ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN OREGON
- Oregon’s legal services programs have offices in 18 communities statewide. Statewide programs include the Native American Program, the Farmworker Project, and the Community Development Law Center.
- Last year alone, legal services programs directly served over 20,000 low-income clients. Thousands more were helped through pro se materials, self-help programs and pro bono assistance.
- Nearly 800,000 low-income and elderly Oregonians qualify for the services of Oregon’s 100 legal aid attorneys; that’s one attorney for every 8,000 persons. For the general population there is one attorney for every 340 persons.
- According to the Oregon Legal Needs Study completed in 2000, more than 80% of the legal needs of low to moderate income Oregonians are going unserved each year. A recent survey completed by Legal Aid Services of Oregon shows that this unmet need has only increased in the last five years.
- Legal services representation is limited to high-priority needs: food, shelter, medical care, income maintenance and physical safety. About 40% of the cases are family law cases, usually helping the victims of domestic violence to obtain and enforce restraining orders and create a stable home environment for their children. Recent studies have shown that access to legal services is essential in the process of ending domestic abuse.
- A statewide legal needs study* found that 70% of respondents who were
represented by a legal aid attorney had a favorable view of the legal system, even
when the issue was not resolved in their favor. Of respondents who did not have
access to legal counsel, 75% had an unfavorable view of the legal system.
*2000 Legal Needs Study sponsored by the Oregon State Bar, Oregon Judicial Department and the Office of the Governor.
