ABOUT Rhode Island Legal Services »

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.