Legal Aid
Free or reduced-cost legal services provided to low-income individuals by nonprofit organizations, law school clinics, or bar-funded programs.
Legal aid organizations provide civil legal services to people who cannot afford an attorney. Funded by a mix of federal funds (Legal Services Corporation), state bar grants, IOLTA interest, and private donations, legal aid societies handle cases in areas with the highest human impact: housing (evictions, foreclosure), family law (domestic violence, custody), public benefits (disability, food assistance), immigration, and consumer debt.
Income eligibility is typically set at 125–200% of the federal poverty level, though some programs serve up to 400% for specific matters. Services vary by organization — some provide full representation, others offer advice clinics, brief consultations, or help with self-represented litigants completing forms. Law school clinics supervised by licensed attorneys provide another free resource, often handling specialized areas like immigration, tax, or housing.
If you need legal help and cannot afford it: contact your local legal aid office, your state bar's lawyer referral service (which often includes reduced-fee options), law school clinics in your area, or organizations like LawHelp.org that aggregate resources by state.
Real-World Example
The single mother facing wrongful eviction was referred to the local legal aid office; a staff attorney filed an emergency motion and secured a 90-day stay, giving her time to find housing and contest the eviction.