Judicare Legal Aid

The mission of Wisconsin Judicare, Inc. dba Judicare Legal Aid [jla] is to provide Legal assistance to those who otherwise cannot afford it. Jla is committed to providing high quality Legal services. Jla has staff that provides direct representation, as well as education for clients and their families, providing rights and responsibilities under the law. Staff members also provide education to the bar and the community in ways to address the diverse needs of our service population.during this fiscal year, jla provided Legal services in 2,414 cases in various subjects. The breakdown of those subjects is below. To provide these services, jla used the services of...(continued on sch o)twenty paid staff attorneys, four Legal advocates and 160 private attorneys and tribal lay advocates. Jla's work benefits the public in many ways. Cases move more quickly and more efficiently through the Legal system when an attorney represents a party to the case. By providing attorneys to represent parties, jla empowers our low-income clients to achieve fairer outcomes and navigate an incredibly complicated Legal system. Jla also plays a part supporting victims of violence as they face safety concerns, leaving an abusive spouse, or being the victim in a criminal case. Through jla's Legal assistance, victims are equipped with the tools to help them toward of future of safety, stability, and healing. In addition to direct Legal services, jla also provides resources for community members forced to engage with the Legal system without an attorney, and free mediation to resolve eviction, debt, and other small claims cases outside of the court system. These programs increase our ability to help community members with Legal questions, court forms, and finding solutions that can be beneficial for all involved. These programs help reduce unjust outcomes in our Legal system that are fueled by inequity in access to Legal information and representation. Finally, as jla is a recipient of federal Legal service corporation funds, there is no longer a prohibition from requesting and receiving attorney fee awards. The Legal services corporation regulations regarding this requirement were modified in december 2009. Jla does not collect fees for services from clients.case summary by subject:*9 adult guardianship*137 bankruptcy*2 child support*43 collection*6 contracts*4 creditor harassment*14 criminal record expungement*169 custody*8 delinquent*298 divorce*62 domestic abuse*25 employee rights*5 employment discrimination*57 federally subsidized housing*7 food share*1 home and community based long term care*25 home ownership*4 housing discrimination*5 indian law*7 licenses*4 long term health care facilities*9 medicaid*2 medicare*1 mental health*19 minor guardianship*42 mobile homes*78 mortgage not predatory lending practices*1 mortgage predatory lending practices*1 municipal Legal needs*3 neglect & abuse of juvenile*3 other consumer*4 other education*8 other employment*8 other family*1 other health*9 other housing*4 other income maintenance*46 other individual rights*1 other juvenile*3 other miscellaneous*2 pardons*1 parental rights termination*7 paternity*513 powers of attorney*211 private landlord/tenant*37 public housing*3 public utilities*2 social security*25 ssdi*61 ssi*1 state & local income maintenance*1 suspension*1 taxes*2 torts*4 tribal court criminal*39 unemployment compensation*6 wage claims and other flsa (fair labor standards act)*363 wills & estates

Wisconsin Judicare's indian law office provides Legal advice, referrals, and extended representation to financially-eligible native americans enrolled in one of the eleven federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin and who are unable to pay for Legal services in civil (non-criminal) and tribal (non-criminal and criminal) cases. During the year, Wisconsin Judicare's indian law office handled 911 cases, of which 493 cases were closed with 17 of the cases litigated in court.