Our Mission:
The mission of the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley is to apply a full range of expert legal services to identify and resolve the most critical civil injustices facing low-income people.
Our History: 60 Years of Service and Access to Justice
Founded in 1966, the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley (LASRV) is Virginia’s oldest Legal Aid Society and became the Commonwealth’s first staff-model legal aid program licensed by the Virginia State Bar, as well as the first to receive Office of Economic Opportunity funding. In 2026, LASRV proudly celebrates 60 years of service to the community.
From the very beginning, LASRV attorneys have taken on some of the most significant barriers preventing low-income individuals and families from accessing the legal system. Early efforts included successfully challenging state child removal without a hearing, advocating for improvements to area courthouses to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and opposing unauthorized welfare liens and unlawful work requirements.
Today, LASRV is a nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services to more than 1,000 low-income clients each year in the cities of Roanoke and Salem, as well as Roanoke, Botetourt, Franklin, Bedford, and Craig Counties. Our work spans critical areas of need, including housing, family law, employment, consumer debt, and domestic violence.
Sixty years after its founding, and with more than 120,000 people assisted through our legal programs and services, LASRV continues its long-standing commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for the communities we serve.
“The best thing about dealing with Legal Aid was obtaining a vast amount of knowledge and information pertaining to the legality of my situation, in addition the friendliness of the staff.” Kari F.
Why Our Communities Need Civil Legal Aid
Assures fair access to justice for everyone, regardless of how much money they have
Provides legal assistance in non-criminal cases to the poor who cannot afford an attorney
Educates clients about their rights and responsibilities
Gives people access to legal forms and links to other agencies
Helps people protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families
Streamlines the court system, reducing the number of unnecessary lawsuits and cutting down on court costs and staff overtime
Saves public dollars in the long term, by preventing problems like homelessness or health issues, that can be extremely costly and harmful to individuals and the public