Civil Legal Aid in Employment
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Overview
Civil legal aid helps people with low incomes solve employment-related problems that pose threats to their safety, their rights, or their economic stability.
Common work-related issues legal aid attorneys solve include:
- Wage theft
- Unsafe working conditions
- Unfair labor practices
- Employment discrimination
- Tax issues related to earned income
- Unemployment Insurance
People and families with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level ($39,000 per year for a family of four; $18,825 for an individual) qualify for civil legal aid.
Ted’s Story
Last year, “Ted” (name changed for privacy) was shocked when, just days after he received an offer letter for a new job, the offer was rescinded. The employer did not want to accommodate Ted’s service dog in the workplace, despite the dog’s intensive training. Ted is a veteran who suffered traumatic brain injuries and has post-traumatic stress disorder. His service dog helps him cope with his conditions. Recognizing that this was an instance of employment discrimination, Ted contacted a legal aid organization.
Through negotiations, Ted’s legal aid attorney secured a favorable settlement that provided Ted with several months of lost wages and compensation for his distress. His employer’s Human Resources department was also compelled to undergo anti-discrimination training.
Legal Aid: A Sound Investment
Nearly $100 million in estimated benefits were provided by legal aid to the Commonwealth and its residents last year, including $83,877,858 in estimated benefits won for clients and $16,099,740 in reimbursements and savings obtained for the Commonwealth.
Legal Aid by the Numbers
1,797 employment-related cases were closed in FY22, including cases involving:
- 970 Unemployment Insurance
- 444 Taxes (including Earned Income Tax Credit)
- 113 Wage claims and Fair Labor Standards Act Issues
- 125 Employee Rights
- 92 Employment Discrimination
- 13 Earned Income Tax Credit
- 40 Other