Central Jersey Legal Services

Central Jersey Legal Services (cjls) is a nonprofit law firm that serves low-income residents of middlesex, mercer, and union counties. Cjls had 37 attorneys and 20 paralegals as well as other support staff in four offices in the region's largest cities, trenton, perth amboy, new brunswick and elizabeth. Offices are open monday-friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are also 150 private attorneys who have volunteered their time and expertise to provide Legal Services to eligible clients free of charge. The program provides free civil Legal Services to individuals and families with income less than 250% of the federal poverty level, or $57,575 for a family of three. Cjls attorneys and paralegals provide clients with advice and representation to protect their housing and income, improve family stability, remove barriers to productive employment, widen access to health care and cjls assists survivors of domestic violence obtain restraining orders, support and custody. Cjls assists others with family issues providing advice, assistance and representation. Cjls Services offers three levels of Services to support the client community and resolve individual client problems. First, case handlers provide Legal assessment, advice and referral in cases where the client is able to resolve their Legal problem on their own. Information and instruction from an attorney or paralegal improves client's ability to advocate on their own behalf and achieve their desired outcome. Second, in complex matters or those with serious Legal consequences, cjls, provides Legal representation in administrative and court proceedings. Finally the program delivers community Legal education to the target population. Through workshops and clinics, and coordination with other social service provider agencies, cjls raises community awareness of Legal protections and provided community members with the tools necessary to assert their rights and promote their Legal interests.cjls helped clients avoid eviction or overcome foreclosure, defend their rights under the terms of the lease, improve substandard housing conditions, and secure vital housing subsidies. Cjls helped clients secure bankruptcy protection, end creditor harassment, defend against foreclosure, negotiate resolution of debt, and fight unfair and illegal sales practices. Cjls assisted clients to obtain, increase or protect important sources of income from social security, disability, unemployment, food stamps, and tanf, so they could provide for themselves and their families. Central Jersey Legal Services closed 8,789 cases between july 1, 2022 and june 30, 2023.