LSNV’s
mission is to serve individuals who, without legal assistance, will lose a
critical human need - food, shelter, income, medical care, or personal safety.
Applicants are encouraged to contact LSNV as soon as possible if they think
they need help with a civil legal problem. To be eligible for services, a
person must be a resident of Northern Virginia, have household income and
assets within LSNV’s financial guidelines, and have a legal problem which LSNV
handles. Eligibility guidelines differ for persons who are elderly, HIV
positive or who have disabilities.
What kind of cases does LSNV handle?
FAMILY LAW/ CHILD ADVOCACY
The Family Law Unit handles a full range of
family-related issues, ranging from assisting clients in obtaining custody of a
child, visitation rights, or child support
to cases involving the termination of parental rights or domestic
violence. Its mission is to help families maintain a safe, stable home during
difficult times. Closely allied with family law is The Law Center (TLC) for
Children focuses specifically on the unmet legal needs of children in the
judicial, child welfare, health care, and educational systems.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Through intake interviews, and representation,
this LSNV unit serves those with claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination,
or denial of unemployment benefits.
PUBLIC BENEFITS
LSNV helps clients to obtain Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF, replacing AFDC), Medicaid, Food Stamps,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, and other public benefits
which have been terminated, reduced or denied. Through the AIDS Law Project,
LSNV provides representation, entitlement counseling, and informational
presentations to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Through the Fairfax Legal Aid
Project for the Mentally Disabled (FLAP), LSNV provides specialized services to
Fairfax County residents who are mentally impaired, allowing them to meet their
basic needs and live independently.
ELDER LAW
SERVICES
LSNV provides legal representation and
specialized services for elderly individuals, such as home visits and community
legal education. Eligibility is based on the type of legal problem and not
income and resources. The Elder Law Unit helps persons age 60 and over with matters
such as Medicaid, Medicare and other health care issues; nursing home and
assisted living issues; and guardianship.
HOUSING/CONSUMER
LAW
The Housing Law Project strives to preserve
housing and prevent homelessness through education, advocacy, and litigation.
LSNV makes presentations about housing law to volunteers, agencies, low-income
tenants, and tenant organizations throughout the region. LSNV‘s Consumer Law
Project provides legal counsel to those who have been harmed by unfair trade
practices or other credit law violations.
OTHER
Within the various units at LSNV, more than 600
private attorneys and paralegals volunteer their time and expertise, enabling
LSNV to serve additional eligible clients and to offer a broader range of
services. Pro bono projects, sponsored jointly with state and local bar
associations, law firms, and corporations, include a hotline, clinics, intake,
and representation. LSNV is also committed to community legal education. LSNV
develops, and distributes pamphlets on various legal topics, presents
preventive law lectures, provides training to volunteers and lawyers, and
supports local agencies and community groups.
LSNV does not accept criminal, traffic,
or
fee-generating cases.
How is LSNV
managed?
The Main Office is responsible for overall
program management, caseload management oversight, budget preparation,
maintenance of financial systems, grant writing, reporting compliance, and
personnel administration. A 27-member governing Board of Directors, consisting
of 17 attorneys, nine client-eligible representatives and one member-at-large,
is selected by local bar associations and community organizations. The Board of
Directors oversees LSNV operations. LSNV is committed to working with other
area organizations in order to best serve its client population.
Who funds LSNV?
LSNV has a diverse funding base. More than 45
funding sources contribute to LSNV, including the federal, state, county, and
municipal governments; the United Way; foundations; corporations; and private individuals.
How can I help?
Good legal services are expensive, and resources
are becoming more scarce. To meet continually growing demands, LSNV seeks
support from a variety of sources. Donations of all sizes are gratefully
accepted and are tax deductible. Any contribution may be sent to:
LSNV
6066
Leesburg Pike, Suite 500
Falls
Church, VA 22041
You can also help by volunteering your time to
assist with representation or in a number of other ways. Corporate and other
businesses may be entitled to Virginia State Income Tax Credits for donations
of money, legal services, or items. Individuals participating in the United Way
or Combined Federal Campaigns may make a donation to LSNV by designating #8141.
What
is LSNV?
Legal Services of Northern
Virginia, Inc. (LSNV) is
a
non-profit law firm which provides civil legal services at no charge to
residents of Northern Virginia who are elderly or who have low incomes, mental
or physical disabilities, or HIV/AIDS. LSNV currently has a paid staff of 27
attorneys and 13 paralegals. This staff is augmented by a dedicated and growing
corps of over 600 volunteer attorneys, paralegals, law student interns, and
others.
LSNV
OFFICES
If
you need legal help, call the Legal Services Branch that serves the city or
county in which you live to make an appointment. To be helped by Legal
Services, you must meet financial eligibility requirements. These guidelines
will be explained to you when you call.
LSNV
serves disadvantaged individuals in the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun
and Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church,
Manassas and Manassas Park.
LSNV
Main Office
6066
Leesburg Pike, Suite 500
Falls
Church, VA 22041
703-778-6800
Alexandria
Office
603
King St., 4th Floor
Alexandria,
VA 22314
703-684-5566
Arlington
Office
1916
Wilson Blvd., Suite 200
Arlington,
VA 22201
703-532-3733
Fairfax
City Office
4080
Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax,
VA 22030
703-246-4500
Route 1 Branch Office
8305
Richmond Highway, Suite 17B
Alexandria,
VA 22309
703-778-3448
Culmore
Branch Office
6066
Leesburg Pike, Suite 620
Falls
Church, VA 22041
703-778-3720
Loudoun
Office
109
N. King St., Suite A
Leesburg, VA 20176
703-777-7450
Manassas
Office
9240
Center St.
Manassas,
VA 22110
703-368-5711
TTY
800-828-1140 or 711
updated
September 2004
Getting
to Know...
Legal
Services of
Northern
Virginia
Ensuring
Access
to
Justice for All
Main
Office
6066
Leesburg Pike
Suite
500
Falls
Church, VA 22041
703-778-6800
www.lsnv.org