What Is Southeastern Ohio Legal Services?

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services® (SEOLS) gives legal help without attorney fees to people with low income and limited savings and assets. We can also serve organizations of low-income people. We receive our funding from the federal and state governments and other sources.

If you live in one of the counties served by SEOLS and have a household income that is less than 125% of the poverty level, you may be eligible for our services. Poverty levels are set each year by the federal government based on family size. You can also contact us if you do not live in one of our counties but you are being sued or need services in a county that SEOLS serves.

What Kinds Of Cases Do We Handle?

Even if you are financially eligible for our services, SEOLS may not be able to take your case. Unfortunately, SEOLS does not get enough funding to be able to serve everyone who cannot afford a private lawyer. We have to limit our services to kinds of cases that are important to large numbers of low-income people. These cases include:

- Public Benefits
We represent people who have been denied or cut off Welfare, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, SSI, or Social Security. We also handle cases where these benefits have been reduced or where the agency is trying to collect money from you.

- Family Problems
We handle domestic violence petitions for people who are being abused by their spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend, or other household member. We handle custody cases when the parent who has been the children's primary caretaker is in danger of losing custody of the children. We assist in problems you might have with child support enforcement. In occasional, unusual circumstances we handle divorces. We have a panel of lawyers in your area that will accept uncontested divorce cases for $150-$200.

- Housing
We handle cases for people who are being evicted, locked out, or had utilities shut off, or who are having difficulty getting the landlord to make repairs. We also help tenants enforce the special rules for federal or state subsidized housing (Metropolitan Housing, FHA, Rural Development, Section 8, etc.). We also handle some foreclosure cases and land contract problems, as well as housing discrimination.

- Health Care
We help people get or keep Medicaid and Medicare, or get medical care they may be entitled to under these programs. We can help make sure that hospitals and clinics that receive federal funds provide financial assistance and other services to patients (Hill-Burton and Hospital Care Assurance programs). We can sometimes help with bill collection cases involving health care services.

- Consumer Problems
We handle cases involving repossession, bill collection, unfair and deceptive sales practices, garnishments, home improvement problems, and car sales or repair problems. We do not file bankruptcies, but if you are not sure whether you would be helped by filing for bankruptcy, we can give you advice about it.

- Tax
We handle cases involving disputes with the Internal Revenue Service including audits, levies, liens, installment plans, filing old returns, cases in tax court and disputes regarding your refund.  We can handle state and local income tax cases as well, when they are related to your federal income tax case.

- Utilities
We handle cases in which a utility company denies or disconnects service improperly. We can also help you with billing disputes, payment plans or low-income assistance programs.

- Education
We help parents of children with disabilities make sure that their children receive a free, appropriate education. We also provide advice and assistance with school suspensions and expulsions.

- Right to Counsel
We can help you get a court-appointed lawyer when you have a right to one and the court refuses to give you one. This includes most juvenile court cases (such as cases involving Children's Services), contempt of court if you will be sent to jail, all felony cases, and misdemeanor cases if you will be sent to jail.

- Other Cases
We may handle other types of cases when a client's legal problem involves health, safety, physical liberty, income, or earning ability.

- Referrals
Even if we cannot take your case, we can often send you somewhere else for advice or help.

When should you contact us?

All of our offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for lunch, special meetings, and holidays. Contact us (call or come to our office) as soon as the problem starts.

-Contact us as soon as you get papers. Delays can sometimes cause you to lose your case. We sometimes reject cases because the person did not give us enough time to prepare a case.

-Contact us if you are in doubt about your rights. Sometimes we can give you information that can prevent major problems later on.

-Contact us if you are not sure whether you are eligible for our services. We will check this for you.

-Contact us even if you have a legal problem that is not listed in this pamphlet. Even if we do not take your case, we may be able to give you advice or refer you to another lawyer, agency, or organization.

What Will Happen When You Call?

To schedule an appointment, you should call the office listed in this pamphlet that serves the county where you live. Briefly and clearly tell the secretary what the problem is. If you've received any papers from a court, you should have them handy so you can read from them.

The secretary will determine if you are eligible for SEOLS' services. If we can help you with advice over the phone, your call may be transferred to a staff member for immediate attention. If an appointment is necessary, one will be set for you as soon as possible, usually in the county where you live. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call to cancel or reschedule.

Before your appointment, you should get together any letters, court papers, receipts, or other papers that relate to your case. It's better to bring too much with you than not enough.

What Happens If We Cannot Accept Your Case?
 Unfortunately, SEOLS is not able to accept every request for service. Your application will be reviewed by the staff of the office where you have applied and a decision made as soon as possible.

If you disagree with any decision regarding your case, you may appeal the decision by contacting the managing attorney of the office. A decision on your appeal will be made within 10 days. You may also contact the Legal Services Corporation, Office of Compliance and Enforcement, 3333 K Street NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C., 20007.

What Kinds of Cases DON'T We Handle?

Federal regulations and ethical rules for lawyers prohibit us from taking certain kinds of cases. These include:

-Criminal cases, including traffic offenses.

-Other cases where you have a right to a court-appointed lawyer, such as juvenile court cases and contempt of court.

-Suits for money where you could pay a private lawyer out of the judgment if you won. Cases against people who are, or have been, our clients (conflicts of interest).