Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Listed below are answers to questions about us and our web site. If you have a question not answered below, please Contact Us. We cannot answer legal questions or accept new cases on our website. If you have a legal problem, you should talk to a lawyer if you can.

Do you have a low income? Are you a victim of abuse? Do you have a disability? Are you 60 years old or older? You may be able to get free legal help. Call Vermont Legal Aid at (800) 889-2047.

Who is Vermont Law Help?
What do Pro Bono and Pro Se mean?
What's the difference between Civil and Criminal legal services?
What kind of cases do legal services programs handle?
What is the difference between a legal services/legal aid program and the public defender program?
What are the eligibility requirements for legal services programs?
How do I find a lawyer?
What if a legal services program will not help me?
When should I seek legal advice?
Why can't I ask legal questions through this web site?
How do I find out more about legal services programs?
How do I send suggestions for adding items to this web site?

Who is Vermont Law Help?

Vermont Law Help is a free legal help website. It was developed by Legal Services Law Line together with Vermont Legal Aid. We got help from many people and organizations. For more information about Legal Services Law Line of Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid, visit their websites. To learn more about Vermont Law Help's Advisory Committee, go to Our Partners.

What do Pro Bono and Pro Se mean?

"Pro Se" means that you are representing yourself in court. "Pro Bono" means that a lawyer is representing you for free.

What's the difference between Civil and Criminal legal services?

Vermont Legal Aid, Legal Services Law Line of Vermont, and other civil legal services organizations represent people in civil legal matters. Civil legal matters are law suits and other legal issues that aren't about crimes. For example, most landlord/tenant issues, used car and credit card issues, and ReachUp and SSI benefits cases are civil legal matters. Criminal Legal Services organizations, called Public Defenders, represent people in cases in which the government has accused a person of committing a crime.

Some legal problems can have both a civil part and a criminal part. For example, if a man physically hurts his girlfriend, the girlfriend can file a law suit against the boyfriend. The girlfriend can ask for civil legal remedies such as a restraining order to keep the boyfriend away and for money damages. But the State could also file a law suit against the boyfriend for the crime of assaulting the girlfriend.

What kind of cases do legal services programs handle?

Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Law Line of Vermont represent and advise people in most kinds of civil legal matters. Do you want to know more? Call Vermont Legal Aid  (1-800-889-2047) to find out if you qualify for free legal help from Legal Aid or Law Line. The answer might depend on how much income you have, how old you are, whether you are a victim of abuse, or whether you have a disbility.

To find out about other legal services organizations, visit the websites of the legal services organization that you want help from or call them. Search our site for links to other helpful organizations.

Watch this video to hear from our clients what Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Law Line have done to help them. 

What is the difference between a legal services/legal aid program and the public defender program?

Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Law Line of Vermont provide free legal representation and advice in civil legal matters. Public defenders provide free legal services to people whom the government has accused of committing a crime.

What are the eligibility requirements for legal services programs?

That depends on which legal services organization you are asking to help you. It also may depend on how much income you have, how old you are, whether you are a victim of abuse, or whether you have a disability. To find out more, visit the websites of the legal services organization you want to help you or call them. You can find many helpful legal services organizations by searching our site.

How do I find a lawyer?

If you do not qualify for free legal help, you can hire a lawyer through the Vermont Bar Association or the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association.

What if a legal services program will not help me?

If you do not qualify for free legal help from a legal services organization, you can represent yourself or you can hire a private attorney. If you decide to represent yourself, we hope you find the information and links on our website helpful.

When should I seek legal advice?

If you can, you should get legal advice anytime you have a legal problem. However, we hope that our website will be helpful to you.

Why can't I ask legal questions through this web site?

A lawyer or paralegal needs to talk to you directly and be able to ask you questions before she or he can give you legal advice.

How do I find out more about legal services programs?

There is a wealth of information about legal services programs on the web site of the Legal Services Corporation.

How do I send suggestions for adding items to this web site?

At the bottom of most pages on the site, there is a "Feedback" form where you can enter suggestions related to the content of that page, or general comments for our site staff.