The legal services programs in Connecticut are a group of nonprofit organizations which provide legal assistance in urgent civil matters to low-income persons. Services are free. Eligibility depends upon income, family size, assets and legal issue.

The legal services programs focus their resources on priority issues - civil legal problems which harm their clients most and about which they can be most helpful. Examples include helping victims of domestic violence, elderly people facing nursing home problems, families in danger of homelessness, and people with disabilities seeking help with basic needs.

The programs only assist low-income people - households that are near or below the federal poverty level.

Working Together: The programs work together to advocate for (and with) people who are low income, on a variety of issues. In addition to individual legal advice and representation, the legal services programs help clients, community groups, and providers through free trainings, pamphlets and other information.

Information on how to apply for assistance can be found at www.slsct.org.

The legal services system includes the following programs:

• Connecticut Legal Services, Inc.
  Connecticut Legal Services (CLS) provides legal representation to low-income persons throughout the state, except those living in the greater Hartford or New Haven areas.

• Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Inc.
  The Greater Hartford Legal Aid program (GHLA) provides legal representation to low-income persons who live in the greater Hartford area.

• New Haven Legal Assistance Association
  New Haven Legal Assistance Association (LAA) provides legal services to low-income persons in the greater New Haven and lower Naugatuck Valley areas.

Several smaller legal services agencies also addressing specific civil legal needs of low-income people in Connecticut:

• The Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc. helps solve civil law problems for adults who have, or are perceived to have, a psychiatric disability.

• The Connecticut Fair Housing Center ensures that all people have equal access to housing opportunities in Connecticut.

• The Center For Children's Advocacy promotes and protects the legal rights and interests of poor children dependent upon the judicial, child welfare, health and mental health, education, and juvenile justice systems for their care.

• The Children's Law Center of Connecticut, Inc. provides indigent children with representation on family matters in the Hartford, Putnam, and Rockville courts.

• Lawyers For Children America matches pro bono lawyers with abused and neglected children in need of legal assistance.

Note: The legislative appropriation of funds sought by The Equal Access to Justice Coalition would support increased client assistance by the programs listed above. It would not be used to support the remaining programs described below, which are not funded by the Connecticut Bar Foundation.

• Statewide Legal Services
  Statewide Legal Services (SLS) is available by phone to clients throughout Connecticut. Generally, SLS is the entry point for accessing legal assistance. SLS may provide advice over the phone, mail information, or refer clients to a legal services office or private attorney at no cost to the client.

• Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut
  The Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut (LARCC) coordinates publications, policy advocacy and staff training for the legal services programs. In addition, LARCC sponsors the Connecticut Alliance for Basic Human Needs (CABHN), a statewide advocacy network. CABHN publishes a free monthly newsletter and conducts community outreach and education.

• The Connecticut Bar Association-Sponsored Pro Bono Program
  Private lawyers working within the Connecticut Bar Association's Law Works For People program handle civil law referrals for low-income families and individuals.