Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />.- <br /> <br />LEGAL AID & ASSISTANCE PROG~~~ <br /> <br />THE CITY OF SAN ~ <br /> <br />THE CO~!MUNITY ~ ~ OF ~ ~ CALm,'ELL CD1INTIES <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I. BASIC PROGRk~ OBJECTIVES: <br /> <br />The objectives of the Legal Aid and Assistance Program (LAAP) wiil be <br />directed primarily at providing advice and advocacy by attorneys for <br />people in poverty. The struggle for equal justice under the law haa <br />long been an objective od democracticgovernment that has too often <br />eluded the poor. Neither equal opportunity nor equal justice can be <br />achieved for the poor unless there are effective counselors and advo- <br />cates to represent them.. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Thus, the availability of accessible legal'assistanCafor thedisad- <br />vantage is a necessity in pr~tecting the indigent, persou against,un- <br />equal treatmilOtt. undar the law, <br /> <br /> <br />Equally as impor'!:atl,t as advocacy and representation is the need to ' <br />include in any'~egal aid program the responsibility to teach thapoor' <br />and those who. work with the poor to recog~~e problems which canoe <br />resolved best by the law and lawyers. The poor do, not always know <br />when their problems are legal problems and 'they may-be unable. reluc- <br />tant, or unwilliJ:lg to seek the aid of a lawyer. Thus. education <br />becomes a means to apprise eligible people of theirlegaf rights and <br />obligations. <br /> <br />A strong "preventive" law approach well established. educatingpotent:ial <br />clients to bec'ome aware of their legal rights and!=o protec.t them so <br />that legal remedy sought after involvement \rill be the excepti.cm rather <br />than the rule. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Poor people with legal problems almost certainly have- social. problems. ' <br />and in many instances. poor people \rith social. probllllllS-hava probl.elIUlo <br />only ala;.yer c.an resolve. The legalservice"program wi.ll'a:i4ir~ss <br />these situations but also wil.l. be prepared and knowledgeable to make <br />th2appropriat.e" referaIs to Community Service Ageneies. <br /> <br />Therefore a program will evolve that provides t:he eligible anplicant <br />with legal advocacy in cases under the program's jurisdiction. the <br />provision of legal education and prevention, and the provision of <br />t~ely and accurate referrals. A total. complete, and comprehensiVe <br />