Idaho Legal Aid Services exists for one core reason: equal access to justice shouldn’t depend on income. In a Q&A featured in the Post Register’s “It’s the Law” series, ILAS Idaho Falls Managing Attorney Jake Workman helps demystify what legal aid actually is, and what it isn’t. 

A common misconception is that legal aid is only for rare situations or that people have to “wait until it’s really bad” before asking for help. The reality is that many crises (housing loss, unsafe family situations, predatory debt, benefit denials) move fast, and early guidance can make a huge difference. Workman’s message is straightforward: if you’re low-income and facing a civil legal problem, it’s worth reaching out and learning your options sooner rather than later. 

ILAS also works to make legal information easier to access statewide through local offices, advice lines, and self-help tools, so people can take practical next steps even when they can’t afford private counsel. 

Attribution/Source: Post Register, “It’s the Law: Idaho Legal Aid Services’ mission” (Q&A with ILAS Managing Attorney Jake Workman). Read the original reporting (external link).