The Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low-income people in Boston, along with 31 additional cities and towns. The help it offers ranges from legal advice to full case representation, depending on client need. The firm serves families whose monthly income does not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. As a national leader in poverty law, the firm also undertakes representation and legal advocacy to address the root causes of poverty. The Greater Boston Legal Service traces its roots back to 1900 with the founding of the Boston Legal Aid Society. The Greater Boston Legal Service was formed in 1976 by the union of the Boston Legal Aid Society and the Boston Legal Assistance Project. Over the years, it has grown into one of New England s largest legal services organization.