State Bar of Wisconsin Modest Means Program
The Modest Means Program of the State Bar of Wisconsin is designed to assist people whose income is too high to qualify for free legal services, but too low to pay a lawyer's standard rate. Qualifying for services through the Modest Means Program is based on your income level and area of legal need.
Attorney fees differ from lawyer to lawyer, but lawyers in this program are urged to offer rates that are substantially lower than their regular rates. We will only refer you to a lawyer on the Modest Means panel if we believe, based on the documentation you provide, that you are willing and able to pay something for the lawyer's legal services. Attorneys through the Modest Means Program are not free.
Legal Topics Covered
- Bankruptcy
- Cars/Vehicles
- Contracts/Warranties
- Credit Cards & Reports
- Debts/Loans
- Home sales, Telemarketing & Spam
- Identity Theft
- Other Money, Debt, & Consumer Issues
- Consumer Protection & Complaints
- Scams, Fraud & Unfair Sales Practices
- Divorce
- Child Support
- Custody & Placement
- Parental Rights & Paternity
- Foreclosure
- Advance Directives/Powers of Attorney
- Guardianships & Conservatorships
- Wills & Probate
- Being investigated for a crime
- Municipal/Traffic Tickets
- Going to Court & Being on Trial
Fees
The State Bar does not charge you a fee for the referral service; however, the lawyer may charge a $20 fee for the initial half-hour consultation.
Attorney fees differ from lawyer to lawyer, but lawyers in this program are urged to offer rates that are substantially lower than their regular rates.
The fee will be determined by the lawyer based on your legal matter and what you are able to afford. There are various types of fee arrangements that are possible. You will have to discuss fees and agree on payment options at the initial consultation. You may want to ask for a written explanation of the fees and payment structure you agreed on.
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Types of Service
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How to Get Service
Complete and submit a questionnaire on the website or complete this application and mail it with the requested documentation. When we receive your completed application and documentation, we will try to match you with an attorney and provide you with contact information for the attorney. You must contact the attorney to set up an appointment – they will not contact you. Your first consultation will cost no more than $20 for the initial half hour. If you and the attorney agree on representation, you should discuss financial arrangements at the initial appointment.
Because the attorneys through this service are agreeing to offer their services at lower than normal cost to qualified clients we require proof of income, assets and expenses that you want us to consider in determining your eligibility. Your documentation may consist of copies of pay stubs, benefit statements, support/maintenance orders and account statements. If you are not sure of what documentation to include, contact us at LRISResponse@wisbar.org. You may remove or block out sensitive information such as social security or account numbers. Do not send us your original documents, only copies.
Other Eligibility
Below is a table that shows the basic income limits that we currently use. Find the size of your household in the first column. The two dollar amounts in the row to the right of your household size are the lower and upper gross income limits we will use for a household of your size. Your income must be more than the lower number but no more than the higher number.
|
Size of family |
Annual income is at least |
Annual income is not more than |
| 1 | $18,825 | $37,650 |
| 2 | $25,550 | $51,100 |
| 3 | $32,275 | $64,550 |
| 4 | $39,000 | $78,000 |
| 5 | $45,725 | $91,450 |
| 6 | $52,450 | $104,900 |
| 7 | $59,175 | $118,350 |
| 8 | $65,900 | $131,800 |
Eligibility is determined by your gross household income (before taxes), including earned and unearned income. Child support and maintenance payments are the only expenses that may be deducted from gross income to determine eligibility. We will also consider your assets when deciding whether you are eligible for this program. For example, if you have significant equity in your home that you are able to borrow against to pay an attorney, then we will consider that in evaluating your ability to pay a reasonable amount to an attorney. When you apply, the information you will need to provide includes your gross household income from all sources (including wages or benefits such as Social Security disability or SSI, worker's compensation, unemployment or VA benefits), bank account balances, and the value of any real estate, stocks, bonds, CDs and/or retirement accounts. Your income and assets must be documented.