Legal Aid in Council Bluffs
Legal aid refers to a type of social welfare service that allows individuals to receive assistance on legal matters at little or no cost. All lawyers have a responsibility to assist legal aid through volunteer pro bono work. In Council Bluffs, Iowa, there are several legal aid resources available. Legal aid was formed to provide assistance to individuals who "cannot afford" legal counsel. In Council Bluffs, Boone, and Ames, legal aid can mean something different. It may provide services to individuals and families faced with domestic abuse and spousal violence. It may also provide assistance in order to secure government benefits and child custody rights. For instance, if you walk into the Western Iowa Regional Court Services office asking for help , staff members may recommend that you speak with a highly qualified attorney. As a resident of Council Bluffs, you may be referred to Centralized Intake & Assessment Services through the Iowa Department of Human Services. It is possible that the individuals behind a legal aid service will connect you with the Legal Aid of Western Iowa. These individuals take on a heavy load, tackling projects in several different areas. In Council Bluffs, legal aid is usually available through attorneys specializing in domestic abuse, family law, public benefits, immigration, housing issues, and criminal justice. The same organization providing for the needs of the Council Bluffs area also covers Woodbury, Harrison, Monona, and Pottawattamie counties. The purpose of legal aid in Council Bluffs is to ensure that there is access to affordable resources for the poor.
What is Iowa Legal Aid?
At its core, Iowa Legal Aid is a non-profit entity that provides free or low-cost legal services to Iowans who would not otherwise be able to afford representation. Its stated mission is "Helping low-income Iowans find safety, succeed and achieve self-sufficiency by providing effective legal assistance." The organization’s lawyers and highly trained staff take on cases that could have a significant impact on the participants’ lives, such as domestic violence, eviction, and guardianship matters. Low-income residents of several surrounding states can also access their services in some cases.
As noted on the Iowa Legal Aid website, the organization provides free legal assistance in civil (non-criminal) cases where the outcome has the potential to impact the client’s long-term well-being. Types of cases handled by Iowa Legal Aid include family law issues (including divorce, mediation, custody, paternity, guardianship, and termination of parental rights), housing matters, public benefits issues, consumer protection, juvenile crime, asylum and immigration, elder law, poverty law (including bankruptcy, wills, and probate), farm assistance, and community economic development, among other areas.
Who Qualifies for Legal Aid Services?
To receive legal aid in Council Bluffs, an individual must meet certain criteria. Generally, eligibility is determined not only by income but also by the types of legal assistance required. Each program has its own eligibility guidelines. Most legal aid programs require that you either be low income or low-income-wage earners. There may be exceptions to this rule such as when a person is facing eviction from their home. Federal guidelines state that a person’s income should be at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in order to qualify for free assistance. However, in Iowa, legal aid will often assist families and individuals who are at 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Individuals who do not qualify for legal assistance may pay a small fee for representation on a case-by-case basis. Legal aid staff members may provide advice from volunteer attorneys. In other cases, access to a database of private attorneys is given. A list of qualifying factors for legal aid services includes: applicants must have very limited income and assets, their problem must be civil in nature, they can afford to pay for attorneys’ fees, their case must be located in the state in which they apply for legal aid, and the case cannot be one that is generally taken by private lawyers.
Where to Find Legal Aid in Council Bluffs
A variety of legal aid options and referral services are available for residents of Council Bluffs, Iowa. For those who cannot afford the cost of hiring a private attorney, there are many resources and services to help.
Iowa Legal Aid provides free civil legal information and services to eligible Iowans. Its services are available statewide with offices in all 99 counties. Its goal is to improve the legal status and well-being of clients and remove or lessen any barriers to their security. In doing so, it attempts to have the most impact on as many disadvantaged Iowans as possible, placing an emphasis on:
Family law
Immigration law
Housing
Bankruptcy and debt
Consumer law
Public benefits, including Social Security and Iowa Works
Health care
Representing Native Americans
The local office is located in nearby Omaha. To qualify for assistance, individuals must meet income and asset criteria. A free virtual legal clinic is also offered by Iowa Legal Aid on the website.
Hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. The office is closed on Iowa legal holidays.
The Nebraska/Iowa Chapter of the Federal Bar Association hosts a monthly pro bono legal advice clinic. Volunteers of the Omaha Bar Association provide legal information to low- to medium-income residents of Iowa and Nebraska who walk into the clinic, which has limited staff. Typically, the clinic occurs on the second Wednesday of each month and no appointment is necessary. The number of clients that can be seen is limited and an individual must be present to sign in at 5:30 PM.
The Nebraska Volunteer Lawyers Project Hotline serves people who meet income guidelines and who require resolution to a civil legal problem. Only Nebraska residents are provided services.
Address:
10730 Pacific Street, Suite 240
Omaha, NE 68114
Phone: (402) 780-2491
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM
The Nebraska Volunteer Lawyers Project offers a pro bono legal advice hotline to Minnesotans in need of civil legal assistance.
Success Stories of Legal Aid Clients
Each year, Iowa Legal Aid serves thousands of clients in Council Bluffs and surrounding areas, addressing a wide range of legal issues including family law, domestic violence, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure defense, and consumer fraud. These cases encompass the diverse needs of the low-income community that Legal Aid works tirelessly to support.
One such example is the case of "John," a local single father struggling to secure a safe home for himself and his children. After experiencing domestic violence and losing his home, he found himself and his kids living in a cramped motel with nowhere else to go. John was able to connect with Iowa Legal Aid’s Council Bluffs office, where a dedicated attorney assisted him in navigating the complex rental housing laws and advocating for his rights as a tenant. Thanks to their help, he was able to find permanent housing where he and his children could thrive.
Another successful story involves "Mary , " an elderly woman who fell victim to a scam. After unknowingly signing away her rights to her home because of a fraudulent mortgage, she came to Iowa Legal Aid when the scammer attempted to evict her. Following the agency’s guidance and assistance, she was able to regain control of her property and avoid homelessness.
These cases highlight the transformative impact that Iowa Legal Aid has on the residents of Council Bluffs and the surrounding counties. Many clients express their gratitude for the assistance they receive, such as "Iowa Legal Aid saved me from losing my family."
Every day, the lawyers and professionals at Iowa Legal Aid provide support and guidance to individuals facing legal obstacles. Through dedication and hard work, these defenders of justice make a tangible difference in the lives of their clients, helping low-income Iowans navigate the complicated legal system. It is through their ongoing commitment to community that Iowa Legal Aid continues to be an invaluable resource for many.
The Common Challenges of Legal Aid Providers
With a mission to serve everyone-the entire State of Iowa-Iowa Legal Aid provides statewide civil legal services to low income persons with 12 offices located throughout the state and a toll free statewide legal advice service. But like all non-profits providing legal services, Iowa Legal Aid faces challenges regarding funding, high demand and lack of manpower.
Funding for Iowa Legal Aid’s 12 offices is limited. In addition to private donations, grants from local county bar associations, our funding comes from interest on lawyers’ trust accounts (IOLTA), the State of Iowa and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Although the need for assistance is high, Iowa Legal Aid cannot serve all clients. For example, currently, it will only assist Iowans whose gross monthly income from all household members is no more than 125% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. The amount of civil legal assistance available and the duration of assistance are limited. A large majority of the cases that Iowa Legal Aid is unable to accept for full representation are of critical importance to the client’s health and safety: guardianships, asylum, bankruptcy, consumer fraud, tax, expungements and some divorce cases. In Council Bluffs, it takes as many poverty cases as it can handle, but its waiting list for cases seeking legal assistance continues to grow because demand for legal services has outpaced resources.
More than half of the Council Bluffs office staff has been with Iowa Legal Aid for 10 years or longer. Iowa Legal Aid is a great place to work with competitive salaries. Staff turnover is low. But turnover is also limited by the fact that positions in Council Bluffs are not readily filled by persons wanting to move to the community. Iowa Legal Aid is applying for funding to establish additional staffing similar to the Council Bluffs office, including a paralegal, legal assistants and administrative staff.
How to Help Legal Aid Services
In Council Bluffs and across Iowa, the invaluable role of Iowa Legal Aid in providing quality legal assistance to low-income individuals and families cannot be overstated. However, maintaining and expanding such essential services requires a concerted effort from the community and public. There are several ways in which the public can make a meaningful contribution to support this important cause.
For those wishing to provide financial support, Iowa Legal Aid welcomes donations to fund their various programs. Donations can be made online or sent in by mail and all contributions are tax-deductible. Additionally , Iowa Legal Aid is registered with the State of Iowa’s "iContribute" program which allows the public to donate to Iowa Legal Aid through the Iowa Department of Public Health Utilization of State Resources (iDphUs). Volunteers are always welcome at Iowa Legal Aid. Individuals looking to donate their time can contact the office to find out about current opportunities to help out.
During times of political uncertainty, advocacy becomes even more crucial for nonprofit organizations that have faced increased demand for their services. Many nonprofit agencies, including Iowa Legal Aid depend on state and federal funding to operate and provide important services to those in need. Decreases in funding can have great negative impacts to those who benefit from these services. Everyone can play a role in advocacy by contacting local and state lawmakers to express support for these nonprofit agencies.