Legal Aid Works

We champion fairness by advocating for those with the least access to the civil justice system. 

We envision a just society in which barriers to justice are eliminated.

How LAW champions fairness:

Facing a future without legal representation is a stark reality for many low-income Virginians involved in civil cases. Unlike criminal proceedings, where the right to counsel is assured, civil matters often leave individuals unsupported, compounding vulnerabilities for those seeking protection from domestic violence or families striving to keep their homes. At Legal Aid Works, we exist to dismantle these barriers and advocate for access to justice as a universal right.

Since 1973, our mission has been unwavering: to ensure fairness and equity in the civil justice system for those who cannot afford representation. With offices in Fredericksburg, Tappahannock, and Culpeper, our dedicated team of attorneys assists around 1,100 people each year, encompassing family law, housing disputes, consumer issues, and more. Despite our robust efforts, a staggering number of eligible clients—two-thirds of them—are turned away due to our resource constraints.

As we look forward, our vision is a society where access to justice is not a privilege but a right available to all. We invite you to join our journey. By volunteering, offering pro bono legal services, or contributing financially, you embrace a pivotal role in reshaping the future of those in need. Your support can illuminate a path to justice for many and will make equity in the legal system a reality for everyone.

Your participation in Give Local Piedmont supports our mission, as we continue to advocate for the American ideal of justice for all. 

Who YOUR gift helps:

Our client “Ana” was a Spanish-speaking asylum seeker who came to Legal Aid Works for help with an Eviction case. She lived in a mobile home park with a lease that incorrectly became month-to-month after what was initially a 1-year term. Her landlord then served her a 30-day notice to quit (an order to leave). With Ana not owing any rent and living peacefully with other residents, she was taken by surprise when a policeman came to serve her court summons in person. He informed her it was “due to a violation of the lease.” Before meeting us, Ana appeared in court before the judge without representation and received a judgment against her: she was told to either leave her mobile home in 10 days or to appeal her case. Without money to pay the appeal bond, it seemed that Ana faced imminent homelessness.  This made her particularly vulnerable, as she was responsible for caring for her three children, while having just lost her job and relying solely on the good-will of her church to meet the basic needs of her family.

After sharing her story with us through our intake process and shedding some tears, Ana was soon after able to connect with one of our lawyers, who saw right through the Landlord’s careless actions. He was able to file a Motion to Rehear, arguing that the Mobile Home Lot Rental Act (MHLRA) required the lease to renew annually, and alternatively, that the appeal bond should be waived. The judge ruled in Ana’s favor and the judgment against Ana was tossed out. After the landlord attempted to give Ana another 60-day termination notice, our attorney informed Ana that the notice should have no legal effect based on the ruling we had just obtained for her. We kept her case open just in case the landlord tried to evict again. Thankfully, the landlord did not try again to evict, and we were able to clear the eviction case from Ana’s record.

Without Legal Aid Works, Ana would have been defenseless before the court, making her a victim of her landlord’s predatory tactics and leaving an unlawful judgement on her record. As many landlords will not allow tenants with prior eviction records to live in their rental properties, this could have had a negative effect on the choices where Ana could live. And, without financial stability, it could have been a major challenge for her to move her trailer to another lot, putting her at risk of homelessness. But now, Ana can move forward with peace of mind that her credit is not impacted by this occurrence.