The Delta Justice Center is partnering with Arkansas Access to Justice to compile and produce a directory of free legal resource providers throughout the state.
This resource will be available for Arkansans who are interested in applying for legal services and serve as a comprehensive guide of organizations that provide free and/or discounted legal services, self-help forms, legal helplines, document and advice clinics, and more.
Half of all households in our state are struggling to afford basic necessities. According to ALICE in AR, more than 16% of Arkansas households are below the federal poverty limit and 31% are considered asset limited income constrained employed (ALICE), meaning 47% of families are barely meeting their living expenses. This leaves families priced out of the legal market with little guidance on who can assist them with critical legal issues.
The directory will be widely distributed to nonprofits, community groups, and other assistance organizations and available on the Access to Justice website. Please visit AA2J.org/directory to be included in the directory or receive a completed copy.
“When people can’t afford an attorney, they are often left to navigate the legal system alone,” says Abby Brenneman, the Executive Director at Access to Justice. “This leads to more self-represented litigants who struggle to present their cases in court, negotiate settlements with an opposing party, more default judgments, and creates unresolved legal issues that impact lives and have a negative ripple effect in communities and a decline in public trust in the justice system. This directory will be a critical tool in connecting Arkansans with the legal help they need to protect their rights and find solutions to their legal challenges.”
