"Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. (SALA) is committed to providing civil legal aid to low and moderate-income persons in our service area in matters that affect most directly their health, safety and welfare. SALA's Mission is:

""to provide quality legal services to people who would not otherwise have equal access to justice, in ways which affirm their individual and collective dignity, integrity, and power.""

SALA has stayed true to its Mission even though the organization has changed throughout the years.

""Legal Aid"" was first provided in Pima County in 1951 by the Legal Aid Society of the Pima County Bar Association. Spouses of local attorneys interviewed applicants for assistance and cases were handled by the attorneys on a volunteer basis.

In 1968, the program first received federal funding from the Legal Services Office of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). At that time, legal aid had offices throughout Tucson in an effort to be close to the community. Most offices were staffed by an attorney and a receptionist."