Voluntary Legal Services Welcomes Client Referrals
by Vicki Jacobs, VLSP Managing Attorney

At the Voluntary Legal Services Program, we frequently receive inquiries from local attorneys as to whether they can refer a particular client to our program to receive free legal services. We welcome such referrals from local attorneys, but find that there is some misinformation in the legal community about the types of cases we take and the eligibility criteria for the clients that we can handle.

To be eligible for assistance, clients must be low income and either U.S. citizens or legal residents of the U.S. These restrictions are imposed by VLSP's funding sources. The income criteria can vary slightly with particular circumstances, so if an attorney is not sure whether the client is sufficiently low income, we ask them to go ahead and refer a client to us for income screening. VLSP's purpose is to provide assistance to those clients who would otherwise be unable to afford the assistance of an attorney, and because we rely on the generosity of our volunteer attorneys, we will not accept a case where we feel that the client would otherwise be able to afford an attorney.

VLSP serves clients through two mechanisms: (1) referral to individual attorneys for direct representation, and (2) legal advice and forms completion assistance provided to clients at VLSP's clinics where the clients will represent themselves in pro per in the pending action or proceeding. VLSP's clinics allow for a greater number of clients to receive assistance than would otherwise be possible, and also serve as a screening mechanism for cases that are subsequently referred to a volunteer attorney for direct representation.

VLSP provides assistance to clients with civil legal problems. We do not, for example, handle such matters as traffic tickets or the defense of any criminal matter. Currently, we offer clinics which provide assistance with the following types of matters:

• Debt collection (including the defense of debt and tort actions, car repossession issues and bankruptcy advice)
• Employment law
• Probate (guardianships, conservatorships and small estate advice)
• Driver's license reinstatement and criminal records expungement matters (a welfare-to-work based program).
• Wills (a project offered in conjunction with CARES for HIV+ clients)

Unfortunately, our funding for the Meadowview Family Law Clinic expired at the end of 2002, so that clinic will not be offered in 2003.

VLSP accepts cases for referral to private attorneys in a wide variety of civil legal matters, the most common of which include those areas covered by our clinics noted previously as well as:

• Family law (we do not accept cases where CPS is involved, however)
• Government benefits (we accept overpayment and termination cases only, not denial of benefits cases)
• Landlord/tenant cases
• Wills and powers of attorney
• Personal injury and property damage (defense only)
• Insurance disputes

Our client telephone number is (916) 551-2102. Twice a week, VLSP's interns return telephone calls received on this line and screen cases and make referrals to either a VLSP clinic, to a private attorney, or to other social service or legal assistance agencies as appropriate.

Attorneys who wish to volunteer at a clinic or take a direct representation case, or just find out more information can call (916) 551-2116. If there is a client that requires special attention, attorneys can call this number and receive a return call from Vicki Jacobs, the Managing Attorney for VLSP.

We appreciate the support of the many members of the Sacramento area legal community who volunteer their time and expertise, as well as the financial contributions we receive from the Sacramento County Bar Association and individual attorneys and law firms which allow us to continue serving those in need. We look forward to a successful year increasing the access to justice for the low income members of our community with your support.