Legal Aid of Western Missouri

Legal Aid of Western Missouri Legal Aid provides free civil legal assistance to people who need it most and can afford it least.

Throughout our posts we use pseudonyms and stock photos to protect client confidentiality.

We’re going out with a throwback for the final day of Spirit Week! Several of our Central Office staff stepped back in t...
08/21/2026

We’re going out with a throwback for the final day of Spirit Week! Several of our Central Office staff stepped back in time for Favorite Decade Day!

Hello, Friday! Today's client feedback comes out of our Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Attorney Thom Houdek helped his clie...
08/21/2026

Hello, Friday! Today's client feedback comes out of our Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Attorney Thom Houdek helped his client with an IRS identity theft issue!

⚽🏈⚾🏀 It’s Spirit Week at Legal Aid, and today we’re repping our favorite sports teams. As you can see by the photos, fol...
08/20/2026

⚽🏈⚾🏀 It’s Spirit Week at Legal Aid, and today we’re repping our favorite sports teams. As you can see by the photos, folks from our Central and Warrensburg offices brought their team spirit to work!

⚽️ 🏈⚾🏀 It’s Spirit Week at Legal Aid, and today we’re repping our favorite sports teams. As you can see by the photos, o...
08/20/2026

⚽️ 🏈⚾🏀 It’s Spirit Week at Legal Aid, and today we’re repping our favorite sports teams. As you can see by the photos, our Central office staff brought their team spirit to work!

A big shout out to our Events & Hospitality Committee for organizing a week of fun!

🤪It’s Wacky Wednesday at Legal Aid’s Spirit Week! Our Central Office staff are showing off their boldest, most creative ...
08/19/2026

🤪It’s Wacky Wednesday at Legal Aid’s Spirit Week! Our Central Office staff are showing off their boldest, most creative looks! From funky hairdos to mismatched socks and house slippers, Sara H, Sara P, Mitch, and Frances brought their wackiest self to work today!

A big shout-out to our Events & Hospitality Committee for organizing such a fun week!

You made it to Wednesday! YAY!! Here's something to think about as you finish out your week.
08/19/2026

You made it to Wednesday! YAY!! Here's something to think about as you finish out your week.

Brandi, a 27-year-old mother of two, lived in a Section 8 property. Her rent portion was zero because her only income wa...
08/18/2026

Brandi, a 27-year-old mother of two, lived in a Section 8 property. Her rent portion was zero because her only income was Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Regardless, she made the most of her situation to provide for her children.

When Brandi’s lease came up for renewal, her home failed the Housing Authority’s inspection due to habitability issues. Although her landlord was given time to make repairs, the problems persisted. Rent payments were paused for three months until the landlord finally addressed the issues.

Despite these challenges, Brandi took initiative and reached out to Legal Aid’s Justice in the Schools project when her landlord sued her for back rent during the abatement. She feared eviction and the risk of homelessness for her family, but remained determined to protect her children.

A Justice in the Schools attorney took her case and explained that HUD regulations protect Section 8 tenants like Brandi from being liable for abated rent.

While working with her Housing Authority case manager to find a better home, Brandi’s landlord dismissed the case after learning she was moving.

Brandi secured temporary housing so her children could finish the school year while she searched for a permanent home with support from the Housing Authority.

With support from Justice in the Schools, Brandi safely moved her family and avoided an eviction on her record.

Meet Lillian Mehler, staff attorney for Legal Aid’s Municipal Defense Unit!Lillian is currently making an impact as a me...
08/17/2026

Meet Lillian Mehler, staff attorney for Legal Aid’s Municipal Defense Unit!

Lillian is currently making an impact as a member of the Missouri Bar’s Board of Governors, where she represents the Western District. Now, she's running for election to represent District 12 (Kansas City).

Her leadership journey took off in 2023, when she joined the Missouri Bar Leadership Academy (2023-2024). There, Lillian worked to advance legal education — especially in underserved communities. Her dedication led to her selection by the Board of Governors in winter 2024 to represent the Western District.

As a Governor, Lillian stands up for her fellow public service attorneys, her clients, and community members who may not always have access to legal representation. She’s served on several key Missouri Bar committees:

• Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession
• Committee on Diversity
• Special Committee on Rural Practices
• Board Committee/Division Assessment
• Chair, Legal Education Committee

Lillian is also deeply involved with the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association (serving on the Board) and is an active member of AWL Kansas City.

Her love for the law? That started as a little girl in Brazil, inspired by Legally Blonde. Since then, she’s turned every challenge into an opportunity:

• Moving to a new country
• Learning a new language
• Adapting to a new culture
• Becoming a lawyer—because, really, what, like it’s hard?

⛳️ Our 2026 VAP Golf Tournament was super fun! A huge shoutout to all the golfers, sponsors, and volunteers who made thi...
08/17/2026

⛳️ Our 2026 VAP Golf Tournament was super fun! A huge shoutout to all the golfers, sponsors, and volunteers who made this year’s Bar Plan Foundation Charity Golf Tournament for the Benefit of the Volunteer Attorney Project a huge success! Congrats to our 1st flight champions, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC.

Head over to our website to see all the team photos! https://lawmo.org/dt_gallery/8-14-26-vap-golf-tournament/

Access to quality healthcare is a fundemental concern for every individual and the inability to afford, utitlize, and ac...
08/14/2026

Access to quality healthcare is a fundemental concern for every individual and the inability to afford, utitlize, and access necessary healthcare can have devastating consequences!

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4001 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
64130

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