Matt Alexander, age 16, of Johnson City, Tenn., for his question:

HOW OLD IS THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY?

The first legal aid society in the United States was founded in New York City in 1876. Then in 1911 the National Alliance of Legal Aid Societies was formed to promote the concept of legal aid to the indigent.

Now known as the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, the organization acts as a national coordinating and planning agency for legal aid and defender work. More than 500 legal aid offices and nearly 300 defender services exist in the United States.

Legal aid societies are nonprofit organizations founded to provide legal advice and court representation without cost or for a nominal fee to litigants unable to pay a lawyer. With offices in most large cities, legal aid societies are usually autonomous local bodies, often connected with and sponsored by local bar associations or some other law affiliated group.

Legal aid socieites usually handle either civil or criminal cases. Some deal with both. In some areas criminal cases are delegated to a separate organization known as the public defenders office.

Most legal aid and defender organizations have paid staffs. Additional lawyers work voluntarily. These societies are supported by voluntary contributions, tax money or both.