Resources | Legal Advocacy

Legal Advocacy - Legal Aid of Nebraska


Domestic Violence

The purpose of this project is to help victims successfully escape the cycle of domestic violence and maintain their independence. Through this project, Legal Aid of Nebraska is able to help victims of domestic violence with numerous legal issues, including obtaining protection orders, divorces, paternity, child custody, child support, child visitation, collection cases, bankruptcy, housing matters, and more. Legal Aid works together with other advocacy agencies to better provide needed services to victims of domestic violence. The attorneys on the D.V. Project statewide represent approximately 3,450 women and children a year that would not otherwise be served. Legal Aid is the only organization devoted to serving the legal needs of indigent domestic violence victims throughout the State of Nebraska.

Legal Aid can help with the following:

  • Dating Violence
  • Financial Matters and Domestic Violence
  • Harassment Orders
  • Protection Order
  • Safety Plan
  • Sexual Assault
  • Stalking

Elder Law Program

The Elder Law Program serves twenty-two counties in Northeast Nebraska. Attorneys travel to senior centers in the service area to provide community education. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Homestead exemption
  • Spousal impoverishment rules under Medicaid
  • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program
  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
  • Power of Attorney
  • Wills

Health Care Planning

Through this Program, Legal Aid provides advice, brief service, and direct representation in such areas as providing durable powers of attorney, wills, and health care directives.


Homeless Assistance Under a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, Legal Aid provides a full-time attorney to work with 25 homeless shelters and transitional living facilities. The attorney provides advice, brief service, referral and representation to people living in the shelters and facilities that need civil legal assistance. Substantive legal areas include but are not limited to domestic relations, consumer law, collection defense, public benefits and housing cases.


Migrant Worker Legal Aid

Migrant Worker Project provides free civil legal services to migrant workers in Nebraska by responding to critical legal needs through dedicated, creative, well-trained attorneys and bilingual paralegal staff. Through this project, migrant workers can get information, advice, referrals, and/or the representation they need to resolve the legal barriers that may be preventing them from becoming self-sufficient. Migrant workers can call Legal Aid ' toll-free AccessLine™ ( 1-877-250-2016 ) from anywhere within Nebraska to access potential services. The AccessLine™ serves as an effective and efficient service delivery system, especially for migrant workers who may live in rural and remote areas. Additionally, "walk in interviews" in the Legal Aid offices will be accommodated due to the access problems this client population faces. A Spanish-speaking paralegal and/or attorney is also available to provide assistance to migrant workers.

Native American

The Native American Program provides advice, brief service and representation in Indian Law (treaties and federal law that is uniquely applicable to Native Americans), tribal law and within tribal judicial systems. Cases include but are not limited to adoptions, child abuse and neglect, child custody, wills, power of attorney, debt collection, illegal evictions, child support, wage claims, wrongful termination of employment, Indian trust income, and probate of an estate. Through this Program, Legal Aid assists with issues of federal Indian Law, such as the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the Indian Civil Rights Act, and Public Law 280. The Program is also provides technical assistance in the creation and review of tribal judicial systems and in the creation and revision of tribal codes. For assistance through our Native American Program please call 1-800-729-9908.


Juvenile Court Project

Through the Juvenile Court Project, Legal Aid provides civil legal aid in Lancaster juvenile courts. Legal Aid attorneys act as Guardian ad Litem - protecting the "legal and social" interests of children who have been abused, neglected, or committed involuntarily. In some cases, Legal Aid represents the parents in protecting their rights.

Community Education Clinics

Throughout the year Legal Aid of Nebraska offers community education sessions on various legal issues and subjects. Some of the topics covered are divorce, bankruptcy, consumer issues, landlord / tenant, SSI and Income Taxes. These clinics are generally open to the public.