Virginia Legal Aid Society (VLAS) is upgrading LawLine, the telephone system that all potential clients use to apply for VLAS services. According to a press release, while the upgrade is taking place, LawLine will be closed temporarily from Oct. 18-27. LawLine will reopen Monday, Oct. 30.

“VLAS is upgrading LawLine to introduce texting to improve client communication. Texting has become a critical tool for VLAS clients, as the percentage of Americans with a smart phone more than doubled from 2011 to 2016, according to Pew Research,” officials said in the release. “VLAS advocates will be able to remind clients of appointments, court appearances and critical documents by SMS texting.”

The release cited other legal aid societies that have added text-messaging report better case outcomes and improved attorney productivity.

VLAS’s upgrade also will add automated reporting for advocates and managers, better tools for volunteer attorney recruitment and management and other improvements.

For more information contact David B. Neumeyer, Esq., executive director (434) 238-2222, or

Rhonda Knight, director of development (434) 455-3085.