Getting free legal help
Civil legal aid is free for people with low incomes. Search LSC's map for a legal aid office near you, check USA.gov's list of programs, or ask a lawyer online through ABA Free Legal Answers.
You'll need
- Your address or ZIP code
- A short summary of your problem and any papers
Do it like this
- Search the Legal Services Corporation map for an LSC-funded legal aid office near you (LSC).
- Check USA.gov's list of free and low-cost programs, including law school clinics and help for veterans and people with disabilities (USA.gov).
- If your income is low, you can ask a civil question online and a volunteer lawyer may answer through ABA Free Legal Answers. It doesn't cover criminal questions (USA.gov).
- Write a one-page timeline and gather your papers (lease, letters, notices) before you call.
Watch out. Court deadlines don't wait for an appointment. If you got a court notice, call legal aid the same day and tell them the deadline.
If it doesn't work
- Over the income limit? Ask your state or local bar association about lawyer referral services.
- Facing a criminal charge? Legal aid programs focus on civil cases, and ABA Free Legal Answers doesn't take criminal questions (USA.gov). Ask the court about a public defender.
- Waitlist? Ask whether they have self-help forms or a hotline in the meantime.
Good to know
What LSC is
LSC is an independent nonprofit set up by Congress in 1974 to fund civil legal aid for low-income Americans (LSC).
Common issues
Legal aid can help with things like family law, housing and consumer problems, depending on where you live (USA.gov).
Retirement plan problems
USA.gov lists free help for pension and retirement plan problems (USA.gov).
Sources
- Legal Services Corporation Get legal help
- USA.gov Find a lawyer for affordable legal aid
- American Bar Association Free Legal Answers
Lesson L9.1 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?
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