Our Story
On February 1, 2004, Alabama’s three existing Legal Services programs—Legal Services Corporation of Alabama (founded 1977), Legal Services of Metro Birmingham (originally founded 1977) and Legal Services of North-Central Alabama (originally founded 1969)—merged to form the new statewide program Legal Services Alabama. The merger was intended to make more resources available for Legal Services in Alabama and position the Alabama civil justice community to better provide equal access to justice for all.
The merger was part of a nationwide movement initiated by the Legal Services Corporation which required consolidation of many states’ legal aid programs in order to provide more effective, efficient services. Legal Services Alabama provides services to low-income Alabamians in all 67 counties of the state. Legal Services Alabama is the only non-profit law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income Alabamians and the only LSC-funded program in Alabama.
What We Do
Legal Services Alabama (LSA) has eight offices and a centralized Call Center, working together to fulfill its mission statement: to provide free, client-centered, civil legal advocacy to low-income Alabamians and collaborate with others across the state and nation to find solutions to systemic issues caused by poverty and social justice inequities.
LSA is one of the preeminent legal aid organizations in the country in bridging the civil justice gap through its recognized commitment to racial, social, and economic justice and support of a talented, diverse, and innovative staff.
Our offices are located in Anniston/Gadsden, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma and Tuscaloosa.
LSA offices handle civil cases only. Each office has lawyers licensed to practice in Alabama and other staff who know how to help low-income people resolve their legal problems.
How does LSA help people?
- by providing timely legal counsel and advice
- by providing representation on critical legal matters in judicial and administrative forums
- through community education about rights and responsibilities (“preventative” law)
- through development and distribution of legal self-help materials and forms