Services

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

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is a statewide non-profit organization that provides access to legal help for people to protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families. As a civil legal aid program, LASO assures fairness for all in the justice system, regardless of how much money you have. Through our own staff attorneys and hundreds of volunteers, LASO gives free legal help to thousands of low-income and elderly clients each year in matters relating to their physical safety, access to food and shelter, and other critical legal needs.

LASO’s mission is to achieve justice for the low-income communities of Oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services.

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Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) provides legal help to low-income Oregonians through regional offices and specialized statewide hotlines and programs.

Flora LittleDove and her husband Joe have owned a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home for over 35 years. Their two children grew up there and Flora expects to live out the rest of her life in “her own space on this earth.” Flora is in her late sixties and battling cancer. To cover surgeries, they made the tough choice to refinance their home. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, Joe was laid off from his job. When the couple was unable to cover the higher mortgage, the bank began foreclosure proceedings. Flora had little energy to face the stress of losing her home. At the last moment, Flora turned to Legal Aid Services of Oregon for help. “One of the best things was that I did not feel alone. When I could not get answers, legal aid did. They helped me carry the burden and stress.” Because of legal aid’s help, Flora and Joe have payments they can manage and are able to stay in their home.

Statewide Hotlines

Residents anywhere in the state can apply for help with these legal issues through statewide hotlines:

Foreclosure: (503) 227-0198 or Toll-free at (855) 412-8828
Public Benefits (government assistance programs like SSI, SNAP, TANF): (800) 520-5292

Please note that the Child Support hotline is not longer in service. For information about child support issues, contact your local legal aid office You can also find information on OregonLawHelp.org and the Oregon Judicial Department.

LASO’s Regional Offices

Local LASO offices help with the following kinds of cases:

Family law cases involving domestic violence
Housing cases, like repair issues, housing discrimination, and help with government housing programs
Government benefits issues, like SNAP (food stamps), Oregon Health Plan and unemployment insurance benefits
Senior law issues, like problems with long term care facilities and elder abuse
Consumer issues, like debt collection and bankruptcy
Employment problems, like unpaid wages and discrimination

Not all offices help with all issues. Call your local office for more information. Click here for a list of office locations.

Statewide Programs and Projects

LASO's Farmworker Program helps agricultural workers throughout Oregon with employment, housing, civil rights and other legal issues. To apply for services, call 800-662-6096.

LASO’s Native American Program (NAPOLS) represents low-income Indian tribes, Native organizations, and tribal members on issues involving federal Indian law or tribal law, or that are otherwise impacted by the client's tribal status, such as tribal sovereignty, tribal enrollment, and trust land and resources. To apply for services, call 503- 223-9483.

LASO’s Statewide Tax Clinic helps Oregonians resolve disputes with the IRS and related Department of Revenue matters, including settling tax debt through the Offer In Compromise process, installment agreements or hardship requests, representation in tax audits and in U.S. Tax Court, help with worker classification issues, assistance in applying for innocent or injured spouse relief, and more. To apply for services, call 1-888-610-8764.

Equal Opportunity Service Provider

Legal Aid Services of Oregon does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, creed, color, age, ancestry, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or gender identity or expression.

Los Servicios Legales de Oregón no discrimina por razón de sexo, raza, religión, credo, color, edad, origen nacional, alcurnia, estado civil, estado de veterano, incapacidad, orientación sexual, ni afiliación política, o identidad o expresión sexual.

Notice about our services: If you are dissatisfied with the legal assistance provided to you by a LASO office, or if you have a complaint about an office, please ask that office for a copy of our grievance procedure. Please let that office know if you need help in filing a complaint.