Need a Civil (not Criminal) Attorney?

• The U.S. Constitution and Missouri Constitution entitle people who are facing certain criminal charges to be appointed an attorney.
• There is no such “right” to an attorney for civil matters when you are sued or want to sue someone.
• There are, however, some organizations, like Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM) and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM), law schools, religious organizations and veteran organizations that may be able to provide need-based assistance low income people with legal issues.
• The most extensive legal assistance in non-criminal matters are “Legal Services” organizations like Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM) serves 40+ counties across Southern Missouri (see map below) including 3 of the 4 counties in the 24th Judicial Circuit (St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Madison counties; Washington County is in LSEM area):
  • Consumer issues: bankruptcy, debt collection issues, predatory lending issues, contract issues, and unfair or deceptive sales practices.
  • Public Benefits: Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, unemployment compensation, TANF/Temporary Assistance, and Missouri Health Net Managed Care Advocacy
  • Family Law: paternity, adoption, name change, and guardianship.
  • Housing: lease agreement dispute, landlord lockouts, poor living conditions and public housing issues.
  • Elder Law: wills, estate planning, and probate matters in limited situations (such as beneficiary deeds, powers of attorney, and health care directives) and guardianships for those who need protection.
  • Domestic/Sexual Violence: service to adult and child victims of abuse, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking > primary focus is securing orders of protection and safety planning.

• Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM)
  • Much of the same as LSSM but work areas also include
    • Immigration Law;
    • Legal Advocacy for Adults with Mental Illness
    • Neighborhood Advocacy
    • Community Economic Development – Microenterprise Program
• Here is map of all the Legal Services coverage across Missouri.