Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
October is Pro Bono Month, which means there is a focus on ways the public can get help with legal issues. Many common problems people face are actually legal issues. From bad housing conditions to demands from debt collectors, problems with family and more, a legal professional can protect you from many of these issues before they result in a lawsuit.
What assistance is available?
Many lawyers and legal professionals volunteer in their communities by offering free legal services. This is called "pro bono" and it means work done "for the public good."
The Utah State Bar offers many pro bono services including a Virtual Legal Clinic where you can get a free 20-30 minute telephone consult with a legal professional. Volunteers can help in 19 different practice areas including family law, housing, debt collection, employment, criminal defense, and estate planning.
You can submit questions to Utah Free Legal Answers where pro bono lawyers respond to legal questions. The State Bar works with many community partners who also offer free legal help.
Sometimes, you need more than brief advice. The Utah State Bar's Access to Justice Office runs a Pro Se Calendar Program to provide free limited representation for some people appearing on designated family law, immediate occupancy, and debt collection calendars.
The office offers a Modest Means Referral Program to connect you with lawyers offering their services for a reduced rate. Finally, the Utah State Bar may be able to place you with a lawyer offering full representation for free through our pro bono case circulation.
Who qualifies for free or reduced help?
Anyone can get a free consultation through the Virtual Legal Clinic without restrictions or qualifying. Other programs rely on federal poverty guidelines that are updated each year. If you earn up to 125% then you usually qualify for free help. If you earn between 125% to 300% of these guidelines, then you qualify for the Modest Means Referral Program.
In addition, many full-price lawyers offer ways to limit costs. They may use a sliding scale for fees based on your income. They may provide limited scope representation. They may also "unbundle" their services, which means they do some work or tasks for you without doing everything for your case.
For example, they may help you review and file a form, or you can hire them just to make a phone call or write a letter. The key is to be creative when talking with a legal professional so they can customize their services to what you can afford.
How you can get help
Visit www.utahlegalhelp.org to learn more about how you can get help. You will find all the programs mentioned here as well as many other services and programs offered by our community partners. You can also visit the Utah State Bar's website or the Utah State Court Self-Help Center for further information and to access self-help forms.
