Legal Services of Eastern Michigan
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) is a non-profit law firm that offers free civil legal assistance to low-income people. Since 1951 Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) has delivered free civil legal assistance to persons living in poverty. The target population is those living at 125% of poverty or below. This financial eligibility threshold is higher depending on certain funders' eligibility criteria requirements for specific services. Its mission is to use legal skills to address the causes and effects of poverty. Special emphasis is placed on those issues that affect survival needs of low-income people. This is done both reactively, by addressing individual legal needs and proactively by engaging in impact work that provides systemic change thus positively affecting the poverty community as a whole.
By offering individual legal assistance, LSEM responds to the effects of poverty, but it also proactively pursues systemic change efforts to address underlying causes of poverty. LSEM delivers free legal help in 14 Mid-Michigan counties, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Lapeer, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Tuscola. LSEM offers service from three offices, one in Flint, which also serves as the administrative office, one in Saginaw, and one in Port Huron. LSEM also provides home visits to the frail and disabled including nursing home visits.
In pursuit of its mission LSEM offers services in a variety of core legal specialties plus some added services for which clients have a limited, but important need. Low-income people need LSEM services, and in this economic climate the demand for free legal help has grown dramatically. In addition to its traditional client base LSEM is helping a growing number of the unemployed and a whole new class of working poor. Many of the "new poor" are unaware of their eligibility for some types of help, and even if they are aware help exists, they may not know how to access it. Therefore, LSEM is doing outreach in addition to regular legal assistance to ensure that those in need can access help.
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