The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley provides legal services for persons who cannot afford private attorneys. The Society operates with a staff of full-time attorneys, and provides counseling in civil (not criminal or traffic) cases. The Legal Aid Society helps clients residing in the Roanoke Valley area, which includes Roanoke, Salem, Lexington, Covington, Clifton Forge, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Alleghany, Rockbridge and Bath. The Legal Aid Society is prepared to advise about many non-criminal legal problems. These include consumer issues like hospital bills, utility problems, credit, garnishment, bankruptcy, and job discrimination; Education problems such as special education rights, disciplinary suspensions, and school fees; benefits problems including welfare, Medicaid, food stamp, and unemployment insurance; housing problems like landlord abuses, bad housing conditions, public housing, security deposits, evictions, and problems with mobile home parks; family problems like family violence, custody, divorce, and nonsupport. Civil law provides remedies for many other conflicts with businesses, government agencies, and individuals. By appointment only.