Legal Services

Results: 18

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Personnel (1)
  YO-4500.0400

  Alternative Dispute Resolution Personnel

  YO-4500.0400
  
  Individuals who utilize arbitration, mediation, conciliation and other processes that are alternatives to formal court hearings to facilitate settlement of disputes between parties. During arbitration, opposing parties submit their dispute to one or more impartial persons, called arbitrators, for a final and binding decision. Arbitrators are usually attorneys or businesspersons with expertise in a particular field. Mediation involves an attempt by the parties to resolve their dispute with the aid of a neutral third party and generally is used when the parties wish to preserve their relationship. A mediator may offer suggestions, but resolution of the dispute rests with the parties themselves. Conciliation is similar to mediation. The conciliator's role is to guide the parties to a settlement. The parties must decide in advance whether they will be bound by the conciliator's recommendations; and they generally share equally in the cost of the conciliation.
• Consumer Assistance and Protection (2)
  DD

  Consumer Assistance and Protection

  DD
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance for consumers who need assistance in managing their financial resources, evaluating competitive products and services and choosing the most favorable option, understanding their rights as consumers and seeking redress when they believe their rights have been violated.
• Consumer Complaints (1)
  DD-1500

  Consumer Complaints

  DD-1500
  
  Programs that provide mechanisms through which consumers can register complaints regarding specific problems they are having with consumer goods and services, and obtain assistance in achieving a satisfactory resolution.
• Consumer Regulation (1)
  DF

  Consumer Regulation

  DF
  
  Programs that protect individuals and organizations, including commercial entities, from fraudulent or unfair trade or credit practices or unsafe or poor quality goods and services through the enactment of protective legislation, the enforcement of laws and regulations relating to trade in the marketplace, the establishment and application of licensing, certification and accreditation standards to regulate the activities of businesses and service providers, and the review of professional and business practices to assure compliance with accepted standards.
• Discrimination Assistance (1)
  FT-1800

  Discrimination Assistance

  FT-1800
  
  Programs that provide assistance for people who believe that they have been treated unfairly or denied normal privileges based on their age, gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.
• Divorce Mediation (1)
  FT-3000.1700-200

  Divorce Mediation

  FT-3000.1700-200
  
  Programs that provide a neutral third person who facilitates discussion between people involved in a divorce action enabling them to make their own settlement decision. Also included are collaborative family law programs in which couples voluntarily sign a participation agreement binding both to the process and disqualifying their lawyer's right to represent either one in any future family-related litigation. The agreement also allows them to avoid the expense and uncertain outcome of a court case.
• Domestic Violence Intervention Programs (1)
  FF-0500.9100-180

  Domestic Violence Intervention Programs

  FF-0500.9100-180
  
  Programs that offer classes or groups, sponsor victim panels or provide other interventions which help domestic violence offenders understand and take responsibility for their acts of violence and abuse; realize that their behavior is the result of their desire to gain power and control over their partner's life; and make a decision to stop their abuse by looking at the damaging effects of their actions on their relationships, partners, children and themselves. The group sessions address the tactics of power and control; describe the cycle of abuse; challenge stereotypical gender role expectations; and help abusers identify and articulate their feelings and recognize behavior, emotional and physical cues which signal escalating anger. Participants learn problem solving skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, stress management techniques, communication and listening skills and other skills that will help them develop and maintain positive, healthy partnerships; and may be ordered by the court to attend or self-refer. The victim panels provide a venue which enables volunteers who have been subjected to abuse to describe the treatment they have endured and the impact on their lives.
• Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services (1)
  FT-3000.1750

  Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services

  FT-3000.1750
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance and/or representation in court proceedings for individuals who have been abused in an intimate relationship and/or for people who are facing a summary conviction offence or criminal charge for perpetrating abuse. Included are domestic violence law clinics and other legal assistance programs that represent victims of domestic abuse at restraining order hearings or in other civil or criminal actions involving charges against an abuser. Most also represent the person's interests in complexities that arise as part of the legal process such as restitution, payment of debts or child support, custody and visitation and property control. Some programs may also represent victims of domestic abuse who have been charged with a crime and/or handle cases involving accusations of child abuse filed by one parent against the other, abuse of an elderly person by an adult child or abuse of an adult child by a parent.
• Elder Law (4)
  FT-2450

  Elder Law

  FT-2450
  
  Programs that provide information and guidance for individuals who need assistance in the area of law which relates to the rights and needs of older adults, especially in the areas of age discrimination, consumer fraud, estate planning and management, living trusts, trust administration, probate, property law, retirement planning, pension benefits, Social Security benefits, Medicaid and Medicare, disability planning, long-term care alternatives, health care decisions, elder abuse, guardianships and conservatorships.
• Elder Mediation (1)
  FT-2455

  Elder Mediation

  FT-2455
  
  Programs that help families resolve conflicts and reach consensus about care options for older family members. The mediator meets with family members (generally adult children) and their parents to sort out contentious or unresolved issues relating to the care plans for their parents. Other relatives and close friends may also be involved in the process. The mediator's objective is to defuse the situation and keep the group focused on finding the best possible outcome for the parent. Topics may include money issues, health care and end-of-life choices, possessions, independence, living arrangements, safety, caregiving responsibilities, economic and geographic disparities among siblings, differing expectations, complicated role reversals, ingrained ways of behaving, old "baggage" and personal commitments. The service is generally provided by a trained, neutral conflict-resolution professional who may be an attorney or therapist with support, when helpful, from an elder law attorney, financial planner, caregiver or geriatric care manager.
• General Legal Aid (4)
  FT-3200

  General Legal Aid

  FT-3200
  
  Programs that provide legal counseling and/or representation for low-income individuals who need assistance in routine legal matters, usually in the area of bankruptcy, housing, public benefits, family law, elder law or immigration/naturalization.
• Individual Advocacy (2)
  FP-0500.3300

  Individual Advocacy

  FP-0500.3300
  
  Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.
• Lawyer Referral Services (1)
  FT-4800

  Lawyer Referral Services

  FT-4800
  
  Programs that maintain lists of private attorneys and link people who need legal assistance with lawyers who specialize in the required area of law.
• Lawyer Referral Services for Older Adults (1)
  FT-4800 * YB-8000

  Lawyer Referral Services for Older Adults

  FT-4800 * YB-8000
  
  

  Programs that maintain lists of private lawyers and link people who need legal assistance with lawyers who specialize in the required area of law.

  Individuals who are age 50, 55, 60, 62 or 65 or older depending on the minimum age for qualifying as an older adult which varies by program.

• Legal Counseling (3)
  FP-4000

  Legal Counseling

  FP-4000
  
  Programs that are staffed by lawyers who offer information and guidance regarding legal matters, proposed lines of conduct, claims or contentions including opinions on the party's rights, responsibilities and liabilities; and who offer suggestions for an appropriate course of action, but do not represent clients in court.
• Legal Information Services (4)
  TJ-3200.4500

  Legal Information Services

  TJ-3200.4500
  
  Programs that provide information about specific legal problems and procedures that interested individuals can access on a website or in person, or by telephone, email, chat, text or other communication channel. Information may be in a self-serve, browsable format (for example a web resource directory or library of audio recordings) or provided by live agents with expertise in the field. Also included are legal aid services, bar associations and other programs that provide basic information about family law, landlord/tenant law, immigration law, consumer law, elder law, patient rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, the criminal justice system, the civil court system and other legal topics via workshops, classes, speaking engagements, printed materials, video tutorials, websites and other similar educational avenues.
• Mediation (1)
  FP-0700.5000

  Mediation

  FP-0700.5000
  
  Programs that provide a neutral third person who is acceptable to all parties to a dispute who facilitates discussion between the parties and aids them in making their own settlement decisions.
• Regulations/Standards (1)
  DF-8000

  Regulations/Standards

  DF-8000
  
  Programs that have regulatory and/or oversight responsibilities in enforcing the laws and standards established through consumer protection or fair trade legislation.