A recent study estimates that 70 percent of people have some kind of a legal issue, but 80 percent of those never address it, much less hire an attorney. The same study found that attorneys can be prohibitively expensive. The median cost to litigate an automobile case, for example, was $43,000. A malpractice lawsuit costs more than $300,000.
Thanks to contingency fees, these kinds of cases are generally paid for after the case is resolved, using the proceeds of the settlement or judgment. But they are indicative of the high cost to bring a matter to our court system, which according to an inscription I saw engraved on the front of the U.S. Supreme Court, is supposed to provide “Equal Justice for All.”
No way. Most cannot afford an attorney to get access to justice.
Those who can afford access to justice pay $200 or more per hour for legal assistance. Those who fall below the poverty line can get access through the DC Bar Association and other programs who provide pro bono legal services.
For people in between, there’s the DC Affordable Law Firm. This nonprofit law firm provides legal services to DC residents whose incomes are too high to qualify for pro bono legal aid, but not high enough to afford a private attorney.
The nonprofit is a partnership between two law firms and the Georgetown Law School. Appointments can be made by calling (202) 844-5430, or emailing [email protected]. Their offices are located at 1717 K Street NW.
The firm has an intake system dependent upon income level. For example, a single working person facing eviction, making between 200 percent and 400 percent of the poverty line —between $23,000 and $48,000 annually—qualifies for an hourly rate of $75.
The firm does not take all cases, but those matters pertaining to landlord/tenant, family law, immigration and issues related to small businesses are all important and underserved. So, this is yet another legal option to explore, particularly if the reader does not qualify for public services.
