Legal

Community Health Law Project

www.chlp.org

The essential mission of CHLP is to provide legal and advocacy services to New Jersey residents with disabilities. We serve consumers of mental health services, people with physical disabilities, HIV/AIDS, developmental disabilities, and visual impairments. Our attorneys and advocates represent clients in matters involving Social Security benefits, welfare, food stamps, and other entitlements; housing habitability and landlord-tenant disputes; foreclosure defense; consumer protection and debt collection; child support and domestic violence; Medicaid, Medicare, and other health insurance issues. CHLP has regional offices in Bloomfield, Elizabeth, Trenton, Asbury Park, and Collingswood; satellite offices in Jersey City, Toms River, Mt. Holly, and Absecon.

 

Disability Rights New Jersey

www.drnj.org

Incorporated in 1994, DRNJ was subsequently designated by the Governor to serve as New Jersey’s protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. As the protection and advocacy system, DRNJ operates nine federally funded programs including:

• Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI);

• Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR);

• Client Assistance Program (CAP);

• Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS);

 

Legal Services of New Jersey

www.lsnj.org

LSNJ coordinates the statewide Legal Services system, which provides free legal assistance to low-income New Jerseyans for their civil legal problems. LSNJ coordinates the statewide Legal Services system, which provides free legal assistance to low-income New Jerseyans for their civil legal problems.

 

Public Defender

http://www.state.nj.us/defender/index.shtml

The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender provides constitutionally mandated legal representation for adults and juveniles charged with criminal offenses who are unable to afford private lawyers. Once you have been found by the court to be eligible for public defender services, you are guaranteed certain rights as a public defender client. You also have certain responsibilities as a client including an obligation to pay reasonable costs of your representation. The Division of Mental Health Advocacy represents individuals in commitment hearings.

 

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

http://www.vljnj.org/index.php

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) provides comprehensive legal services to economically-disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey through volunteer attorneys recruited and trained by VLJ. Programs include free legal counsel and advice, educational seminars on various legal matters, and direct representation for at-risk individuals facing critical civil legal issues.

 

Guardianship Association of New Jersey

http://ganji.org

Guardianship Association of New Jersey (GANJI) is a not-for-profit organization of professionals, families, and individuals committed to supporting guardians and other surrogate decision makers in enhancing the lives of persons who require assistance.