FAQ Legal Aid of Nebraska

1. How do I know if I’m eligible for Legal Aid?
2. What kinds of cases does Legal Aid handle?
3. I’m being charged with a misdemeanor. Can Legal Aid help me?
4. Legal Aid is just another government bureaucracy, right?
5. How do I contact Legal Aid of Nebraska?

• How do I know if I’m eligible for Legal Aid?
  * In general, you are financially eligible for Legal Aid if your income level is 125% of the poverty level or less and have limited assets. Click here for a PDF  file to see what this means for your family size.

•  What kinds of cases does Legal Aid handle?
  * Legal Aid represents people with their civil legal cases. Typically, Legal Aid helps people with family law, landlord/tenant, public benefits, and bankruptcies.  We also will handle other types of cases, depending on the priorities set by our local office.
  * Legal Aid doesn’t handle criminal cases.
  * Legal Aid does represent people in tribal courts, even when it’s a criminal case.
  * Legal Aid represents victims of domestic violence, regardless of their income.
  * Legal Aid typically won’t handle cases that would be “fee generating.” This means that a case where there is a likelihood of attorneys fees being awarded or available will be declined. A good example is a personal injury lawsuit.
  * Legal Aid cannot handle class actions.
  * Legal Aid can represent undocumented people if they are victims of domestic violence as defined by federal law.

• I’m being charged with a misdemeanor. Can Legal Aid help me?
  * Legal Aid typically does not represent people with criminal matters. Legal Aid helps people with civil legal matters.
  * Contact your local public defender’s office if you need help with a criminal matter.

• Legal Aid is just another government bureaucracy, right?
  * No. Legal Aid is a private, non-profit law firm. We do receive funding from the government, as well as from private donors, but we are not the government!

• How do I contact Legal Aid of Nebraska?
  * If you are a new caller, you can reach our AccessLine® toll-free at 1-877-250-2016. Click here to find the phone numbers for our Native American line, our Farm Hotline, and our Elder AccessLine™®.
  Existing clients can call their individual office. Click here to find the office near you.
  If you would like to contact our administrative offices, you can call (402) 348-1069.