal issue, household size, and the availability of other legal resources in the immediate area. It is essential to be entirely truthful during the initial assessment process, as any inaccuracies may adversely impact the assistance that can be provided.
If deemed eligible for pro-bono or reduced-fee legal aid, individuals or families will be scheduled for a financial intake interview. This process will ascertain the extent of the need for assistance in a legal matter. At this meeting, they will be required to bring a resume or employment verification if they are employed, proof of monthly expenses, information about all personal and real property they own, and information about any prior ownership of property, along with their most recent tax return. Failure to disclose accurate information during this process may jeopardize the legal aid available to them.
If a case or matter is taken, an attorney will be assigned by Pendleton Legal Aid and will begin working on achieving a resolution. Throughout the process, the client will be expected to maintain regular communication with the assigned attorney, whose primary goal is to assist the client in achieving a successful resolution to the case. In some cases, this means an out-of-court resolution. However, if litigation is necessary, the client is expected to attend all necessary hearings, consult with the lawyer regarding strategies, and carry out tasks as advised.
In short, the vital steps to accessing legal aid through Pendleton Legal Aid are:
Call or visit the office for an initial intake interview
Complete a financial intake meeting
Provide the required documentation
Follow the attorney’s instructions and maintain regular communication
To ensure effective representation, it is imperative that clients remain honest and transparent.
Impact of Pendleton Legal Aid on Public
In recent years, Pendleton Legal Aid (PLA) has handled over 500 cases annually. A frequently raised issue is securing the required documents needed to submit a case to the program. Such documents include 12-month income history, income verification, truck lease agreements, maintenance and operation records and incident (accident) reports. Most all of these records must be obtained from companies; and obtaining them can oftentimes prove to be an all-consuming process requiring several letters, calls and follow-ups with companies. Nevertheless, PLA, to date, has been successful in obtaining all of the documentation for all of the cases that it has submitted.
Although some have argued that the average settlement amount awarded to PLA clients ($24, 195.00 in 2012-2013) is less than that awarded to other class members (average amount awarded to non-PLA class members was $25, 564), it is important to note that the awards received by PLA clients are monetary jump-starts to claimants who were most often downwardly mobile at the time they entered the industry.
Because an ex-employee or former contractor faces the prospect of applying for workers’ compensation or trying to pick up with life where it left off, many see the monetary jump start awarded by PLA as invaluable. Furthermore, whereas the majority of the cases PLA handles involve decreased incomes which make it impossible for claimants to purchase trucks, the combination of monetary awards and obtained truck financing makes purchasing a new truck a possibility. Finally, unlike many settlements that require claimants to sign releases that preclude the possibility of further payments or awards for the same injury or accident, PLA settlements only give claimants "a head start." Thus, if other claims or lawsuits are pending, claimants may participate in such litigation as well.
In short, the program offers claimants who suffered income loss as a result of their work with a chance to start again.
Funding Sources for Pendleton Legal Aid
The Financial Backbone of Pendleton Legal Aid: Realized through the generosity of private individuals, organizations, foundations and the government, Pendleton Legal Aid is dedicated to bridging the justice gap by providing legal assistance to those who have nowhere else to turn. Employment law, family law, foreclosure and bankruptcy law, housing and consumer issues, Indian and tribal law provide the underpinnings and framework for a socially conscious Pendleton Legal Aid. Funding for Pendleton Legal Aid is raised in part through the Pendleton Bar Association plus fundraising events involving community members and the judicial system. Government grants and support from private donors , law firms and organizations contribute significantly to our success in serving the citizens of the state and the United States generally. We are proud to acknowledge the following funding organizations with thanks: The Campaign for Equal Justice, Oregon Law Foundation, Legal Services Corporation, Oregon State Bar Foundation, and the United Fund of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. Internal support is provided by the Pendleton Bar Association. Volunteer contributions come from an army of committed local attorneys and citizens. Without this altruism, support and elbow grease, Pendleton Legal Aid would not exist.
Intern/Volunteer for Pendleton Legal Aid
With the mission to provide justice for all by providing high quality civil legal services to low income residents and the mission of transforming society through a just legal system, Pendleton Legal Aid welcomes volunteers who support our commitment to access to justice for all people in our region. Our work simply would not be possible without the assistance of volunteers and interns who generously give their time, talents, and passion to the work we do.
With support from our donors and the community at large, Pendleton Legal Aid accepts volunteers to assist with a variety of different tasks and roles within the organization on an ongoing basis. Internships are available year-round for college students, graduate students, and law school students who are interested in gaining experience in the legal field. Student interns have the opportunity to learn many different aspects of working in a legal aid office, including conducting eligibility interviews, assisting clients with legal applications, interviewing clients, courtroom preparations, and attending hearings. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend special events and trainings held by Pendleton Legal Aid or upstate networks.
Pendleton Legal Aid seeks to provide individuals with disabilities the same opportunities as all other individuals. Volunteers and interns of Pendleton Legal Aid have access to the essential resources that are necessary to complete their work. All individuals will be provided reasonable accommodations as necessary. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
If you are interested in interning with or volunteering at our law firm, please send an inquiry by email to [email protected]. Interested individuals may be subject to an interview in-person or over the phone, and will be required to pass a background check prior to beginning work with Pendleton Legal Aid.
Challenges for Pendleton Legal Aid
As with many service-oriented non-profit organizations, Pendleton Legal Aid, Inc. faces a number of common problems and challenges that can make consistent service availability difficult. First and foremost is the matter of financial constraints. While it is generally true that statute-based and foundation-based funding has not been as volatile as the general economy, the loss of a few grants or major donors in a given fiscal year can cause difficulties in making it through to the next one. Budget constraints and restrictions associated with particular grants can also affect staffing patterns and temporary service availability in different communities.
Pendleton also faces another problem that is common to many similar groups. It must find a way to maintain staff which is necessary to meet the current demand, while also finding a way to increase overall staffing as funding allows it. In the past, the organization has utilized volunteer attorneys and students to add hours in the office, and would regularly benefit from a summer law clerk program. Unfortunately, that program has been affected by budget cuts and outreach and funding constraints which have made it difficult to participate in across the board.
Finally, because of the nature of the legal issues faced by many low-income clients, there is a large number of individuals who seek assistance from Pendleton, and those who must be turned away or referred to other legal aid programs. In order to deal with the current economic crisis, Pendleton Legal Aid has been forced to cease some non-core standard services, such as divorce cases where there are no children, to re-organize grants along core service lines. However, it continues to provide bankruptcy relief services, public entitlement service, guardianship and conservatorship, debt collection issues and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases in almost all circumstances.
Pendleton Legal Aid, Inc. anticipates that demand for services will continue to increase in the near future, with conditions possibly affecting the economy for several more years to come.
Future of Legal Aid in Pendleton
Currently, Pendleton Legal Aid is working on expanding their outreach programs. They are looking for ways to further improve and streamline their service delivery model. A new branch of Pendleton Legal Aid is set to open in the coming year. This new base of operations will allow for more face to face interaction with clients which, in turn, allows them to further assist in legal matters which may go unresolved due to complex and cumbersome communication methods.
During its 40 someodd years of service, Pendleton Legal Aid has always been committed to maximizing its service delivery potential in ways that best serve the needs of its clients. In regards to the future , this means streamlining communication efforts even more in order to aid in quicker resolutions to legal issues.
The future of Pendleton Legal Aid is a bright one. There are many individuals and groups that are working hard to ensure this. Community partners and dedicated volunteers have continued to help Pendleton Legal Aid overcome obstacles and serve the community at large. They are actively seeking innovative ideas which will allow them to act quickly and efficiently when serving others. Recent expansion and recruitment efforts have opened up several new avenues for the organization. Not only does the future of Pendleton Legal Aid look bright, but it also looks perfectly stratégique.
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