With a Cares act grant from the nonprofit emergency relief Fund, new Hampshire legal assistance is partnering with three of new Hampshire’s largest law firms to launch the Crisis response Fellowship attorneys Program.

The partnership will bring attorneys from Mclane Middleton, sheehan Phinney Bass & Green, and rath, young and Pignatelli to work at NHLA on housing and benefits cases, helping low-income families avoid homelessness and remain financially stable.

The program will help meet a projected increase in need for civil legal aid across new Hampshire as the pandemic and ensuing economic crisis continues to impact the state, said NHLA executive Director sarah Mattson Dustin.

“With Cares act funding available only until the end of the year, the Fellowship attorneys Program is powering up additional capacity at a crucial time, she said.

She said the firms “stepped up immediately” after being approached for help by the organization.

The Fellowship attorneys will receive extensive training, and each will work with a team of NHLA advocates and paralegals. The program runs through mid-December.