Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy

Description

The Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy has several programs to address the legal needs of our different client groups.

Our Senior Citizen Services Program provides legal services to cater to the specific needs of seniors. Elder Rhode Islanders have a need for a variety of legal services. Whether it is end-of-life planning, Medicare/Medicaid issues, housing, or any number of other issues related to age, we provides a variety of legal services to address these issues. We offers legal counsel and services to any senior in need and beginning in June 2009 we have partnered with senior centers throughout the state to take this program even further by bringing legal services directly to seniors. We are happy to count the Cranston, Pilgrim, East Greenwich, Westminster, and Woonsocket Senior Centers as partners in this program to allow seniors access to much needed services and counsel.

Our Individual and Family Services Program will provide legal counsel and services to individuals and families whose annual income is up to 300% above the federal poverty level. Often, those at or below the poverty level find themselves most in need of legal services and are least able to afford them. We are prepared to work with individuals and families who qualify, on a variety of civil issues such as housing, immigration, health care issues, and employment.

Our Small Business Development Program Every year thousands of new business entities (for-profit and non-profit) register with the Corporations Division of the Rhode Island Secretary of State. Since there are so many ways to organize a business, each with various legal consequences, we have a program specifically designed to meet the needs of establishing and developing for-profit and non-profit small businesses. In 2009 we launched our small business development program to target aspiring entrepreneurs, establish new businesses, and develop existing businesses.

We also engage in public policy initiatives by researching and publishing reports or informational pamphlets on issues that affect our clients. Current research projects include: election reform, Economic Recovery/New Small Business Creation, Addiction Recovery, and Prisoner Re-Entry Reform.