Legal Aid @ Work! March news

Hello Friends of Legal Aid!

Today we're happy to feature "Rachel's" story highlighting our public benefits work. Restoring benefits for our clients helps them maintain economic stability, food security, and health care access.

In other news this month -

Donuts & The Law - join us to learn about tenants' rights
Estate planning clinics - St Joseph on April 10, Holland on April 23
Office hours - from April 1, all our offices will have the same hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm (with a break from noon - 1pm)

Going to court to secure Rachel's benefits

“Rachel” suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and breathing difficulties that make life challenging.

She has been in and out of the emergency room many times and finds it hard to get around. She applied for benefits twice in recent years but was denied because of questions about part-time work from home that she is no longer able to do.

Rachel called our office seeking free legal help and one of our public benefits attorneys took her case. We submitted Rachel’s recent medical records, filed a brief with the court, and attended Rachel’s hearing with her.

To Rachel’s great relief, the judge issued a clear decision in her favor. She is now receiving the benefits she needs to get by, pay utilities, and put food on the table. And she was also awarded back pay for the amount she should have received previously.

Donuts & The Law - Tenants' Rights

There are still a few spots left at our March Donuts & The Law events!

Join us to learn about tenants' rights, including the legal basics of leases, eviction, security deposits, repairs, mold, and other important issues.

Grand Rapids

Monday March 23, 9:30 - 11:00am

Kalamazoo

Tuesday March 24, 9:30 - 11:00am

St Joseph

Thursday March 26, 9:30 - 11:00am

Muskegon

Thursday March 26, 9:30 - 11:00am

Holland

Friday March 27, 9:30 - 11:00am

Free Estate Planning - St Joseph & Holland

Our next free estate planning clinics will be:

April 10, 4-7pm at the Area Agency on Aging, 2900 Lakeview Ave, St Joseph
April 23, 10am - noon at Holland Charter Township Community Center, 12343 James St, Holland

We'll share info about estate planning, and eligible participants can meet with an attorney to discuss their needs.

Community partners - please share these flyers with your networks! -

Apr 10, St Joseph (English)

Apr 10, St Joseph (Spanish)

Apr 23, Holland (English)

Apr 23, Holland (Spanish)

New office hours in GR & Holland

From April 1, 2026, our Grand Rapids and Holland office hours will be 8:30am - noon and 1:00 - 4:30pm. This change brings all our offices onto the same schedule.