Legal representation in America can cost hundreds of dollars per hour, putting justice out of reach for millions. But a network of free legal services exists—funded by the government, charities, and volunteer lawyers—that can help if you know where to look. This guide covers the major sources of free legal help in the United States, including their history, what they can help with, notable cases, and your realistic chances of getting assistance.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Legal Services Corporation (LSC): The Foundation of Civil Legal Aid
Website: www.lsc.gov
Find local help: LSC Legal Aid Finder
What It Is
The Legal Services Corporation is the single largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States. It’s an independent nonprofit created by Congress that distributes federal funding to 132 independent legal aid programs across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories.
History
LSC was established in 1974 under President Nixon as part of the “War on Poverty” legacy. It replaced the Office of Economic Opportunity’s legal services program, which had been controversial for bringing lawsuits against government agencies. The new structure was designed to be more independent while still providing access to justice for low-income Americans.
The organization survived an attempted elimination under President Reagan in the 1980s and has continued operating with varying levels of funding. Today it provides approximately $560 million annually to legal aid organizations.
What They Help With
- Housing issues (evictions, foreclosures, unsafe conditions)
- Family law (divorce, custody, domestic violence protection orders)
- Consumer problems (debt collection, bankruptcy)
- Income maintenance (benefits appeals, Social Security)
- Healthcare access
- Employment disputes
- Immigration (limited—LSC programs cannot help undocumented immigrants except in specific circumstances)
What They Cannot Help With
By federal law, LSC-funded programs are prohibited from:
- Criminal defense cases
- Class action lawsuits
- Most immigration cases for undocumented individuals
- Lobbying or political activities
- Cases involving abortion
- Representation of prisoners challenging their conditions
Notable Cases
LSC-funded programs have been involved in landmark cases including:
- Goldberg v. Kelly (1970) – Established that welfare recipients have due process rights before benefits can be terminated (predates LSC but involved legal services lawyers)
- Thousands of cases establishing tenants’ rights, protecting domestic violence survivors, and securing benefits for disabled individuals
Likelihood of Getting Help
Moderate to Low. LSC estimates that low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems. Demand vastly exceeds supply. You’re most likely to get help if:
- Your income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level
- Your case involves housing, domestic violence, or benefits—priority areas for most programs
- You contact them early, before your situation becomes a crisis
- You’re willing to accept “brief services” (advice, document review) rather than full representation
Legal Aid Societies: Local Organizations Serving Communities
Legal Aid Societies are nonprofit organizations that provide free legal services to low-income individuals. While some receive LSC funding, many operate independently with state, local, and private funding.
The Legal Aid Society of New York
Website: www.legalaidnyc.org
History
Founded in 1876, the Legal Aid Society of New York is the oldest and largest legal aid organization in the United States. It was originally created by German immigrants to help newly arrived Germans navigate the legal system. Today it serves over 300,000 New Yorkers annually.
What They Help With
- Criminal defense (they’re the primary public defender for New York City)
- Civil legal services (housing, benefits, immigration, employment)
- Juvenile rights
Notable Cases
- Strickland v. Washington (1984) – Legal Aid Society lawyers argued the case that established the standard for ineffective assistance of counsel
- Kalief Browder case – Represented Browder’s family and helped expose the horrors of Rikers Island, leading to major reforms
- Floyd v. City of New York (2013) – Successfully challenged NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy as unconstitutional
Likelihood of Getting Help
Good for criminal cases (if you’re arrested in NYC and can’t afford a lawyer, they’ll represent you). Moderate for civil cases – high demand means waiting lists, but they have robust programs.
Finding Your Local Legal Aid
Every state has legal aid organizations. Find yours through:
- LawHelp.org: www.lawhelp.org – directory of free legal aid by state
- LSC Legal Aid Finder: www.lsc.gov/get-legal-help
American Bar Association Free Legal Answers
Website: abafreelegalanswers.org
What It Is
ABA Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic where you can post civil legal questions and receive answers from volunteer lawyers licensed in your state. Think of it as a legal “ask an expert” platform.
History
Launched in 2016, this program was modeled on a successful Texas program. It’s now available in all 50 states, DC, and the US Virgin Islands, with over 6,000 volunteer attorneys participating.
What They Help With
- Any civil legal question (not criminal)
- Family law
- Housing
- Consumer issues
- Employment
- Small business
- Wills and estates
How It Works
- Create an account and verify you meet income guidelines (generally 250% of federal poverty level)
- Post your legal question with relevant details
- A volunteer attorney reviews and responds (usually within a few days)
- You can ask follow-up questions
Likelihood of Getting Help
Good for getting basic legal information. Most questions receive a response within 3-5 days. However, this is limited to advice only—attorneys won’t represent you or appear in court. Best for understanding your options, knowing what forms to file, or getting a reality check on your situation.
Law School Legal Clinics
Most accredited law schools operate free legal clinics where law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, provide legal services to the public.
History
Law school clinics emerged in the early 20th century but expanded dramatically in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, over 200 law schools offer clinical programs. They serve a dual purpose: training future lawyers while providing free legal help.
Types of Clinics
Clinics often specialize. Common types include:
- Immigration clinics – Help with asylum, visas, deportation defense
- Criminal defense/innocence projects – Work to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals
- Housing clinics – Eviction defense, fair housing
- Family law clinics – Divorce, custody, protective orders
- Tax clinics – IRS disputes, earned income tax credit help
- Small business/entrepreneurship clinics – Help with forming businesses, contracts
- Veterans clinics – Benefits appeals, discharge upgrades
- Environmental law clinics – Community environmental justice issues
Notable Cases
Law school clinics have achieved remarkable results:
- Innocence Project (Cardozo Law School) – Has exonerated over 240 wrongfully convicted people using DNA evidence, including Kirk Bloodsworth, the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA
- Yale Environmental Law Clinic – Successfully challenged pollution permits and represented communities in landmark environmental justice cases
- Stanford Immigrants’ Rights Clinic – Won asylum for survivors of torture and persecution
How to Find a Law School Clinic
- Search “[your city/state] law school clinic”
- ABA Law School Clinical Programs Directory
Likelihood of Getting Help
Moderate. Clinics are selective because students can only handle a limited caseload. Your best chances:
- Your case fits the clinic’s specialty
- Your case has educational value for students
- You apply at the start of a semester (August or January)
- You’re patient—clinics work on academic schedules
Public Defender Services
If you’re charged with a crime and cannot afford an attorney, you have a constitutional right to free representation under the Sixth Amendment.
History
The right to counsel in federal criminal cases was established in Johnson v. Zerbst (1938), but the landmark case is Gideon v. Wainwright (1963). Clarence Earl Gideon, accused of breaking into a Florida pool hall, requested a lawyer and was denied. He represented himself, was convicted, and petitioned the Supreme Court from prison. The Court unanimously ruled that states must provide attorneys to criminal defendants who cannot afford them.
This decision created the modern public defender system, though implementation varies dramatically by state and county.
How It Works
When you’re arrested and charged with a crime:
- At your first court appearance, tell the judge you cannot afford an attorney
- You’ll fill out a financial affidavit
- If you qualify, a public defender will be assigned
Notable Cases
- Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) – The case that created the right to a public defender
- Miranda v. Arizona (1966) – Public defenders helped establish the requirement that police inform suspects of their rights
- Public defenders across the country handle millions of cases annually, from misdemeanors to capital murder
Likelihood of Getting Help
High if you’re charged with a crime and qualify financially. The right to counsel is constitutionally guaranteed. However, the quality of representation varies enormously. Public defenders are often overworked—some handle 500+ cases per year. You will get a lawyer, but that lawyer may have limited time to spend on your case.
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
Website: www.aclu.org
Get help: www.aclu.org/contact-us
What It Is
The ACLU is a nonprofit organization that defends constitutional rights through litigation, legislation, and public education. They do not provide general legal services but take on cases involving civil liberties and civil rights.
History
Founded in 1920 in response to the Palmer Raids (mass arrests of suspected radicals), the ACLU has been involved in nearly every major civil liberties case in American history. Its founders included Roger Baldwin, Helen Keller, and Jane Addams.
What They Help With
- Free speech and First Amendment issues
- Religious freedom
- LGBTQ+ rights
- Racial justice
- Immigrants’ rights
- Reproductive freedom
- Privacy and technology
- Criminal justice reform
- Voting rights
Notable Cases
The ACLU has participated in more Supreme Court cases than any other private organization:
- Scopes “Monkey Trial” (1925) – Defended a teacher’s right to teach evolution
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954) – Supported the case ending school segregation
- Miranda v. Arizona (1966) – Helped establish Miranda rights
- Roe v. Wade (1973) – Supported abortion rights (now overturned)
- Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) – Helped win marriage equality nationwide
- Family separation cases (2018-present) – Challenged Trump administration immigration policies
Likelihood of Getting Help
Low for individual cases, but worth trying if your rights were violated. The ACLU receives thousands of requests and can only take cases with significant civil liberties implications or potential to set precedent. Your case is more likely to be accepted if:
- It involves clear government overreach or constitutional violations
- It could affect many people beyond just you
- It presents a novel legal question
- You contact your local ACLU affiliate (they handle more cases than the national office)
Federal Agency Complaint Systems
Several federal agencies investigate complaints and can take action on your behalf—often more effectively than a private lawsuit.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Website: www.eeoc.gov
File a charge: www.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination
Phone: 1-800-669-4000
What They Help With
Workplace discrimination based on:
- Race, color, national origin
- Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity)
- Religion
- Age (40 and older)
- Disability
- Genetic information
- Retaliation for reporting discrimination
History & Notable Cases
Created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC has brought major cases including:
- EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch (2015) – Won at Supreme Court after company refused to hire Muslim woman wearing hijab
- Massive settlements – Has obtained billions in damages, including $240 million from Texaco for racial discrimination
Likelihood of Help
Moderate. The EEOC investigates all charges but only litigates about 200 cases per year out of 70,000+ charges filed. However, filing with the EEOC is often required before you can sue your employer, and the investigation itself sometimes prompts settlements.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Website: HUD Fair Housing Complaint
Phone: 1-800-669-9777
What They Help With
Housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. This includes:
- Refusal to rent or sell
- Different terms or conditions
- Harassment
- Refusal to make reasonable accommodations for disabilities
Likelihood of Help
Moderate to Good. HUD actively investigates complaints and can obtain damages on your behalf without you needing a lawyer.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Website: www.consumerfinance.gov
Submit complaint: www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint
What They Help With
- Credit cards and credit reporting
- Mortgages and home loans
- Bank accounts
- Debt collection
- Student loans
- Payday loans
History
Created in 2011 after the financial crisis, largely through the efforts of Senator Elizabeth Warren. The CFPB has returned over $17.5 billion to consumers.
Likelihood of Help
Good for getting company responses. Companies must respond to CFPB complaints, and the response rate is over 97%. The CFPB won’t represent you in court, but their involvement often resolves issues quickly.
Department of Labor (DOL)
Website: www.dol.gov
Wage complaints: www.dol.gov/whd/contact/complaints
What They Help With
- Unpaid wages and overtime (Wage and Hour Division)
- Workplace safety violations (OSHA)
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations
- Whistleblower retaliation
Likelihood of Help
Good for wage theft cases. The Wage and Hour Division recovered $274 million in back wages for workers in 2023. They actively investigate and can force employers to pay.
State Bar Lawyer Referral Services
Every state bar association operates a lawyer referral service. While not free for extended representation, many offer:
- Free or low-cost initial consultations (typically 30 minutes)
- Referrals to lawyers who work on contingency (no win, no fee)
- Information about your legal rights
Find your state bar: ABA State Bar Directory
Likelihood of Help
Good for getting initial direction. The consultation will help you understand if you have a case and what type of lawyer you need.
Specialized Free Legal Services
For Veterans
- Veterans Legal Services: Many cities have dedicated veteran legal clinics
- VA benefits appeals: Free representation through Veterans Service Organizations (American Legion, VFW, DAV)
- National Veterans Legal Services Program: www.nvlsp.org
For Domestic Violence Survivors
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 – www.thehotline.org
- WomensLaw.org: www.womenslaw.org – legal information and help finding lawyers
- Most legal aid organizations prioritize domestic violence cases
For Immigrants
- CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network): cliniclegal.org
- Immigration Advocates Network: Find free immigration legal services
- RAICES: www.raicestexas.org – major nonprofit for refugees and immigrants
For Seniors
- Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 – eldercare.acl.gov
- Legal Services for the Elderly: Available in most states, often with higher income limits than standard legal aid
For People with Disabilities
- Disability Rights Advocates: dralegal.org
- Protection & Advocacy Organizations: Every state has one – find yours here
Pro Bono Programs
Many private lawyers volunteer their time through pro bono (free) programs. The American Bar Association asks lawyers to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono work per year.
How to Access Pro Bono Help
- Through legal aid organizations – They often refer cases to pro bono lawyers
- Lawyer referral services – Some have pro bono panels
- Law firm pro bono programs – Major firms often partner with legal aid organizations
Likelihood of Help
Low to moderate. Pro bono slots are limited and often go to cases referred by legal aid organizations. Your best route is through an established legal aid program rather than approaching firms directly.
Tips for Getting Free Legal Help
- Act fast – Legal deadlines (statutes of limitations) are strict. Don’t wait.
- Gather your documents – Contracts, letters, pay stubs, photos—have everything organized before you call.
- Be honest about your finances – Income limits are real. Don’t try to hide assets.
- Be patient but persistent – Organizations are overwhelmed. Call back, follow up, try multiple sources.
- Accept limited help – If they can’t fully represent you, take the advice, brief services, or document help they can offer.
- Try multiple organizations – If one can’t help, ask who else might.
- Ask about “unbundled” services – Some lawyers will help with just part of your case (like reviewing documents) for free or low cost.
- Check if your case works on contingency – Personal injury, employment discrimination, and some other cases can be handled by private lawyers who only get paid if you win.
The Reality of Free Legal Help in America
The hard truth is that the demand for free legal help far exceeds the supply. The Legal Services Corporation estimates that for every person who receives help from an LSC-funded program, another person is turned away due to lack of resources.
But free help does exist, and millions of people receive it every year. Your chances improve significantly when you:
- Contact organizations early, before your situation becomes a crisis
- Have a case in a priority area (housing, domestic violence, benefits)
- Can clearly articulate your problem and what help you need
- Are willing to help yourself with forms and legwork when full representation isn’t available
Don’t give up. The organizations listed here exist because people fought to create access to justice for everyone, not just those who can afford it. Use them.
Related Articles
Looking for free legal help in other countries? See our guides:
