A Brief History of HALP

The HIV/AIDS Law Project (HALP) was organized by the Young Lawyer's Division (YLD) of the Maricopa County Bar Association. HALP was formed in 1981 to both inform fellow attorneys and to provide much needed legal information and services to persons with HIV/AIDS.

HALP volunteer attorneys recognized that the various efforts of local service agencies and the individual volunteer attorneys were not sufficient to meet the needs of Maricopa County's HIV/AIDS population.

Volunteer agencices from HALP have held statewide conferences, created legal information pamphlets and continued to reach out to the HIV/AIDS population through free legal clinics and panel discussions. HALP employs two full-time paralegals who coordinate legal clients and recruit volunteer attorneys.

This project gives lasting benefits to clients and attorneys as well. The clients receive important legal assistance that they might otherwise not seek out. Meanwhile, attorneys enjoy helping and can gain respect and appreciation by serving an underserved clientele.