Delaware Volunteer Legal Services Inc

Pfa pro bono program - through the pro bono program, our goal is to evaluate as many pfa cases each week as possible and place the most meritorious cases prior to the hearing with the volunteer attorneys. During the days leading up to each pfa day, the dpbp spends time daily in preparation for pfa day. This includes telephone conversations with prospective clients and volunteer attorneys about their cases, review of the need to bring in witnesses and evidence, and review of petitions, police reports, and other documents provided to dvls by victims, their advocates and others.

Right to representation - delaware's three legal aid agencies have joined forces to form the eviction defense program (edp). Throuh the combined legal expertise of clasi, dvls, and lscd, the edp functions as a collaborative effort among the agencies. The project's vision is simple, keep tenants housed. The legal processes surrounding eviction are daunting, and the reality is that many renters are unaware of the rescources available to assist them. The goal is to connect renters to the legal rescources. Utilizing attorneys and qualified tenant advocates to provide representation for tenants.

Dvls is a non-profit organization whose mission is to deliver pro bono legal services to needy delawareans. Each client, other than victims of crime, must meet a percentage of the official poverty threshold, as defined each year by the u.s. Office of management and budget - federal poverty standards (45 c.f.r. Part 1611) for income eligibility. Dvls targets those having incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. A person whose gross income exceeds 125% of the federal poverty limit, but does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty limit may in certain cases be provided legal assistance. Certain clients, such as domestic violence victoms, those over 60 years of age and the terminally ill, face the less restrictive standard of 200% of the poverty level. In addition, dvls clients must have a meritorious civil legal problem that is not fee generating. Cases meeting these criteria are placed with one of the agency's pro bono attorneys, staff or law students. Legal representation ranges from brief consultations to litigation. The clients dvls serves are each unique, but one characteristic they share is that they have nowhere else to turn for legal assistance. Dvls volunteer attorneys, staff and law students ensure that these individuals and their families receive quality legal services at no cost. In addition to direct representation of clients, dvls has volunteers who act as consultants and mentors for other volunteer attorneys.

The legal services to domestic violence victims program focuses on community outreach in delaware. While domestic violence crosses all socio-economic lines, it is especially high among poverty level clients. Attorney's meet with clients at the latin american community center in wilmington as well as other locations