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Legal Aid Societies

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Legal Aid Societies, in the U.S., nonprofit organizations founded to provide legal advice and court representation without cost or for a nominal fee to litigants unable to pay a lawyer. With offices in most large cities, legal aid societies are usually autonomous local bodies, often connected with and sponsored by the local bar association or some other law-affiliated group. Legal aid societies usually handle either civil or criminal cases; some deal with both. In larger jurisdictions, criminal cases are usually delegated to a government agency known as the public defender’s office. Counsel may also be assigned by the court. Most legal aid and defender organizations have a paid staff; additional lawyers are volunteers. These societies are supported by voluntary contributions, tax money, or both.

The first U.S. legal aid society was founded in New York City in 1876. In 1911 the National Alliance of Legal Aid Societies was formed to promote the concept of legal aid to the indigent. Now known as the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, it acts as a national coordinating and planning agency for legal aid and defender work.



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