New Haven Legal Assistance Association Inc is a nonprofit legal services organization dedicated to securing justice and protecting the rights of low-income residents throughout New Haven County and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Specializing in providing free, high-quality legal assistance, NHLAA stands out for its commitment to ensuring equal access to the justice system for vulnerable populations who cannot afford private counsel.
The organization employs a multifaceted approach that includes direct legal representation, strategic advocacy for systemic change, and extensive community education and outreach. With a focus on empowering clients and improving living conditions, NHLAA prioritizes cases that benefit large numbers of low-income individuals, particularly seniors, domestic violence survivors, immigrants, people with disabilities, children, low-wage workers, and families at risk of homelessness.
Services Offered
- Legal advice, brief service, and full representation for qualifying individuals
- Family law (restraining orders, custody disputes, and divorce involving domestic violence or endangerment)
- Education law (special education access, programming, and placement; disability-related accommodations; school discipline and expulsions)
- Housing law (evictions, termination of housing subsidies, post-foreclosure evictions, denials based on criminal backgrounds, lead poisoning cases)
- Employment law (wage theft, unemployment compensation, employment discrimination)
- Public benefits advocacy (termination, suspension, reduction, or denial of food stamps, cash assistance, Social Security, disability, medical coverage, nursing home issues, home care access, involuntary institutionalization/discharge)
- Immigration law (removal defense, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions, VAWA petitions, U Visas, T Visas for survivors of domestic violence and detained individuals)
- Community education and outreach programs
NHLAA serves residents in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Haven, North Branford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven, and Woodbridge, with specialized services for elderly clients in Meriden. Assistance is available for individuals with limited English proficiency.
