Unemployment Legal Assistance Relief Fund

Program Status: Active (distributed January 2025)

Geographic Scope: Michigan (all counties)

The Unemployment Legal Assistance Relief Fund was created through class action settlements and is administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation. The fund provides free legal advice and representation for unemployment insurance claimants across Michigan.

Funding Purpose: To expand access to free legal aid in unemployment benefits cases, addressing the gap where attorneys are not automatically provided for low-income parties in civil cases.

Partner Organizations Receiving Funding:

• Lakeshore Legal Aid's Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (CALL)
• Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP)
• Legal Aid of Eastern Michigan (LSEM)
• Legal Aid of Western Michigan (LAWM)
• The Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice

Services Offered:

• Free legal hotline services
• Triage services
• Direct legal representation for unemployment cases
• Referrals to partner legal aid programs

How to Access:

• Contact CALL at (888) 783-8190 to speak with an attorney
• Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• CALL will refer cases to partner legal aid programs for additional advice or representation

Contact Information:

• Michigan State Bar Foundation
• Michael Franck Building
• 306 Townsend Street
• Lansing, MI 48933
• Email: msbf@msbf.org
• Phone: (517) 346-6400