Three Rivers provides a wide range of civil legal services to its clients in the areas listed below. Because of limited resources, Three Rivers Legal Services cannot meet the legal needs of every eligible person. The Board of Directors has established written priorities for the types of cases and matters, including emergencies, to which the staff must limit its commitment of time and resources. These priorities are reviewed annually by the Board of Directors.

FAMILY: Family law cases accepted are those involving the preservation, support and safety of families and individual family members. Priority attention will be given to matters involving domestic violence victims and other family law matters where legal action is required to protect the health, safety and welfare of family members, especially children.

INCOME MAINTENANCE: Income maintenance cases accepted are those involving the acquisition and maintenance of income necessary to the survival of clients. This includes public benefits, unemployment compensation and work related legal actions that are not fee generating.

HOUSING: Housing cases accepted are those involving the acquisition, preservation or access to housing for homestead and shelter. This includes home ownership and rentals.

TAXES: TRLS operates a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic to assist eligible clients with IRS audits, refund claims, tax collection suits, appeals of tax claims and other tax issues.

MEDICAL: Medical cases accepted are those assuring access to free and/or affordable medical care and related services.

ELDERLY AND DISABLED: Clients suffering from infirmities of age or disability will receive priority and extraordinary assistance to afford them dignity and quality care while acquiring services for their mental and physical comfort.

CONSUMER: Consumer cases accepted are those involving pre and post consumer advice and counsel, complaint and contract resolution, and access to credit, especially where there is over-reaching and/or a pattern of exploitation of people living in poverty.

EDUCATION: Education cases accepted are those that ensure children the right to free, quality education in safe and appropriate environments.

COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION: Community legal education is a critical component of delivery of all services in the priority categories and will be integrated in all work plans.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Community economic development matters accepted or generated will be those that directly relate to the basic survival of clients and priorities as defined by substantive areas.

MISCELLANEOUS: Other cases that are necessary to effectuate priorities listed above will be decided on a case by case basis; e.g. probate to preserve homestead, wills for the elderly, special guardianship for the disabled, business plan for community enterprise that helps poor people, etc.

EMERGENCY CASES are non-priority cases or matters that require immediate legal action to secure or preserve the necessities of life; protect against or eliminate a significant risk to the health or safety of the client or immediate family members or address other significant legal issues that arise because of new and unforeseen circumstances. Non-priority cases or matters may not be accepted without permission from the Executive Director and a written explanation of facts rendering the case or matter an emergency which must be a part of the case files.

THREE RIVERS LEGAL SERVICES does not handle Criminal Cases, Workers Compensation, or Personal Injury cases.