We use a combination of individual representation, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community legal education to improve the lives of people living in poverty and to increase access to justice. Due to our limited resources, we cannot assist everyone who seeks our services with every case in these categories. Learn how to apply for legal help.

NHLAA provides help in the following areas of law*:

Family law: Restraining orders, custody disputes, and divorce where there is domestic violence or endangerment.

Housing law: Evictions from units with rental subsidies, termination of housing subsidies (state and federal), post-foreclosure evictions, denials based on criminal backgrounds, utility shut-offs, lead poisoning.

Public Benefits: Termination, suspension, reduction, or denial of benefits including food stamps, cash assistance, Social Security, disability, and medical coverage; nursing home issues, access to home care, involuntary institutionalization/discharge, DSS access issues.

Education Law: Students with special education issues, including access, education programming, and placement; students with disability-related issues, including 504 accommodations, school discipline/expulsions.

Employment Law: Wage-theft, employment discrimination.

Immigration Law: Removal defense including asylum, special immigrant juvenile status petitions, and other defensive humanitarian application like VAWA petitions, U Visas, and T Visas with a focus on survivors of domestic violence and detained individuals.

*We will try to provide advice and referrals to you on matters in these areas that we do not handle.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions

Our geographic service area includes the following cities and towns:

Ansonia
Beacon Falls
Bethany
Branford
Cheshire
Derby
East Haven
Guilford
Hamden
Madison
Meriden (elderly clients only)
Milford
New Haven
North Haven
North Branford
Orange
Oxford
Seymour
Shelton
Wallingford
West Haven
Woodbridge