Iowa Legal Aid is a nonprofit organization that provides critical legal assistance to low-income Iowans who have nowhere else to turn.

Iowa Legal Aid and volunteer attorneys help the legal system work for those who cannot afford help with legal issues. Typical cases involve problems with basic necessities, fundamental rights or safety, including:

• Protecting victims of domestic violence.
• Preventing illegal evictions and unsafe housing.
• Securing income support such as SSI, Medicaid and disability benefits.
• Preventing consumer fraud and abusive debt collection practices.

Iowa Legal Aid is an effective and efficient statewide program.

• Iowa Legal Aid provides services to residents of all 99 counties from offices in ten cities.
• Offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo.
• Each office has a toll-free telephone number.
• Iowa Legal Aid's website provides online access to legal information.
• Many of Iowa Legal Aid's clients receive help from volunteer lawyers through Volunteer Lawyers Projects operated by Iowa Legal Aid, the Polk County Bar Association and the Scott County Bar Association.
• Over 2,700 volunteer attorneys are signed up with one of Iowa's Volunteer Lawyers Projects. Each year participating attorneys provide free services valued at approximately $1.9 million to clients referred by Iowa Legal Aid.

Almost 22,000 cases were handled by legal aid in Iowa in 2008.

• More than 72 percent of the cases involved women as the primary client.
• Over 20 percent of the clients served were senior citizens.
• One-third of the cases involved family law, the majority involving domestic abuse.
• Adding up the number of persons in the families served, nearly 51,000 Iowans were helped by Iowa Legal Aid last year.

The importance of the work done by Iowa Legal Aid is exemplified by the following comments received from clients assisted by Iowa Legal Aid:

I got all the help and advice I needed. I was very, very glad for the help. I didn't know what to do. I was so worried, I made myself sick. Now I am okay because I got help.

You can never understand how you freed me. All that you did for me I couldn't pay for. This gives me a chance again to go forward. You are the best. Thank you all.

As soon as I walked in the door and explained my situation I was helped within an hour and was told what I could do. I was able to get a protective order against my husband and had him removed the same day from my home.

Even though I don't have any money, I was still able to get legal help and was represented by a good lawyer.

I really appreciate your help when I have legal questions regarding my brother who is in a nursing home. It's a relief to know where I can get help for him. He certainly has no money to pay for legal services, so it's good to have someone to turn to for help. Thank you.

I was very intimidated by my situation and the lawyer was so kind and helpful. She answered every question and sent the forms to me that day. I am disabled and very thankful.

I just wanted to drop you a quick note and personally thank you again. Your intervention stopped what had been a nightmare for myself and my children. You answered every question, helped save me from unknown fears and worries.

To apply for assistance from Iowa Legal Aid, contact any regional office or call the following intake units:

Eastern Iowa - (800) 332-0419
Central Iowa - (800) 532-1275
Western Iowa - (800) 352-0017

For questions about Iowa Legal Aid, call
Dennis Groenenboom, 515-243-2980, extension 1620.