The hotline and interpreter projects were founded on the principle that before launching into its own direct legal services program, the APALRC first needed to work with existing legal providers to address the language and cultural barriers that were preventing their services from reaching the Asian American community. Operating these projects over the years has enabled us to clearly identify gaps in the legal services delivery system where we continue to encounter difficulties in finding adequate referrals for individuals calling the hotline.
In response to these gaps, in 2004 the APALRC achieved a major turning point in its history by expanding its services beyond intake and referrals to include direct legal representation. The APALRC is now home to two direct legal service projects: we provide legal advice and representation on employment law matters to low-wage Asian immigrant
workers in Montgomery County, Maryland, and we also provide comprehensive legal services (including assistance with protective orders, immigration law and family law) to
domestic violence victims in Northern Virginia and Maryland.
In the fall of 2004, the APALRC initiated a project to provide legal services to Asian immigrant workers in Montgomery County, Maryland. Through this project, APALRC works to educate Asian Americans about their legal rights in the workplace, and provides legal advice and representation on employment-related matters to Asian Americans via our hotline and legal clinics held in partnership with community-based organizations.
