Delaware Volunteer Legal Services Inc

Programs: Legal help link - the lhl coordinates the services of dvls, clasi, lscd, wusl's delaware civil clinic and the dsba's lawyer referral program. The lhl is a centralized intake system that enables prospective clients to make one call to determine if they have a case that one of the four legal services organizations handles and whether the callers are eligible for client services. Eligible callers are transferred to the appropriate organization. If none of the organizations handle the type of cases (for example, a traffic violation or personal injury), or the caller is not income eligible, lhl staff will complete a lawyer referral form for the dsba. The fact that lhl callers speak with a live person has greatly increased the number of requests for lawyer referrals. The legal help link receives approximately 35,000 to 40,000 calls annually.

pfa pro bono program - the program consists of pro bono attorneys representing victims of domestic violence in new castle county with pfa hearings. A staff attorney and a law clerk interview victims in court on the day of the hearing and assess each request for assistance and discuss the pfa process with the victims. The staff attorney then refers meritorious cases to the pro bono attorney or dvls family law attorney for representation on that day. In addition, the family law attorney is available to offer advice and representation to other victims that might not otherwise get assistance.

legal services for victims - the legal services for victims program focuses on providing legal assistance to victims of crime in family court protective order and custody matters