Every
year, thousands of low income individuals and families seek legal advice and assistance
from Rhode Island Legal Services. Our clients are as diverse
as our state, encompassing all races, ethnic groups and ages. The problems that
bring them to RILS relate to family matters, housing, employment, government
benefits or consumer disputes. Frequently they involve crisis situations for our
clients and their families. Without the benefit of legal advice and representation,
the consequences may be as serious as the loss of a family's only source of income,
homelessness, domestic violence, or even the breakup of the family itself.
Our
basic priorities are to ensure that low-income people have food, shelter, income,
medical care, and freedom from domestic violence. To accomplish this, RILS
provides a full range of legal assistance, including advice and brief service,
investigation, negotiation, and litigation in all state and federal trial and
appellate courts. RILS also provides community legal education services
to its client community.
RILS is the State's major law firm for
low-income people with civil legal problems.