°µÍø51

There are many legal aid programs that do not get money from the °µÍø51 (°µÍø51).  We can only take complaints that involve an °µÍø51 grantee. 

File a Grievance with the Grantee First

Filing a grievance with the grantee directly is required by regulations. If you file a complaint with °µÍø51 without going through the grantee’s grievance process, we will likely ask you to complete this process first, because:

• It is the quickest step to address the problem.
• It helps the supervising attorney, director, and/or board members understand what is happening at the grantee.
• It allows you to make a personal appeal for your concerns.

The advocates at the grantee will work hard to understand your concerns and to address them in a professional manner.

Every year, °µÍø51 grantees represent hundreds of thousands of clients. In addition, hundreds of thousands of individuals contact them for help. Sometimes, a client or an applicant is not satisfied but there is nothing further the grantee can do. 

Should I File a Complaint?

If you think that an °µÍø51 grantee, or someone employed by an °µÍø51 grantee, has violated the °µÍø51 Act or related rules and regulations, you may file a complaint with °µÍø51.  If you think that an °µÍø51 grantee may have committed waste, fraud, or abuse, you should file a complaint directly with .

If you have a disability, and you think that the grantee did not accommodate your disability you should file a complaint with the , or with your state's human rights agency. 

Each legal aid organization that receives °µÍø51 funds is an independent, non-profit corporation.  Please know that there is no entitlement or other right to legal assistance and °µÍø51 cannot force its grantees to take a specific case or action.

Filing a complaint is a serious step and any false accusations may result in a civil action being filed by a person who believes he or she has been wrongly accused.

Here are some things to do before contacting °µÍø51:

• Try contacting the grantee about the problem. You can call or write to the staff person involved or to the management at the grantee.
• Each °µÍø51 grantee has a process for complaints or grievances, as required by .  You can ask anyone at the grantee for information about their grievance process.
  • If the grantee told you that it could not help you, and you think they made a mistake, you should first file a grievance directly with that grantee.  
  • If you are a client of an °µÍø51 grantee, and you think they did not do a good job, you should first tell them by filing a grievance directly with the grantee.    

What Will °µÍø51 Do with a Complaint?

• °µÍø51 will review your complaint.
  • If we cannot take action on your complaint, we will close the complaint and let you know in writing.  
  • If we can take action, then:
    • We will contact you if we need more information.
    • We may ask you to sign documentation allowing °µÍø51 to speak with the grantee about your private issues.
    • We will contact the grantee to investigate the situation.
    • If we find that the grantee violated the °µÍø51 Act or regulations, we will take appropriate action.
    • We will notify you in writing of our decision and the outcome of your complaint.  Depending on the situation, it might take anywhere from two months to more than a year.

What °µÍø51 CANNOT Do?

• Make an °µÍø51 grantee take your case.  °µÍø51 cannot force a grantee to take any particular case.  °µÍø51 grantees decide which cases to take and which clients to represent.  
• Represent you directly or find a lawyer who will represent you for no charge.  
  • If you are looking for help with a civil legal problem, please click on Get Legal Help.
  • If you have a criminal case and cannot afford a lawyer, you should contact the court to request a court-appointed lawyer.  
• Recover money damages. °µÍø51 has no power to award damages to a complainant, even if °µÍø51 finds that a grantee violated the °µÍø51 Act or regulations.
• Make a lawyer take action you wish him or her to take. Your attorney is a professional and has the responsibility to act in the best possible manner, considering the local law.
• Resolve complaints about rude behavior.   If you believe that someone at an °µÍø51 grantee acted in an unprofessional manner, please let that person's supervisor know. If the person who behaved improperly is the director of the grantee, you may contact a board member of the grantee and share your concerns.
• Investigate and discipline an attorney at an °µÍø51 grantee (or any other attorney) that has acted in an unethical manner.  You may file a complaint with the licensing authority for attorneys in your state or area.  Usually that is the state court system or the official state bar association.
• Investigate and take action against an °µÍø51 grantee if they discriminated against someone in hiring, firing or employment, including discrimination based on disabilities.  You may contact the  or your state's human rights agency.  

How Do I File a Complaint?

If you decide to file a complaint with °µÍø51, your complaint must be in writing. °µÍø51 does not take complaints over the telephone. You may write a letter explaining the situation that you think indicates a violation of the °µÍø51 Act or regulations. You can send °µÍø51 your letter in the mail, by email, or using the form on this page.

Your letter should contain the following:

• Your full name, address, email address, and telephone number(s);
• The program name and address. In addition, please indicate the name of the staff person(s) involved and the specific office;
• A brief, but complete, description of the facts explaining your situation; and
• Your signature.
  • Sending an email with your letter in the message or attached will create a legally binding signature.
  • Submitting the web form below also creates a legally binding signature.
• Please send your letter either:
  •  
    • by email to complaints@lsc.gov, or
    • by regular mail to:

Complaints
Office of Compliance and Enforcement 
°µÍø51 
1825 I Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006

Or you may complete and submit the form below. Filing a complaint is a serious step and any false accusations may result in a civil action being filed by a person who believes he or she has been wrongly accused. Submitting this form will create a legally binding signature. 

Can I File a Confidential Complaint?

°µÍø51 is governed by the , which means that your complaint, and possibly your identity, may be made public. You may ask for confidentiality; however, we cannot guarantee that your identity may never be discovered. We will often ask a complainant to sign a Grant of Authority to give us permission to disclose his/her identity to the grantee as the complainant. If you are a client or an applicant of the grantee, the Grant of Authority requires your permission for the program to release to °µÍø51 all information it has regarding your application or case.