A free legal aid service for American Samoa is expected to be in operation by the end of the year.
The federal non-profit group that provides legal aid funding to states and territories, Legal Services Corporation, has hired an off-island consultant to get American Samoa's legal aid program up and running.
The consultant, Charles Greenfield, has served as a legal aid lawyer and legal aid director for the past 30 years.
He is a former director of the legal aid program in Hawaii.
Mr Greenfield is on the island to meet with leaders, judiciary, non-profit groups and bar members to set up the initial part of the local program.
He says part of that process is to seek public input over what an ideal legal aid program would look like.
