All Low Income Residents of Essex County Now Have Access to Legal Help in Eviction Proceedings. Volunteer to Help Us Keep it That Way.

Neighborhood Legal Services, Merrimack Valley Legal Services, North Shore Community Action Programs, Action, Inc. and Lynn Economic Opportunity have partnered to create a first of its kind program providing free legal help to all low income litigants involved in eviction proceedings in the Northeast Housing Court's Lynn, Lawrence and Salem sessions. Through this program, every low income household involved in an eviction proceeding can have access to legal advice and assistance as they participate in the court's mediation process and, if a fair and reasonable resolution cannot be reached through mediation, the project will accept meritorious cases for representation before the court. This important effort to expand access to legal help, prevent homelessness and ensure fair results in housing cases throughout Essex county is supported by the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and has been endorsed by the Essex County, Lynn and Lawrence Bar Associations. Already, in just the first few months of operations, this project has assisted more than 300 individuals and families.

To make this project a long term success and to create a means to sustain it for years to come, we need the assistance of volunteer attorneys to join our staff attorneys and paralegals in order to meet the overwhelming demand for these critical services. Your willingness to join the project for even one morning a month will go a long way to ensure fairness for tenants throughout the county. Its also great practical experience and, as those who participate tell us, a satisfying and rewarding volunteer opportunity.

If you'd like to join us or just learn more about the project, click here to go to our on line volunteer sign up form. Be sure to put in the comment box that you are interested in the "eviction assistance project". And thanks from all of us at NLS and our partnering organizations.