Legal Services

Iowa Legal Aid: Rights of People in Civil Commitments

Information about Mental Health Commitments

• Involuntary Hospitalization of Adult Persons With Mental Illness • https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LG/801703.pdf

• Iowa Code Section 229 • https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/229.pdf

Court Forms

Court Appointed Special Advocates are ordinary people who care about children. They volunteer their time to support and advocate for children who currently have a case in the Child Welfare System.

CASA Volunteers amplify the voices of children who are currently in the Child Welfare System. You'll learn your role through comprehensive training, and then you'll be assigned your own case. A coach and a CASA coordinator will be there to support you along the way as you advocate in court for your assigned children.

Defend and promote the human and legal rights of Iowans who have disabilities and mental illness.

Our Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. We are closed between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily.
The Legal Clinic is closed to the general public. All visitors must have an appointment in advance. The Legal Clinic does not accept walk up inquiries.
Parking at the Legal Clinic requires a parking pass. Current clients and visitors may obtain a parking pass at the reception desk to be placed on the dashboard of their vehicle.

Legal Clinics

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CLINIC
The Children's Rights Clinic only accepts new clients by court appointment or direct referral from a partner agency.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE CLINIC
The Criminal Defense clinic only accepts clients by court appointment. If you have been charged in a criminal matter in Polk County, the Legal Clinic must be appointed by a Judge before we can take your case. 

CIVIL CLINIC
The General Civil Clinic which primarily handles family law cases in Polk County is not currently taking any new cases.  To have your case considered, Polk County residents can participate in a phone intake day which occurs twice in an academic year.  

The next intake date will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026 for the spring semester. Cases considered will be those involving divorce, custody (if you were never married), guardianship (for people 17 ½ or older), adoption, and landlord/tenant (not involving eviction).

Intake will be done on that day and by phone only. There is no waitlist.

Please call on Monday, January 5, 2026, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., if you have a family law case, guardianship case, adoption, or landlord/tenant case in Polk County.

On intake day, you can reach our office by calling 515-271-3851. Select the intake message voicemail box, listen to the instructions, and leave one message. Intake staff will call as many people back as possible. Please leave your cell phone ringer on so you know when we are returning your call. We accept a limited number of cases for student education.

MACOMBER ENTREPRENEURIAL AND TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC 
To learn more about or be considered for our services please click here.

REFUGEE CLINIC
To learn more about or be considered for our services please click here.

WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC 
To request assistance, please reach out to the director Erica Nichols Cook at exonerate@spd.state.ia.us to receive an application. You may also request an application by writing to the following address: Wrongful Conviction Unit, Attn: Intake, 6200 Park Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines,
IA 50321.

IMPACT Community Action Partnership reduces the barriers and burdens that families in poverty experience by increasing access to essential needs. Assistance may be available for food and personal hygiene, utilities (heat, water, and cooling), housing (rent, deposit, and mortgage), and emergency needs. All services are available in the office, over the phone, and by a scheduled home visit. Several programs can also be accessed via online application, email, or postal mail. See our website or contact our team by phone or email to learn more. May offer assistance with emergency applications, such as those related to flood or weather damage events. 

Housing: 

• Utilities: LIHEAP (Low Income energy assistance program) help. Heat, water, and cooling. 
• Housing: Rent, deposit, and mortgage. 
• HOME ARP funds - allow eligible individuals with housing start-up costs (application fees, deposit, rent, and utility arrears).  This program is for those who have been recently released from incarceration in the last year.
• HOME CHAMP program -  a housing assistance initiative in Iowa, a collaboration between IMPACT Community Action Partnership and Wellpoint. It provides case management and direct financial assistance for housing costs to eligible Wellpoint members in Iowa. 
• Air Conditioner/Fan Program: limited supplies

Food Cards: IMPACT Resource Centers located in counties where we do not have a food pantry (Jasper, Marion, and Warren) offer limited access to food cards for local grocery stores. Please call 515-518-4770 to check on the availability of the cards.

RAYS Scholarship: for eligible low-income students to participate in sports, band, dance, etc.

Free legal assistance in civil legal issues such as housing, rental issues, domestic violence, public benefit program denials, utility shut-offs, tax problems & consumer issues, to low-income persons.

Rental issues: How Do I Get My Landlord to Make Repairs? https://www.iowalegalaid.org/resource/how-do-i-get-my-landlord-to-make-repairs

Landlord issues, rental issues, mold, etc, housing issues. 

Services Provided 

• Outpatient Treatment 

  • Individual Therapy ​(Adolescent & Adult) 

  • Group Therapy 

  • Couples Therapy

  • Family Therapy  

  • Telehealth Options Available 

• SAP

• OWI/DUI cost is $600, classes held on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday

• Health & Wellness 

Lavender provides direct representation, advocacy, and referrals, with a priority on serving those with low income and our LGTBQ youth.