In conjunction with Wayne County Circuit Court, WBLAC organizes bi-weekly family law clinics and assists and advises public participants on custody, support, and parental leave issues. WBLAC relies on private contributions from law firms, corporations, foundations and individuals, and it is this generous private support that allows the clinic to be a strong and positive force in the lives of the three low-income counties. The William Booth Legal Aid Clinic is an innovative legal service provider for low-income clients who believe that access to exceptional advocacy for all members of the community is an essential part of a free society and that positive experiences with the legal system can be life-changing. The WBLAC exists to solve legal problems and provide quality legal services free of charge to those living on or under poverty guidelines. The clinic serves U.S. individuals, families, and veterans in need, educating clients about their legal rights and duties as they seek to eliminate legal issues as barriers that can prevent them from reaching their full potential. The ultimate goal is to empower responsible citizens who have broken the cycle of poverty and dependency. Support current national and international disaster relief efforts or learn more about how The Salvation Army supports disaster relief on our Disaster Emergency Services page. Salvos Legal has been permanently closed and no longer offers legal assistance. If you need legal help, we recommend that you contact your local legal aid office or community legal centre.
The William Booth Legal Aid Clinic (WBLAC) serves the legal needs of populations living in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties on or under national poverty guidelines. WBLAC also relies on the advice and guidance of an advisory council comprised of a variety of business and legal members, including highly respected serving and retired members of the Oakland and Wayne County judiciary. In addition to their legal services, WBLAC lawyers, staff and volunteers take a holistic approach to helping their clients by referring them to other Salvation Army services for food, clothing or emergency relief, including Corps, the Detroit Harbor Light Center, homeless shelters, the Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing Program, and Adult Rehabilitation Centers. the region. The William Booth Legal Aid Clinic has been providing free legal advice to those in need in the Detroit metropolitan area for 28 years. It all started in 1994 when a local lawyer came up with the idea of helping people recover from addiction and various legal problems. Since then, the William Booth Legal Aid Clinic has counseled participants in Salvation Army treatment programs, as well as community members at or below the poverty line. The William Booth Legal Aid Clinic (WBLAC) – the world`s only free legal aid clinic – just celebrated 25 years since opening at the Harbor Light Center in Detroit, Michigan, serving more people than ever before. WBLAC works with a small staff consisting of a clinic director, two full-time lawyers, a part-time lawyer, a client relations coordinator, and volunteer law students and paralegals from local law schools and college programs. It all started with the vision of a lawyer and his wife, Robert and Ellen Dickman, who wanted to provide free legal aid to the needy population in 1994. Initially, the clinic served only clients from Harbor Light and other local bodies, treating about 140 cases per year. We only offer certain online donation options that allow us to meet the needs of the people we serve in your community or the community you want to support.
By supporting these programs, you are giving The Salvation Army the resources and flexibility to intervene where help is needed most. For additional assistance in donating to an option not listed, please contact Donor Services at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. If you or a loved one needs assistance, please visit salvationarmyusa.org/usn/contact to find the Salvation Army office in your area. Many of our locations offer options for a variety of financial, housing and emergency assistance. If you enter your postal code in the appropriate search box, you can see the Salvation Army locations closest to your local postal code and the services they offer. From its two locations, WBLAC`s small team of lawyers and student articling students helps more than 1,800 U.S. individuals, families, and veterans deal with legal matters each year, totaling more than 20,000 cases resolved in 25 years! In addition to exploring a world-class zoo and supporting a worthy cause, Walk for Justice participants enjoy family-friendly activities and the chance to capitalize on exciting items and experiences at a silent auction. A special prize will be awarded to the hiker with the most commitment.
All proceeds will go to The Salvation Army`s William Booth Legal Aid Clinic – the only free Salvation Army legal aid clinic in the world – which has helped resolve nearly 1,800 legal issues affecting low-income American families, individuals and veterans over the past year. The clinic provides high-quality counselling and advocacy in a variety of areas, including homelessness, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and consumer advocacy. WBLAC handles nearly two thousand legal matters a year, primarily assisting with matters related to family law, divorce, custody, domestic violence, estate, landlord-tenant law, and other areas that may affect the quality of life of children and their families. WBLAC`s legal team has positively resolved cases of interstate parental abduction and international custody disputes, and has successfully advocated on behalf of countless families facing crises related to domestic violence, homelessness and transitional poverty. “Robert was a visionary,” said attorney Amy Roemer, WBLAC`s current director. “The initial goal of the clinic was to help people in treatment solve their legal problems so that legal problems do not trigger a relapse.” For every client helped by WBLAC, the clinic turns away many others simply because it lacks resources. WBLAC seeks input and support for its mission to make the legal system accessible to all. “Ultimately, we would like to see our services expanded,” said Rebekah White, deputy director of WBLAC, “and for other territories to reflect our agenda to help the poor in their territories [with legal concerns].” Founded in 1994, the clinic serves residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County and supports impoverished populations participating in The Salvation Army`s Harbour Light programs.