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Margaret is 52 with three grown children. For years, she lived with physical abuse and threats from her husband. After she insisted he move out, he threatened her and her family. Terrified, she called the police, who told her to get a stalking order. She didn’t know how to get one, so she contacted a domestic violence shelter. The shelter connected her with Legal Aid Services of Oregon. A LASO lawyer helped her get a protective order. This helped her to stay safe at work when her husband began stalking her there. Her lawyer also helped her get spousal support so she can complete a vocational program and become self-sufficient. Margaret said, “It was heaven-sent, being able to go to legal aid and get some help when I was between a rock and a hard place and had no money for a lawyer.”
Welcome to Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Get Involved
An Eastern Oregon disabled veteran, “Santa Wayne” is a daily holiday bell ringer at a store in Walla Walla. Wayne found himself on the verge of losing his home when he received an eviction notice. He wasn’t able to meet the mobile home park’s regulations and he couldn't afford to move his single-wide trailer to a different park. LASO Pendleton's Arron Guevara stepped in to help. Arron and the park’s lawyer were able to work out a settlement that allows Wayne to stay in the park and also creates a process for the parties to work together to resolve any future issues. According to Arron, “Wayne not only looks the part of Santa with wavy white hair and beard, but he embodies the spirit as well. He’s truly a jolly ol’ soul. We’re happy that he gets to stay in his home.”
Donations
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is an effective, high-quality legal services program with a mission to achieve justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. LASO emphasizes areas of law where these needs are greatest and where representation and advocacy can have the most impact for vulnerable Oregonians.
Fundraising efforts for legal services programs in Oregon are coordinated by The Campaign for Equal justice (CEJ), an Oregon non-profit organization. To help LASO and Oregon's legal aid programs, please visit the CEJ website, where you can donate on-line. Donate to CEJ here:
Thank you for your support!
Statewide Pro Bono Opportunities
Each Legal Aid Services of Oregon office coordinates pro bono opportunities in the communities they serve. If you are an attorney interested in volunteering with LASO, please discuss opportunities with the applicable contact listed. These pro bono programs are OSB-certified pro bono programs, offering free PLF coverage to pro bono practitioners.
Benton and Linn Counties
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Albany Regional Office
433 Fourth Ave. SW
Albany, OR 97321
Contact: Mitzi Naucler (541) 926-8678 mitzi.naucler@lasoregon.org
Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes Counties
Legal Aid Services of Oregon - Central Oregon Regional Office
20360 Empire Avenue, Suite B
Bend, OR 97701
Contact: Andrea Malone (541) 385-6944 andrea.malone@lasoregon.org
Douglas County
Legal Aid Services of Oregon - Roseburg Office
700 SE Kane Street
Roseburg, OR 97470
Contact: Joan-Marie Michelsen (541) 673-1181
Farmworker (statewide)
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Farmworker Program
397 N. 1st Street
Woodburn, OR 97071
Contact: Laurie Hoefer (503) 981-5291 laurie.hoefer@lasoregon.org
Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler Counties
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Pendleton Regional Office
365 S.E. 3rd Street
P.O. Box 1327
Pendleton, OR 97801
Contact: Arron Guevara (541) 276-6685 arron.guevara@lasoregon.org
Klamath and Lake Counties
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Klamath Falls Regional Office
832 Klamath Avenue
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Contact: Drew Hartnett (541) 273-0533 drew.harnett@lasoregon.org
Lincoln County
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Lincoln County Office
304 SW Coast Highway
Newport, OR 97365
Contact: Blair Bobier (541) 265-5305 blair.bobier@lasoregon.org
Marion and Polk Counties
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Salem Regional Office
105 High Street SE
Salem, OR 97301
Contact: Angelica Vega (503) 581-5265 angelica.vega@lasoregon.org
Native American (statewide)
Legal Aid Services of Oregon – Native American Program
4531 SE Belmont St., Suite 201
Portland, OR 97215
Contact: Fabio Apolito (503) 223-9483 fabio.apolito@lasoregon.org
Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco Counties
Legal Aid Services of Oregon - Portland Regional Office
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 700
Contact: Jill Mallery or Erin White (503) 224-4086 probono@lasoregon.org
The Portland Regional Office coordinates or collaborates in several pro bono projects including the Bankruptcy Clinic, Clackamas County Bar Association Legal Aid Clinic, Domestic Violence Project, Legal Aid Night Clinic, Pro Se Assistance Project, and Senior Law Project. See Portland Metro Pro Bono Opportunities below for more information.
Statewide Tax Clinic
Legal Aid Services of Oregon - Portland Regional Office
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 700
Portland, OR 97204
Contact: Sarah Lora (503) 224-4086 taxteam@lasoregon.org
The Statewide Low Income Taxpayer Clinic provides advice and representation to low income clients who have a tax controversy with the IRS or the Department of Revenue. Pro bono tax cases are referred through a listserv where basic case information is posted. An attorney interested in taking the case responds to the email and conflict checking information is provided. Cases cover a range of state and federal personal income tax issues including collections, examinations (audits), innocent spouse claims, and tax court cases. Volunteer opportunities are also available for recent graduates and new members of the Bar.
Portland Metro Pro Bono Opportunities
Portland Office Volunteer Lawyer Project
The LASO Portland Regional Office coordinates or collaborates in several pro bono projects including the Bankruptcy Clinic, Clackamas County Bar Association Legal Aid Clinic, Domestic Violence Project, Legal Aid Night Clinic, ProBonoOregon Listserv, Pro Se Assistance Project, Senior Law Project and the Statewide Tax Clinic.
Bankruptcy Clinic. The Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Section and the VLP sponsor this project that provides information and representation to clients who are considering bankruptcy or who are already in U.S. Bankruptcy Court as pro se litigants. The project consists of two components, a class addressing bankruptcy issues and a clinic during which volunteer attorneys each meet with two clients for 30-minute appointments. Anyone may attend the 45-minute class, which is taught by a member of the bankruptcy bar or bench. Volunteer attorneys meet with clients, help them assess whether bankruptcy is appropriate, and if so, provide ongoing representation. The monthly clinic alternates between sites in Beaverton, east Portland and downtown Portland. 12-15 attorneys, one mentor and one speaker are typically scheduled for each clinic. Clinics are held on one Tuesday or Wednesday evening of each month from 6:15-9:00 p.m. An online CLE and written training materials are available at www.oregonadvocates.org
Clackamas County Bar Association Legal Aid Clinic. The CCBA Legal Aid Clinic is a partnership between the Clackamas County Bar Association and LASO. The clinic is held quarterly and is designed to help low-income clients in Clackamas County complete expungement paperwork. Volunteer attorneys meet with clients, help them assess whether they qualify for an expungement and, if so, complete the paperwork. Clinics take place quarterly and are one-time brief service clinics. Training materials are available.
Domestic Violence Project. The Domestic Violence Project (DVP) matches pro bono attorneys with survivors of domestic violence for representation in contested restraining order hearings. These cases tend to have short timelines, involve limited issues and require a court appearance. Attorneys sign up in advance to be available to take a case on a specific date (restraining order hearings are generally scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays). The project provides representation to clients in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. DVP is an excellent volunteer opportunity for new lawyers, lawyers seeking litigation experience, and attorneys who cannot commit to taking long-term cases. This project covers a discrete area of law and most of the volunteers are not family law practitioners. DVP volunteers are not expected to assist clients with family law issues.
Legal Aid Night Clinic. LASO co-sponsors this evening clinic with Stoel Rives, LLP and Dunn Carney LLP. Clinics are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m at the Standard Insurance Building (downtown Portland). Volunteer attorneys from the two participating law firms screen the cases and provide continuing legal representation to clients with meritorious cases. Two volunteer attorneys are scheduled for each clinic and each attorney meets with up to four clients per clinic. The following issues are referred: consumer law, small claims advice, criminal record expungements, landlord/tenant damage claims, estate planning, and uncontested guardianships.
ProBonoOregon Listserv. Legal service offices around the state post cases to this listserv every Thursday. Each program posts only one email per week. Postings are sent to individual attorneys or pro bono coordinators for internal distribution within firms. An attorney who is interested in accepting a pro bono opportunity contacts the listing office for full case information. Listings include the type of case and a brief description of the issue and do not include highly identifying facts or party names. Conflict information is discussed with interested attorneys when they contact the listing office. This project allows pro bono attorneys to take a pro bono case when it fits best with their schedule. Sign up for the listserv on the legal aid advocate website, www.oregonadvocates.org.
Pro Se Assistance Project. Volunteer attorneys provide limited assistance to clients requiring discrete legal advice or document review. Attorneys are scheduled to meet with three clients, each for a 45-minute appointment. Clinics are held from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Legal Aid. Attorneys respond to discrete family law questions and/or review documents prepared by unrepresented litigants. Attorneys are NOT expected to provide ongoing representation to clients and clients sign a retainer agreement detailing the limited scope of the attorney-client relationship. Volunteer attorneys must have family law experience to volunteer for this project.
PROSAP Facilitation Clinic. Attorneys with little (or no) family law experience can volunteer for this portion of the Clinic, by helping clients complete their pro se documents. Once the paperwork is completed, clients attend a “regular” PROSAP clinic to meet with an experienced family law attorney. Facilitation Clinics take place on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. at Legal Aid.
Senior Law Project. The Senior Law Project (SLP) began in 1978 and is the VLP’s largest project, with over 25 legal clinics per month. Volunteer lawyers meet with clients who are 60 or over (or who are married to someone 60 or over) at nine senior center locations in Multnomah County. They provide 30-minute consultations, on any civil legal issues, for up to six clients per clinic. All clients 60 or over are eligible for free 30-minute consultations, regardless of their income. SLP volunteers provide continuing pro bono services for only those clients who meet VLP financial eligibility requirements. The VLP sponsors a monthly Elder Law Discussion Group to provide information and support.
