Legal Aid

UpdatedSep 25, 2023

4 min read

Where to Find No-Cost Legal Aid if You Have Low or No Income

Don't give up if you cannot afford a lawyer. Chances are, there are several organizations in your area that provide low- and no-cost legal aid to people with low income.

The table below contains links to legal aid organizations in all US states plus the District of Columbia.

The table also includes links to state consumer protection organizations that may be able to help you.

	Legal Aid Contacts	State Consumer Protection Authority
Alabama	Legal Services Alabama and other Alabama pro bono programs	Attorney General Office of Consumer Protection
Alaska	Alaska Legal Services Corp. and Alaska Law Help	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Unit
Arizona	Community Legal Services and other Arizona pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Arkansas	Arkansas Legal Services and other Arkansas pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
California	Law Help CA and other California pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Colorado	Colorado Legal Services and other Colorado Legal Services and other Colorado pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Section
Connecticut	Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut and other Connecticut pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Delaware	Legal Services Corp. of Delaware and Delaware Volunteer Legal Services	Attorney General's Office Fraud & Consumer Protection Division
District of Columbia	Neighborhood Legal Services Program and other DC pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection and Public Advocacy Dept.
Florida	Florida Legal Services and other Florida pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Georgia	Georgia Legal Services, Georgia Legal Aid and other Georgia pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Office of Consumer Protection Dept.
Hawaii	Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and other Hawaii pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Idaho	Idaho Legal Aid Services and other Idaho pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Illinois	Illinois pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Indiana	Indiana Legal Services and other Indiana pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Iowa	Iowa Legal Aid and other Iowa pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Kansas	Kansas Legal Services and other Kansas pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Kentucky	Legal Aid Society and other Kentucky pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection
Louisiana	Louisiana Law Help and other Louisiana pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Maine	Law Help MN and other Maine pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Maryland	Law Help NY and other Legal Aid Bureau and other Maryland pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Massachusetts	MassLegalHelp and other Massachusetts pro bono projects	Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs
Michigan	Michigan pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Minnesota	Minnesota pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Mississippiouri	Mississippi Legal Services and other Mississippi pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Missouri	Missouri pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division"
Montana	Montana Legal Services and other Montana pro bono services	Attorney General's Office
Nebraska	Legal Aid of Nebraska and other Nebraska pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
Nevada	Nevada Legal Services and other Nevada pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
New Hampshire	Legal Advice & Referral Center and other New Hampshire pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau
New Jersey	New Jersey pro bono programs	Office of the Attorney General
New Mexico	New Mexico Legal Aid and other New Mexico pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division
New York	New York pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
North Carolina	Legal Aid of North Carolina, Law Help NC and other North Carolina pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
North Dakota	Legal Services of North Dakota	Attorney General's Office
Ohio	Ohio State Legal Services and other Ohio pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Oklahoma	Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and other Olahoma pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Oregon	Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Oregon Law Help and other Oregon pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Pennsylvania	PA Law Help and other Pennsylvania pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Legal Services and other Rhode Island pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
South Carolina	South Carolina Legal Services and other South Carolina pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
South Dakota	South Dakota pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Tennessee	Tennessee pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Texas	Texas Law Help and other Texas pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Utah	Utah Legal Services and other Utah pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Vermont	Legal Services Law Line of Vermont and other Vermont pro bono services	Attorney General's Office
Virginia	Virginia Legal Aid and other Virginia pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Washington	Washington Advocate Resource Center and other Washington pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
West Virginia	Legal Aid of West Virginia and other West Virginia pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Wisconsin	Legal Action of Wisconsin and other Wisconsin pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office
Wyoming	Legal Aid of Wyoming and other Wyoming pro bono programs	Attorney General's Office

Legal assistance contacts. Source: Bills.com

Did you know?

Debt is used to buy a home, pay for bills, buy a car, or pay for a college education. According to the NY Federal Reserve total household debt as of Q2 2023 was $17.06 trillion. Auto loan debt was $1.582 trillion and credit card was $1.031 trillion.

According to data gathered by Urban.org from a sample of credit reports, about 26% of people in the US have some kind of debt in collections. The median debt in collections is $1,739. Student loans and auto loans are common types of debt. Of people holding student debt, approximately 8% had student loans in collections. The national Auto/Retail debt delinquency rate was 4%.

Each state has its rate of delinquency and share of debts in collections. For example, in California credit card delinquency rate was 3%, and the median credit card debt was $453.

While many households can comfortably pay off their debt, it is clear that many people are struggling with debt. Make sure that you analyze your situation and find the best debt payoff solutions to match your situation.

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6 Comments

BBill, Apr, 2010

The quick and glib answer is that you cannot stop the process. If you were at-fault for the accident, the parties who suffered a loss have the right to collect their damages from the owner of the vehicle and its operator (you). If the parties who suffered a loss cannot collect their damages from the owner of the vehicle, they will collect their damages from you.

bbrittny kirsch, Apr, 2010

i was in a accident with my moms car it did not have a insurance at the time. they are going after my mom, what can i do to stop this?

BBill, Feb, 2010

See the Bills.com resource Collections Advice to learn about the remedies that judgment-creditors have available, including lien, garnishment, and levy. As mentioned in the article above, consult with an attorney in your state to learn about your rights in your state.

LLori, Feb, 2010

I have a question? I am a single mother of two, I am currently enrolled full time as a student and I am not workig at the time. A credit card company is trying to get a judgement against me for the amount of 1600 dollars owed on a credit card. Six Hundred of that is late fees and interest. The only income I have is my child support and my student loans. I live in Kentucky. Would they be able to put a lein on my car that is in both my name and my dads and get a judgement on my bank acount where the child support and loans are deposited? Would I be able to wait an try to pay off the judgement when I can?

BBill, Feb, 2010

It is impossible for me to say if you have a lien on your property without examining all of the documentation you have relating to your debt, and in particular the documents that suggest to you that a lien is in place. Accordingly, consult with an attorney in your state who can review your documentation in person.

CCeleste J, Feb, 2010

Credit card company sent letter for me to appear in court and I did not appear relating to credit card hearing since I did not appear they sent constable to my home with summons to appear in court or a warrant would be issued for credit card bill hearing. When I did not appear an automatic lien was placed on my home for a judgment of $6000. When I went to court I mediated with the Lawyer, appeared in front of judge and the lawyer put a monthly payment I must pay every month. We negotiated again, I sent a lump sum of 1,500 with a letter requesting no fees, no accumalation of interest. Just payment of 125 m. on 4,000 balance due. Does that mean the lien has been removed from my home?How can they lien my house for a 6,000 debt so quickly without me appearing before a judge?Will the remove the Lien now if I request it or do I have to pay the judgment off first? Can I refinance with a lien on my house?