RV Operated by Nonprofit Offers Mobile Legal Advice, Remote Court Access
A 40-foot RV is bringing justice to low-income individuals in New York.
The van is New York’s first legal services office on wheels, according to a press release (PDF). Lawyers from the New York Legal Assistance Group will be visiting at least seven sites each week in the RV to bring free legal advice directly to clients.
The RV also has video capability, making it possible for clients to go before judges in emergency court proceedings. The New York State Office of Court Administration partnered with the nonprofit legal assistance group to launch the RV, dubbed the “Mobile Legal Help Center.”
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) covered the RV’s debut in mid-December. “The quarters are tight,” the story says. “Next to the driver’s seat, a fold-up passenger seat can double as an intake booth, with clients standing at the window. But with two private offices and videoconferencing equipment for emergency court hearings, the 40-foot mobile unit is expected to serve 1,600 people a year.”
