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Cases We Do NOT Handle

Thousands of people with legal problems are eligible for Legal Aid. But we do not have enough lawyers to handle them. Every day Legal Aid has to turn down even valid legal cases.  We've given a list below of cases we "generally" do not handle unless there are special circumstances. 

Please call Legal Aid of West Virginia to determine whether or not your case is one we handle.  If it’s not, ask the paralegal for a referral to someone who can help.  While we are not able to help everyone who calls, we will try our best to find someone who can.

Here are cases we "generally" do not handle:

  • Worker's Compensation cases. (If it is a "good case" then a private lawyer will usually take it without requiring you to pay a fee in advance.)
  • Personal injury cases. (If it is a "good case" then a private lawyer will usually take it without requiring you to pay a fee in advance.)
  • Automobile accident cases. (If it is a "good case" then a private lawyer will usually take it without requiring you to pay a fee in advance.
  • Criminal cases.  (Federal law prohibits Legal Aid from handling criminal cases.)
  • Class Actions.  (Federal law prohibits Legal Aid from handling class actions.)
  • Cases for a person in Prison or Jail.  (Federal law prohibits Legal Aid from handling cases for "incarcerated persons.")
  • Over income for that type of case. (Some case types do not have income limitations.)
  • Child Abuse and Neglect (when that's the legal problem for which you want representation)
  • Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (in pending or active DV Protection Order cases)
  • Conflict Cases - Cases where we've already represented or helped an opposing party
  • Nursing or assisted living CNA license cases where allegations of abuse of a patient or resident are involved
  • Medical Malpractice.  (If it is a "good case" then a private lawyer will usually take it without requiring you to pay a fee in advance.)

Of course it is impossible to list all the kinds of cases that people bring to Legal Aid. We will handle some of them; we will not handle others.  If you have any doubt, call to find out.

If we don't handle your type of case, there may be information in our Law Library section of this web site that can help you. Click Here! to go to the Law Library.

Contact your local Legal Aid office (click here for a state map to find the office serving you) to find out whether Legal Aid can help with your case.