When people fall on financial hard times, critical life needs – like having a roof over their head – can be violently disrupted. Legal Aid helps people stabilize before problems snowball.

We helped Scott file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection, giving him time to stabilize while keeping up payments to make good on his mortgage. Even when he lost work during the pandemic, Scott kept at it. And this year, after 4 years of making good on his payment plan, Scott came through it: current on mortgage payments, working a steady job, and back on stable footing.

Scott says, “LAWM helped me in one of the most vulnerable times in my life. My attorney was kind, understanding, and accessible. Her encouraging words helped keep me focused on the goal instead of the pain of it in the middle of it. She fought for me, she made me believe I could do this, and she’s why I still have a house. The whole LAWM team, with professionalism and courtesy, was a brightness in dark times. Thank you. You’re helping people.”

Last month we launched our Clean Slate Pathway expungement project – expanding our legal help for people who want to change their lives by moving on from past mistakes.

Last week, we announced a collaboration with Warner Norcross and the NAACP - helping connect Pathway to communities of color which have been disproportionately impacted within the criminal justice system. When people make a mistake, pay their debt to society, and earn the right to move on, we want them to understand their expungement options and successfully navigate the legal process.

Here’s a one-minute story from WGVU overviewing our work with Warner Norcross and the NAACP.

We’ve rolled out two new videos covering topics which our clients frequently ask about.

What to consider when thinking about a divorce

Understanding a Power of Attorney