Idaho Legal Aid Services offers Legal Advice Lines for eligible Idahoans in the following legal areas: Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking; Seniors; Public Benefits; and Housing. Intake is open between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time), Monday through Wednesday. If you are in the Pacific Time Zone, this is 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We do not accept phone applications on Thursdays or Fridays. To begin the intake process, please call 208-746-7541.
Our Legal Advice Lines provide fast access to legal advice and information from a licensed Idaho attorney at no cost to you. However, there is no guarantee of full representation and most Advice Line cases are not referred on to the local office for representation. To learn more about our Legal Advice Lines, please read the information below.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Legal Advice Line: If you are a domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking survivor and you need help with a legal problem (such as obtaining a protection order or a divorce) you have a question you think a lawyer should answer, or you simply don’t know where to turn, call our Domestic and Sexual Violence Legal Advice Line.
Housing Legal Advice Line: If you are a tenant and need help with a legal problem related to your housing (such as evictions, repairs, security deposits, or housing discrimination) or you are a homeowner that needs help with foreclosure prevention or other legal issues related to keeping your home, call our Housing Advice Line.
Senior and Public Benefits Legal Advice Line: If you are a senior (age 60 or older) and you need help with a civil legal problem, or you are low income and have a question about public benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or unemployment benefits, call our Senior and Public Benefits Legal Advice Line.
Ready, Set, Call: Your Advice Line Checklist
You must have a civil legal problem. Our Advice Lines cannot help with criminal problems, including traffic tickets. If you are unsure, call anyway. Don’t wait to call. Many legal problems are made worse when people delay getting help. Get your documents and facts together before you call. The Advice Line staff will be able to give you better advice if you have specific and correct information.
Here are some examples of common civil legal problems:
- Guardianships
- Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Domestic Violence Issues
- Divorce (*Eligible Seniors and Domestic Violence Victims)
- Custody (*Eligible Seniors and Domestic Violence Victims)
- Landlord/Tenant Disputes
- Evictions
- Consumer Protection (Debt Relief, Contract Disputes)
- Public Benefits (Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps)
Our staff will try to take your call right away. If all Advice Line staff are busy, someone will call you back. Please have a call back number ready when you call.
You will be asked some questions (our intake process) before you can speak with an attorney. Our Advice Lines can only help people with income and assets within certain guidelines. You will be asked about all of your income and assets. We also ask other personal questions such as address, telephone number, marital status, age, and where you live. All information is protected by the attorney/client privilege and will not be shared or sold.
Next the Advice Line staff will ask you to describe your problem or question in detail. They may ask you questions to better understand your situation. Our staff will decide how best to assist you. Depending on your unique situation, here is what you might expect:
- Legal advice over the telephone
- More detailed information sent to you by mail
- Brief service (e.g., limited legal research)
- Referral to a staff or volunteer attorney for legal representation
- Referral to other agencies
- Referral to a private attorney for advice or representation
Call when you won’t be distracted. You will get the most out of the call if the TV is turned off and children are safely somewhere else so you can focus. Allow enough time. The Advice Line staff will give you as much time as possible.
Do not take another call or ask the Advice Line staff to hold. Staff is limited and there are many people needing help. Please be courteous of the staff’s time.
Have your documents in front of you. Our Advice Line staff cannot give you sound advice without complete and correct information.
Have a pen and paper handy. Advice Line staff may give you instructions during this time. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and repeat instructions so you will know what to do later.
Follow instructions. The Advice Line staff may explain how to do something. If you don’t follow the instructions you are given, it is unlikely that you will get the result you desire.
You may not get the result you want. Sometimes, the Advice Line attorney may tell you there is no legal remedy to your problem or your case is too weak to proceed. Please be understanding and respectful.
