Southern Arizona Legal Aid

Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. (SALA) is a nonprofit organization in existence since 1951. SALA provides a variety of free civil legal services to qualified low-income persons. SALA's mission is to provide equal access to the justice system.

SALA's services include brief advice, referrals, pro se workshops and direct representation. SALA decides the type of service to be provided to each client based upon case priorities and available resources.

SALA clients, board members and staff have identified our case priorities as follows:

Loss of home/unsafe housing:
Cases involving loss of home due to foreclosure, mobile home repossession, eviction from subsidized or private housing, landlord/tenant problems, sub-standard housing conditions, lockouts and utility shut-offs.

Domestic relations:
Cases involving domestic violence, child abuse or child snatching, and cases involving elderly clients who face loss of housing or income. Limited services are available for other domestic cases involving divorce, paternity and custody.

Public benefits:
Cases involving welfare programs such as Food Stamps, AHCCCS Medical Assistance, TANF Cash Assistance, Jobs, Unemployment and Social Security disability. Public benefits issues include denial, reduction and overpayment of benefits.

Consumer:
Cases involving loss of home, deceptive and predatory practices, debt collection, repossession, fraud, deficiency, garnishment and bankruptcy.

Education:
Cases involving due process, bilingual and special education. g Representation in Tribal Court: Cases involving domestic relations, juvenile dependency, delinquency, criminal, housing, public benefits, consumer matters, and education.

Immigration:
Services to legal permanent residents, certain qualified aliens, derivative citizens, and victims of domestic abuse. Services include representation before the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Community Education:
SALA's community education program provides legal education, pamphlets, self-help workshops and seminars to community agencies and clients.

Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP):
VLP is co-sponsored by the Local Bar Associations and SALA. The VLP program refers clients to volunteer attorneys for legal assistance. In some SALA offices, VLP provides self-help clinics staffed by private attorneys.