Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) welcomes organizations and low-income people to participate in the following projects:

Anti-Predatory Lending Project
Consumer Protection Project / Home Defense Project
Domestic Violence Representation Project
Education Representation Project
Family Representation Project
Health Care Access Project
Immigration Representation Project
Prisoner Reentry Project
Senior Citizen Legal Representation Project
Supplemental Representation Unit
Supplemental Security Income Project
Tax Legal Assistance Project
Workers Legal Rights Project

All LSNJ projects provide legal representation statewide, within the limits of their resources.

Domestic Violence Representation Project (DVRP)
The DVRP was established in 1996 to provide legal assistance to low-income domestic violence victims and support for pro bono attorneys willing to represent victims of domestic violence. The project offers legal advice and representation to eligible victims of domestic violence at Final Restraining Order hearings as well as in divorce, custody, child support, and visitation cases. Clients can access the project by calling LSNJ"s main number, 732-572-9100 or 1-888-576-5529.

Education Representation Project (ERP)

The Education Representation Project of Legal Services of New Jersey provides advice and legal representation in education matters to low-income parents and students.

The Education Representation Project can provide assistance in civil education matters, including the following areas:

• School Registration
• Transportation
• Student Records
• Attendance Matters
• Discipline Matters
• Bullying
• Disability Accommodations
• Special Education
• Early Intervention Services
• Bilingual Education
• Abbott Rights
• School Transfers
• Rights Afforded under No Child Left Behind

If your child is faced with any of these issues or you think your child"s right to a free public education is being violated, contact Legal Services of New Jersey"s Education Representation Project by either calling LSNJ-LAW™, New Jersey "s statewide, toll-free legal hotline at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529) or contacting LSNJ or your local office.

Family Representation Project (FRP)
Initiated in 1997, the FRP helps to lessen the burden on attorneys who are assigned by New Jersey courts as pro bono counsel to represent indigent parents and children involved with the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). Five attorneys, housed in different Legal Services offices across the state, give advice to these court-appointed attorneys in addition to taking on direct representation of parents in termination of parental rights actions. Clients and court-appointed attorneys can access the project by calling LSNJ"s main number, 732-572-9100.

Health Care Access Project (HCAP^®)
Initiated in 1999, LSNJ"s HCAP was established to provide information, advice, referral, advocacy, and legal representation to lower-income New Jersey residents who need expert legal help to get necessary quality health care, especially when restricted or denied by a health maintenance organization (HMO).

Access to the project is by means of LSNJ’s statewide, toll-free legal hotline, 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529). In addition to assisting individuals to obtain necessary services, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Hospital Charity Care, the Project intends to establish a state data bank of health care providers and those HMOs that have a history of consumer complaints, and to reform practices and policies that impede access to quality health care.

Immigration Representation Project (IRP)
Created in 1998, the IRP works to address the needs of low-income immigrants in New Jersey for legal representation in a variety of immigration-related matters, and to provide support for attorneys willing to provide pro bono representation to this population.

The Immigration Representation Project will provide direct representation to low-income immigrants, focusing primarily on the following types of cases:

• Naturalization cases involving complex issues;
• Self-petitioning to secure lawful permanent residence for women who are victims of domestic violence;
• Asylum cases for detained and non-detained clients; and
• Representation in other immigration matters where the client faces the potential loss of public benefits due to their immigration status or where there are other exigent circumstances.

Clients can access the project by calling the toll-free number, 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529).

Prisoner Reentry Project
The Prisoner Reentry Project (PREP) provides civil legal assistance statewide for incarcerated individuals and individuals living with effects of incarceration after release.  PREP seeks to address these legal problems as soon as possible to make the transition back home easier.  Advice will be provided in family, consumer, employment, public benefits, and housing cases.  In limited situations, representation may be provided.  Clients can reach the Project by calling LSNJ's toll-free hotline at 1-888-576-5529 or by writing to PREP at P.O. Box 1357, Edison, NJ 08818. Outside of New Jersey, please call 732-572-9100 and ask to be transferred to the hotline.

Senior Citizen Legal Representation Project
Initiated in 2002, LSNJ's SCLRP was established to provide information, advice, referral, advocacy, and legal representation to lower-income New Jersey residents aged 60 and over who need expert legal help in a variety of areas, including long-term care both in nursing homes and in the home and community, help with decision-making (i.e., powers of attorney, healthcare proxies), and simple estate planning advice; elder financial abuse; and Medicaid/Medicare issues pertaining to seniors. Access to the project is by means of LSNJ’s statewide, toll-free legal hotline, 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529).

Supplemental Representation Unit (SRU)
Established in 1996, the SRU accepts clients who cannot otherwise be assisted by local Legal Services programs due to funding source limitations. Clients, although usually referred by local Legal Services offices, can access the project by calling the SRU"s toll-free number, 1-800-773-LSNJ.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Project
Initiated in 1999, the SSI Project represents a unique joint venture of various state and federal agencies and LSNJ, and has the sole purpose of helping disabled indigent people get a more livable income. The SSI Project represents General Assistance (GA) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients in all levels of the SSI and Social Security Disability application process. With an emphasis on winning cases at the initial application stage, the SSI Project helps individuals with physical and mental disabilities by developing their medical history, writing legal arguments, and completing the complex Social Security application and related documents in a way designed to win federal SSI benefits for disabled individuals. Assisting the SSI Project is a panel of over 50 doctors and psychologists who provide Independent Medical Evaluations for clients with incomplete medical records.

The SSI Project is made up of a team of attorneys, paralegals, case coordinators, administrative staff, and a social worker. In addition, local Legal Services programs provide a significant amount of advocacy at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) stage of the appeals process. For additional information, please call the SSI Project Hotline at 1-877-576-5774.

Tax Legal Assistance Project (TLAP)
The Tax Legal Assistance Project of Legal Services of New Jersey provides advice and legal representation in tax matters to low-income taxpayers.

If you receive a tax notice from either the Internal Revenue Service or the New Jersey Division of Taxation, contact Legal Services of New Jersey's Tax Legal Assistance Project by either calling LSNJ-LAW™, New Jersey's statewide, toll-free legal hotline, at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529), or contacting LSNJ or your local office.

Workers Legal Rights Project (WLRP)
The Workers Legal Rights Project (WLRP) is a special statewide initiative of Legal Services of New Jersey, providing free legal advice and representation to low-income workers. Through individual and impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach and education, and support of local organizing efforts, WLRP advocates for improved working conditions for New Jersey’s diverse workforce. The Workers Legal Rights Project provides assistance and representation in civil matters, including unpaid wages, discrimination, unemployment, human trafficking, whistleblower protections, prisoner re-entry issues, temporary disability, workforce development, workers compensation, license revocation, and employer retaliation against employees when they demand their rights. Similarly, the Farmworker Project advocates on behalf of farmworkers’ employment and civil rights.

For additional information, please call 1-866-576-5327 or the LSNJ Hotline at 1-888-576-5529.