About MLAC
The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation is the largest funding source for civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts. MLAC also provides leadership and support for the continued improvement of legal aid to low-income people statewide through its Initiatives.
The Commonwealth established MLAC in 1983 to ensure that low-income people facing critical non-criminal legal issues would have access to legal information, advice, and representation. Our mission is to improve legal aid in Massachusetts through collaboration with the legal services community, the public, the bar, and the legislature.
About Civil Legal Aid
Unlike in criminal cases, low-income people facing civil legal problems – involving issues such as child custody, domestic violence, housing, health care, employment, government benefits and elder issues – do not have a right to a lawyer. They rely on legal aid organizations; this is often the only way their basic human needs for health, safety, and housing can be protected.
Inside a Legal Aid Organization
The Central West Justice Center provides free legal help to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts. It’s a subsidiary of Community Legal Aid, one of many legal aid organizations that MLAC funds. CWJC’s advocates focus on cases involving humanitarian-based immigration law, employment rights, housing and homelessness issues, and access to public benefits. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly produced this video in recognition of Central West Justice Center receiving the Reginald Heber Smith Award for Excellence in Legal Services.
Fact Sheets
MLAC asks the legislature to provide $29 million for civil legal aid in the FY21 state budget through line item 0321-1600.
Civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts provide legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in a variety of cases, including housing, employment, education, health care, and family law, among others. Below are a series of fact sheets that detail the types of cases closed in each issue area, as well as ways civil legal aid helps specific groups of clients.
• Family Law and Domestic Violence [PDF]
• Employment/Unemployment [PDF]
Economic Benefits Fact Sheet
In FY19 the work of civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts generated an economic benefit of $69 million to the Commonwealth and its residents.
My legal aid attorney was heaven-sent.