Other Resources


Legal Aid of Western Missouri

Legal Aid of Western Missouri represents low-income people living in 40 counties in western Missouri with certain types of legal problems, including landlord/tenant issues, Social Security Disability cases, eligibility for Medicaid and food stamps, orders of protection (in cases of abuse or stalking), unemployment compensation hearings, foreclosure prevention, consumer protection, certain types of dissolution of marriage cases and child custody cases, tax issues, and Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Court cases.  Their services are free of charge.  To apply for assistance in Kansas City, call 816-474-6750.  For more information, including telephone numbers and locations of Legal Aid’s offices, go to www.lawmo.org.  


UMKC School of Law offers several legal clinics:

Entrepreneurial Legal Services Clinic

The Entrepreneurial Legal Services Clinic delivers legal advice and facilitates the delivery of professional business planning to owners of small businesses –both existing and start-ups —who cannot afford the market rates for such services.

Services include:

  • Assistance in making a choice of entity
  • Entity creation by drafting articles of incorporation and organization, by-laws and partnership agreements
  • Contract review and drafting
  • Advice and assistance concerning debt problems
  • Review of lending contracts and loan advice
  • Tax advice, especially about the importance of faithful payment of payroll withholding trust amounts and the consequences of failure to pay them
  • Advice concerning compliance with consumer, licensing, and regulatory rules
  • Copyright and trademark creation
  • Incorporation, tax-exempt status [including 501(c)(3)] applications

Clients:

  • The clinic serves new and established entrepreneurs (Missouri or Kansas residents) who need assistance with legal services but who cannot afford the market rate for those services.
  • To be placed on the waiting list of clients, you must complete and return the application to the Entrepreneurial Legal Services Clinic.
  • Form more information, see the clinic’s website: Entrepreneurial Legal Services Clinic and Intellectual Property Clinic

Kansas City Tax Clinic

At the Kansas City Tax Clinic, law students assist qualifying taxpayers in resolving their federal and state tax controversies. The Clinic provides free, high quality representation to those who could not otherwise afford professional assistance

Services include:

  • Representation before the United States Tax Court
  • Representation of the taxpayer during an audit
  • Establishment of the taxpayer’s entitlement to the Earned Income Tax Credit, dependency exemptions, the Child Tax Credit, and the Additional Child Tax Credit
  • Advice with respect to collection alternatives
  • Preparation of innocent spouse and injured spouse requests
  • Representation of the taxpayer in IRS Appeals conferences
  • Preparation and filing requests for audit reconsideration
  • Assistance with state tax matters, providing the taxpayer also has a federal tax controversy

Clients:

  • There is no charge for the clinic services.
    • There are some instances in which an outside agency charges a fee and, in those rare cases, those fees would be the client’s responsibility.
  • To qualify, you should first contact the clinic for your phone consultation.
    • Our primary qualification is based upon current year income.
    • Each case is evaluated during the initial consultation.
  • We can represent individual taxpayers with tax controversies.
  • We cannot, however, represent corporations or partnerships.
  • For more information, see their website: Low Income Tax Clinic / Kansas City Tax Clinic

Tenant Clinic

UMKC has a clinic for tenants facing a rent and possession or unlawful detainer action. To apply for services, please call United Way’s 211 line and complete an application.


Missouri Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service

If you need help in finding an attorney to represent you, the Missouri Bar Association has a free online search tool to help.  Go to www.mobar.org and click on “For the Public” then “Find a Lawyer.”  


Kansas City Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service

The Kansas City Bar Association also provides a lawyer search tool at www.kcmba.org or www.kclawyerfinder.com.  


Jackson County Court’s website

Visit www.16thcircuit.org for information about Jackson County’s courthouses, a copy of the Jackson County Court rules (which must be followed if you file a case in Jackson County Court), Jackson County pleading forms which can be used, information about each of the Jackson County judges and commissioners, and contact information for the judge’s clerks.


I have a matter that is in the state of Kansas