Legal Aid and Free Legal Help: How to Get a Lawyer or Legal Advice If You Cannot Afford One

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• Work and lawyers

  How to Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help in the US

  Where to look for legal aid, law school clinics, bar association referral programs and court self-help centers.

  2 min read
• Work and lawyers

  Legal Aid Explained: Who It Helps, What It Covers and How to Find It

  What legal aid is, what kinds of civil cases it handles, who qualifies and how to find a legal aid office or free legal help near you in the United States.

  6 min read
• Work and lawyers

  Legal Aid vs Pro Bono vs Public Defender: What Is the Difference?

  Clear differences between legal aid, pro bono lawyers and public defenders, who each helps, and how to ask for the right kind of free legal help.

  5 min read
• Work and lawyers

  Who Qualifies for Free Legal Aid? Income Limits, Assets and Special Cases

  How legal aid eligibility works, typical income limits tied to the federal poverty guidelines, asset rules, exceptions for domestic violence, seniors and veterans.

  4 min read
• Work and lawyers

  How to Apply for Legal Aid: Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Help

  A practical step-by-step process for applying for legal aid: gathering documents, contacting offices, what intake asks and what to do while you wait.

  4 min read
• Work and lawyers

  How to Prepare for a Free Legal Consultation: Documents, Questions and What to Expect

  A practical guide to preparing for a free or low-cost legal consultation, including documents to bring, questions to ask and how to get useful advice in a short meeting.

  4 min read

Help by type of problem

• Family and estate

  Legal Aid for Divorce and Child Custody: How to Get Free or Low-Cost Help

  How to get free or low-cost legal help with divorce, custody and child support, including legal aid priorities, court self-help centers and limited-scope lawyers.

  4 min read
• Housing and landlords

  Legal Aid for Eviction and Housing Problems: How to Get Free Help Fast

  How to find free legal help when facing eviction, unsafe housing or a landlord dispute, including legal aid, tenant hotlines, right-to-counsel programs and court help.

  4 min read
• Debt and bankruptcy

  Legal Aid for Debt, Collections and Consumer Problems: Where to Get Free Help

  How to find free legal help with debt collection lawsuits, wage garnishment, repossession, bankruptcy questions and consumer scams.

  4 min read
• Courts and claims

  Free and Low-Cost Immigration Legal Help: Attorneys, Accredited Representatives and Scams to Avoid

  How to find trustworthy free or low-cost immigration legal help, what accredited representatives can do, and how to avoid notarios and fraud.

  4 min read
• Courts and claims

  Public Defenders: Your Right to a Free Lawyer in Criminal Cases

  When you have a right to a court-appointed lawyer, how to qualify and what to expect from a public defender.

  2 min read
• Courts and claims

  How to Afford a Criminal Defense Lawyer: Options When Money Is Tight

  Public defenders, payment plans, limited-scope help and low-cost options for people charged with a crime.

  2 min read

Help for specific groups

• Family and estate

  Free Legal Help for Seniors and Veterans: Programs, Eligibility and How to Ask

  Where seniors and veterans can find free legal help with wills, benefits, housing, debt and elder abuse, including programs not tied to strict income limits.

  4 min read
• Family and estate

  Elder Financial Abuse: Signs, Reporting and Protection

  Common forms of financial exploitation of older adults, warning signs and steps to report and prevent it.

  2 min read
• Courts and claims

  Order of Protection vs. Restraining Order: Is There a Difference?

  How the terms order of protection, restraining order and no-contact order are used and how each works.

  2 min read

Low-cost alternatives to legal aid

• Work and lawyers

  Law School Clinics and Other Low-Cost Legal Help: How They Work

  How law school legal clinics, limited-scope lawyers, sliding-scale fees and community programs provide affordable legal help, and how to apply.

  4 min read
• Work and lawyers

  State Bar Lawyer Referral Services: How They Work and Whether They Are Worth It

  What a bar association lawyer referral service is, typical costs for a first meeting, how to use it safely and how it differs from lead-generation sites.

  4 min read
• Work and lawyers

  Legal Advice Hotlines and Online Legal Advice: What You Can Expect and What to Avoid

  How legal advice hotlines, online chats and 24-hour legal help lines work, what they can and cannot do, and how to avoid scams and lead-generation traps.

  4 min read
• Courts and claims

  Court Fee Waivers: How to Ask the Court to Waive Fees

  Who qualifies for a fee waiver, how to apply and what costs may be covered when you cannot afford court fees.

  2 min read
• Courts and claims

  Representing Yourself in Court: Pro Se Tips

  Practical advice for people who go to court without a lawyer, including preparing documents, courtroom etiquette and common mistakes.

  2 min read
• Work and lawyers

  Contingency Fees Explained: What You Pay a Lawyer If You Win

  How contingency fee agreements work, what percentages are typical, and why costs are a separate question.

  2 min read
• Work and lawyers

  Do I Need a Lawyer? How to Decide

  A plain-English way to decide whether you can handle a legal problem yourself or should hire an attorney.

  2 min read

Frequently asked questions