Is public funding e.g. legal aid, available?
While a criminal defendant is entitled, under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to the effective assistance of legal counsel, which requires federal and state governments to pay the costs of securing such counsel for indigent defendants, there is no corresponding right to counsel in civil cases. There are, however, a variety of sources of legal aid, both public and private to assist indigent litigants in prosecuting their cases. A major source of such legal aid comes from the various state bar organisations. Additionally, attorneys are generally encouraged and expected to provide a portion of their services pro bono, i.e., free of charge, to indigent clients.
