Legal Assistance
LANGUAGE ACCESS PROBLEMS
Laws mandate that any entity receiving federal funds must provide limited English speakers with accommodations so their access to services is not limited. When language barriers arise or persist, persons should contact the director of the respective agency. When this does not happen, a complaint can be made to the federal Regional Manager for Civil Rights or legal action can be pursued.
IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together)
Began to contact churches with Spanish language congregations in 2008 to explore what interest they had in joining IMPACT’s social justice programs. For the 2009-10 advocacy year, IMPACT promoted language accommodations to help limited English speakers access area services and follows up with the local jail and police departments on their commitments to create language accommodations. Contact: Sarah Tarbell, IMPACT’s Lead Organizer, at (434) 220-3450 or impact@thedartcenter.org
Federal Regional Manager for Civil Rights
Persons and organizations wishing to report specific incidences of language barriers at area agencies (hospitals, schools, police, social services, and other offices receiving federal funding) may do so anonymously by contacting Paul Cushing, at 215-861-4441 (phone), 800-368-1019 (hotline), 215-861-4431 (fax) or Paul.Cushing@hhs.gov
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society Services
Address: 1000 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville 22902
Telephone: Applicants can call 296-8851 (local) or toll-free at 1-866-534-5243 or 1-800-390-9983 Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and ask for the Intake Department. Spanish speaking applicants can call Marina Battistini at 804-200-6033 (direct) or toll-free at 1-800-868-1012, ext. 3012, during the same days & hours.
Website: http://www.cvlas.org
CVLAS does family law, custody cases, domestic violence cases, bankruptcy, garnishment, foreclosure, Wills, Powers of Attorney, advance directives, and some consumer and housing cases. Because it receives federal funding, its ability to assist undocumented individuals is restricted. CVLAS can only provide services to non-U.S. citizens who: (1) have permanent resident status, or (2) have a Work Visa, or (3) are married to a U.S. citizen or are the parent of a U.S. citizen or are unmarried, under age 21 & the child of a U.S. citizen, and have applied for permanent resident status & not been rejected, or (4) were admitted as a refugee, granted asylum, or granted withholding from a deportation order, or (5) where the applicant or applicant’s child has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. and the applicant is seeking assistance necessary to assist the victim from an abusive situation or ameliorate the current effect of the abuse or protect against future abuse. The legal assistance includes, but is not limited to, obtaining a civil protection order, divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, housing, public benefits, employment, abuse/neglect, juvenile proceedings, small claims cases, and contempt actions.
Immigration Program
Washington & Lee School Of Law
Address: Lexington
Telephone: (540) 458-8334)
Web Site: http://law.wlu.edu/news/storydetail.asp?id=818
Contact: immigration@wlu.edu
The program represents immigrants, including those in our area, who cannot afford private attorneys in a variety of legal matters, including VAWA, U visas, SIJ, asylum, adjustment, naturalization, deportation defense, and other matters.
Law Office of Edward Summers, PLLC
Telephone: (434) 220-2799
Email: info@summersimmigration.com
Web: http://summersimmigration.com
The Center provides services covering the full range of immigration issues from filing of applications through representation before the immigration and federal courts. It not only helps individuals but provides services to employers of immigrants. Eddie Summers previously headed the Charlottesville Immigration Center for Braverman & Lin, PC; a service which is only available in that practice’s Arlington office.
Law Office of Elva A. Mason
Address: 509 12th Street, NW, Charlottesville
Telephone: (434) 984-6664 or email EMasonLegal@aol.com
Provides bilingual “for fee” services covering civil and family law (child custody, child support, domestic violence, landlord tenant problems, etc). She is also abreast of education/school matters as she was on the Charlottesville City School Board.
Legal Aid Justice Center
Address: 1000 Preston Avenue, Suite A, Charlottesville 22902
Telephone: (434) 977-0553 • 1-800-578-8111 • Fax (434) 977-0558
Website: http://www.justice4all.org
Contact: Tim Freilich, Extension 111, tim@justice4all.org
Contact: Doug Ford, UVA Immigration Law Clinic, Extension 136, doug@justice4all.org
Contact: Phil Storey, phil@justice4all.org
Contact: Dan Nagin, UVA Family Resource Clinic, a joint project with LAJC, 434/-243-4320, dnagin@virginia.edu
Contact: John Conover or Erin Trodden, (434) 977-0553, john@justice4all.org, erin@justice4all.org
Bilingual (English/Spanish) lawyers help qualified immigrants on many issues and invite reports about local immigration detentions. Tim is the point person for Virginia immigration bills and laws and also helps immigrants with employment related problems. Doug assists immigrants who have been unjustly taken into custody by the police or immigration. Dan can help immigrants who confront a language barrier when trying to access services from government offices, hospitals, and other agencies. Phil has also been focusing on language access issues. Reports about suspicious housing policies should be directed to John; while he is not bilingual, Erin is.