Legal assistance for veterans

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden announced new programs to help workers, veterans and homeowners gain access to legal services.

Biden revealed the Justice Department's Access to Justice Initiative designed to help middle-class and low-income Americans find a lawyer when they need one when dealing with foreclosure, workers' rights or veterans' issues, a White House release said.

"In difficult economic times, we want to make sure all Americans -- regardless of income or status -- have access to the resources they need to pursue justice," the vice president said. "The initiatives we are announcing today represent an important step toward that goal and will help thousands of Americans get the legal assistance they need."

The Labor Department and American Bar Association will work together to help workers resolve complaints such as not being paid due overtime, and foreclosure mediation programs are being initiated allegedly benefiting both lender and homeowner, the release said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Legal Services Corp. will work together to provide vets with help with employment issues, consumer fraud or foreclosure issues, the White House said.