Vol. 31, No. 2, #9. Wyoming Legal Services: A much-needed Wyoming resource.

• Author: Author: Janice Baker

Wyoming Bar Journal

2008.

Vol. 31, No. 2, #9.

Wyoming Legal Services: A much-needed Wyoming resource

Wyoming Bar Journal Issue: April, 2008 Author: Janice Baker Wyoming Legal Services: A much-needed Wyoming resource

Wyoming Legal Services, Inc (WLS) is a federally funded, non-profit, 501(c) (3) charitable legal firm that provides legal assistance to low income residents living in Wyoming. WLS's purpose is to provide legal assistance in civil cases to those individuals who would normally not be able to afford legal representation. WLS was established in 1997 as a result of a statewide consolidation of three separate legal service programs in Wyoming: Wind River Legal Services in Lander, Legal Aid Services in Casper, and Legal Services of Southeastern Wyoming in Cheyenne. The three combined offices received 1,500 applications for legal services in 2006, and as of December 2007, WLS has received 1,910 applications for legal assistance and expects an increase in 2008. WLS provides legal services in the areas of housing, income benefits, consumer debt, elder law, family law and disability advocacy statewide as well as criminal and civil representation on the Wind River Indian Reservation in the Shoshone/Arapahoe Tribal Court. Wyoming Legal Services is able to provide legal help for about two-thirds of the Wyoming citizens that apply for services. The remaining third of individuals that apply either do not qualify for our services or have a legal problem that we are unable to litigate. These individuals are typically referred to the Wyoming State Bar or their local bar for help. WLS provides free legal assistance in civil cases for Wyoming residents who live at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. In Wyoming, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately one out of six residents lives at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Wyoming currently has a population of about 500,000 individuals; therefore, about 75,000 Wyoming residents live below the federal poverty level. With only six staff attorneys throughout Wyoming, WLS must rely on attorney volunteers to provide pro bono support.

WLS operates on a budget of $655,493 with six attorneys, one tribal advocate, one PAI coordinator, and several office staff personnel. Eighty-five percent of our funding comes from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), "a private...