Legal Action of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI

Empowering Justice Through Civil Legal Aid

Legal Action of Wisconsin is the state’s largest non-profit law firm, dedicated to providing free legal services to low-income individuals who would otherwise be denied justice. Since 1968, the firm has operated on the principle that equal justice should have no price tag. With a mission to empower clients and dismantle barriers to equity, Legal Action provides high-quality legal representation in civil matters that are critical to life, health, and safety. Their work not only helps individual clients resolve complex legal problems but also drives structural change through advocacy and litigation to improve systems for everyone.

Core Areas of Legal Practice

Legal Action focuses on civil legal issues that most directly impact the stability and well-being of low-income families and individuals. They do not handle criminal cases, but their civil practice is extensive and vital.

• Housing Law: Preventing homelessness is a primary goal. Attorneys defend tenants in eviction cases, address unsafe housing conditions, and assist with subsidized housing issues (Section 8) and foreclosure defense.
• Family Law: The firm prioritizes safety for survivors of domestic violence, assisting with restraining orders, divorce, custody, and placement to ensure victims and their children can live free from abuse.
• Public Benefits: Legal Action helps individuals access and maintain essential safety-net benefits, including FoodShare, Medicaid (BadgerCare), Social Security (SSI/SSDI), and unemployment compensation.
• Barriers to Employment: To help clients achieve economic stability, the firm assists with driver’s license recovery, pardon applications, and correcting criminal background records that hinder job prospects.
• Consumer Law: Protecting assets and income by fighting predatory lending, garnishments, debt collection harassment, and student loan issues.
• Farmworker Project: A specialized statewide unit providing bilingual legal services to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers regarding wages, working conditions, and housing.

Who They Serve

Legal Action serves low-income residents across 39 southern Wisconsin counties. Eligibility is generally based on income and assets, with priority given to cases involving critical needs like shelter, safety, and sustenance. Special projects also focus on specific vulnerable populations, including seniors (SeniorLaw), veterans, and victims of crime or human trafficking. The firm utilizes a mix of staff attorneys and volunteer lawyers to maximize their reach and impact.

Structural Change and Advocacy

Beyond individual representation, Legal Action of Wisconsin is a leader in impact litigation. They identify systemic issues that trap people in poverty or violate civil rights and pursue legal strategies to remedy them. This work has led to historic milestones in areas such as fair housing, employment discrimination, and due process rights.

Location and Accessibility

The Milwaukee office is centrally located in the historic Clark Building on Wisconsin Avenue. The firm is committed to language justice, offering services in English and Spanish, along with interpretation for other languages, ensuring that non-English speakers have full access to the legal system. Legal Action of Wisconsin stands as a pillar of hope, ensuring that the legal system works for everyone, not just those who can afford an attorney.