A 1968 field study of the legal problems of the rural poor in an eastern North Carolina county typical of the rural poverty belt is described in this report. The primary purposes of this study were (1) to determine the types of legal problems confronting the rural poor person, (2) to ascertain whether he perceived those problems as "legal," (3) to discover the methods and institutional sources employed in solving these problems, (4) to assess the effectiveness of sources utilized, (5) to identify the factors operative in increasing legal perception and problem-solving ability, and (6) to suggest direction for resolution of the particular problems revealed by the study. The survey was conducted on 2 levels: the first consisting of a questionnaire administered to a sample group of residents and the second consisting of unstructured interviews with the "community leadership" group. Major conclusions were that many people did not recognize some problems as legal and tended to use self-help methods; that child custody and criminal difficulties were the problems most frequently thought of by the sample as requiring the attention of a lawyer; and that there is evidence of a need for some type of free legal advisory service. A discussion of Federal programs as related to rural areas and a copy of the study questionnaire are appended. (PS)