Poverty Law Manual for the New Lawyer

 

The articles in this manual describe the basics of the principal legal issues facing low-income clients and discuss the skills needed for poverty law practice. Published in 2002, the manual is designed for the new attorney, but it is a good primer and update for all poverty law advocates. Articles are currently being updated.

 

Forward

Acknowledgements

 

Getting Started

 

Vision and Community: Keys to Thriving in Legal Services, by Rosemary French and Marie Contreras

Internet-Based Legal Research for the New Legal Services Attorney, by Michelle Nicolet

Learning About Your Community

Legal Aid History, by Alan W. Houseman

 

Welfare

 

An Introduction to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, by Wendy Pollack 

Introduction to Food Stamps, by Anne Pearson and Sonya Schwartz

 

Administrative Hearings

 

Administrative Hearing Practice and Procedure, by the New England Regional Training Consortium

 

Health

 

Medicaid, by Jane Perkins

Location, Location, Location: Rural Areas and Health, by Linda S. Lowe

State Children's Health Insurance Program, by Manjusha P. Kulkarni

Medicare, by Kim Glaun

 

Other Public Benefits

 

An Introduction to Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, by Jenny Kaufmann

Public Benefits: Beyond the Usual Suspects, by Marcia Henry and Katina Ancar

 

Housing

 

Overview of Public Housing, HUD Federally Subsidized Housing, and Section 8 Housing Voucher Programs, by Fred Fuchs

Eviction Defense, by Marcia Henry

An Introduction to Fair Housing Law, by Crystal Ashley

Housing Programs Unique to Rural Areas, by Lisa Krisher and Susan Reif

 

Immigrants

 

Representing Immigrants: What Do LSC Regulations Allow, by Sara Campos, Sheila Neville, and Linton Joaquin

Immigrants' Eligibility for Federal Benefits, by Tanya Broder and Dinah Wiley

 

Employment

 

Employment Law, by Sharon Dietrich, Catherine Ruckelshaus, Jim Williams, Rachel Paster, and Michele Palter

 

Consumer

 

Consumer Law for the New Legal Services Practitioner, by Carolyn Carter

 

Holistic Practice

 

Representing the Whole Client, by Ellen Hemley

 

Family Law

 

A Family Law Synopsis

Child Support--An Important But Often Overlooked Issue for Low-Income Clients, by Paula Roberts

Introduction to Child Welfare, by William Grimm

Perils of Joint Custody, by Nancy Goldhill

 

Domestic Violence

 

A Domestic Violence Law Synopsis

Confidentiality, by Joan Zorza

Civil Protection Orders, by Catherine F. Klein and Lesley E. Orloff

Enforcing Domestic Violence Protection Orders Throughout the Country, by Susan B. Carbon, Peter MacDonald, and Seema Zeya

Interstate Custody: Understanding the UCCJA, the UCCJEA, and the PKPA, by NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.

The Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, by Billie Lee Dunford-Jackson

Recommended Resources for Advocates Representing Battered Women

 

Putting It All Together

 

Cross-Substantive Representation, by Shari Zimble

Experienced Advocates Share Insights on Legal Services Practice, by John Bouman, Wendy Pollack, Margaret Stapleton, and Marcia Henry

What You May and May Not Do Under the Legal Services Corporation Restrictions, by Alan W. Houseman and Linda E. Perle