Providing Legal Aid and Support to Those in Need
Do You Need Legal Assistance but Cannot Afford a Lawyer?
Our Pro Bono Attorneys Are Here to Help You Navigate the Legal System and Ensure Access to Justice for All.
At Rose Legal Services, we believe that all attorneys have a professional responsibility to devote some of their practice to pro bono work. That is why our attorneys are committed to providing comprehensive legal representation to individuals who have been wrongfully convicted in the State of Missouri.
Our Commitment to Pro Bono Work
We firmly believe that access to justice should not be limited by financial constraints. That’s why we are proud to offer pro bono legal services to eligible individuals who are incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corrections and are seeking to prove their innocence. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys understand the immense importance of pro bono work in correcting miscarriages of justice and restoring faith in the legal system.
Criteria for Accepting Pro Bono Cases
To ensure that our limited resources are dedicated to cases where we can make the most difference, we prioritize cases that meet specific criteria.
To be considered for pro bono representation by our firm, the following criteria must be met:
- Long-Term Incarceration: The individual must be serving a long-term sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
- Innocence: The individual must be claiming actual innocence – in other words, that the individual did not commit the crime for which he or she is in custody. We carefully evaluate the credibility of the claim of innocence and review the available evidence to assess the likelihood of a successful exoneration.
- Forensic Testing: The applicant must be willing to consent to comprehensive forensic testing of all relevant evidence, as it plays a crucial role in uncovering the truth.
- Exhaustion of Appeals: The person must have exhausted all available appeals and need further legal assistance to pursue their claim of innocence.
- Unrepresented by Attorney: The individual cannot currently have an attorney.
- Indigency: The individual must demonstrate financial need and provide documentation indicating their inability to afford legal representation.
Types of Cases We Do Not Accept Pro Bono
To focus our efforts on cases where we may be able correct a previous injustice and reverse a conviction, our firm does not accept pro bono representation for the following types of cases:
- Consent: Cases where the applicant claims that there was no crime because the victim consented to the events or received some form of payment in exchange for the activity.
- Self-Defense or Defense of Others: Cases where the applicant admits to causing the injury or death but believes the acts were justified because the applicant acted in self-defense or in defense of others.
- Sustained Abuse: Cases where the applicant is accused of a crime against the victim that happened more than once and over a period of time, such as allegations of long-term sexual abuse of a family member.
- Federal Cases: Cases in which the individual was convicted in federal court.
- Illegal Possession / Distribution of any Controlled Substance: Cases where the applicant is challenging a possession or distribution charge related to controlled substances.
- DWI: Cases where the applicant was convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving With Excessive Blood Alcohol Content (“BAC”).
- Sentencing Reduction / Overcharged: Cases where the applicant claims the charges or sentences were excessive but does not claim innocence.
Representing a convicted, incarcerated client in an innocence case is a huge undertaking, and our resources are limited. Therefore, in deciding whether to accept representation, we always use our discretion to determine which applicants are the most deserving and the most likely to benefit from post-conviction representation.
Our Approach to Pro Bono Innocence Cases
When we accept a pro bono innocence case, we commit ourselves to fight tirelessly for justice. Our experienced defense attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation, meticulously examine the existing evidence, and explore all available legal avenues to ensure that no stone is left unturned. We work closely with our clients, treating them with respect and compassion.
Our firm has a strong network of experts, investigators, forensic professionals, and other attorneys who collaborate closely with our attorneys to build a robust case for habeas corpus or post-conviction review. We believe in the power of teamwork and will leverage our collective knowledge and experience to correct a wrongful conviction and, if possible, free an innocent person.
Contact Us Today
If you or someone you know was wrongfully convicted, has exhausted all appeals, is not currently represented by an attorney, and meets the other criteria outlined above, we encourage you to reach out to us.
To do so, please write a letter to the following address:
Rose Legal Services, LLC
Attention: Pro Bono Coordinator
3870 S Lindbergh Blvd, Ste 130
St. Louis, MO 63127
Please include your full name and address, as well as the names and contact information of family and loved ones who are involved in your case. If your case is selected for follow-up, we will schedule a confidential consultation.
At Rose Legal Services, we are committed to rectifying injustices and restoring hope to those who have been unjustly deprived of their freedom.
