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legal aid society :: legal definition


Legal aid society - n. an organization formed to assist persons who have limited or no financial means but need legal help, usually sponsored by the local bar association's donations, sometimes with some local governmental financial support. Such societies examine the assets and income of the applicant, decide if the person has a legitimate need for legal services, give counselling, provide mediation, prepare simple documents, and if absolutely necessary give free legal assistance from a panel of volunteer attorneys. Originally most prevalent in larger cities, legal aid societies exist throughout the country. They do not usually provide assistance in criminal cases because indigent defendants are constitutionally entitled to representation by a public defender or appointed private counsel paid by the government. Some societies provide referral services to help a person find a suitable attorney, but normally referral is made by the local bar association.

See also: pro bono and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
acceptance of service :: n. agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) ... o accept service. See also: service
accessory :: n. a second-string player who helps in the commiss ... responsible. See also: aid and abet
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
American Bar Association :: n. the largest organization of American lawyers, w ... go, IL 60611; tel.: (312) 988-5522.
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
bank :: n. 1) an officially chartered institution empowere ... erred to as "in bank" or "en banc."
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar association :: n. an organization of lawyers. There are two types ... oluntary organization of attorneys.
benefit of counsel :: n. having the opportunity to have an attorney and ... attorney is the person's own fault.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
conservator :: n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge t ... ies. See also: conservatee guardian
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
estoppel :: n. a bar or impediment (obstruction) which preclud ... pel equitable estoppel estop laches
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
frivolous :: adj. referring to a legal move in a lawsuit clearl ... ing the courts to resolve disputes.
Good Samaritan rule :: n. from a Biblical story, if a volunteer comes to ... a lawsuit for millions of dollars.
independent contractor :: n. a person or business which performs services fo ... ue independence. See also: employee
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
lawsuit :: n. a common term for a legal action by one person ... See also: case cause of action suit
legal advertising :: n. 1) notices of probate sales and other documents ... quality of the lawyers advertising.
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
litigious :: adj. referring to a person who constantly brings o ... e called "professional plaintiffs."
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
notice to quit :: n. the notice given by a landlord (owner) to a ten ... h-to-month notice unlawful detainer
own recognizance :: (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person ... n recognizance. See also: bail O.R.
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
personal service :: n. delivering a summons, complaint, notice to quit ... process substituted service summons
personal services :: n. in contract law, the talents of a person which ... his/her unique ability and product.
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
retraction :: n. 1) to withdraw any legal document in a lawsuit ... igation. See also: defamation libel
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process
service by publication :: n. serving a summons or other legal document in a ... perty. See also: service of process
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
slander :: n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or ... . See also: defamation fair comment
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
substituted service :: n. accomplishing service (delivery) of legal docum ... ee also: service service of process
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor
vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction

Popular Law Searches

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Other Law Terms - L

labor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
landlady :: n. female of landlord or owner of real property fr ... rents or leases. See also: landlord
landlocked :: adj. referring to a parcel of real property which ... which it was created (carved out).
landlord :: n. a person who owns real property and rents or le ... so: lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant
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last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will
latent defect :: n. a hidden flaw, weakness or imperfection in an a ... warranty product liability warranty
lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
law of admiralty :: n. statutes, customs and treaties dealing with act ... w. See also: Jones Act maritime law
law of the case :: n. once a judge has decided a legal question durin ... he ruling is the "law of the case."