Types of Free Legal Services

Legal services are among the more expensive things a person may need in their life. But you can still get access to justice, even if you can’t find someone to represent you for free or on a reduced fee basis. Just because you can’t find a pro bono attorney doesn’t mean you’re out of options. There are other free and low-cost legal resources available online, at courthouses, and in libraries.

Below is a summary of the types of free legal services that may be available to you. To find legal help for more serious matters, such as child custody or foreclosure, you can compare lawyers on FindLaw’s attorney directory. This directory can help you locate qualified attorneys in your area, including those who offer free consultations.

What Is a Pro Bono Attorney?

Pro bono attorneys are lawyers who represent clients in need of legal representation for a reduced fee or, more commonly, for free. The cases they are willing to take are often public-interest cases, like civil rights, child custody, domestic violence, foreclosure, and housing.

Any licensed attorney can choose to provide pro bono legal services. The American Bar Association (ABA) and state bar associations require attorneys in private practice and in firms to set aside time for pro bono work. Depending on your legal needs, pro bono lawyers may provide the free legal advice you need for your case.

“Pro bono” comes from the Latin phrase, “pro bono publico,” which means “for the public good.”

Public Defenders

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, you may be apprehensive about heading to court, especially if you do not have the resources to afford a private attorney. However, you may be entitled to obtain legal services without charge.

Under the U.S. Constitution, you have the right to free legal services for your criminal trial if you cannot afford an attorney of your own. Often, these attorneys are appointed by a judge from a public defender’s office when you are formally charged with criminal counts. This attorney will be assigned to your case for the duration of your criminal trial, as well as your first appeal if you lose the initial criminal case.

To find out more, you can contact your local public defender’s office.

Legal Aid Providers

If you think you need to file a lawsuit to protect your interests, but you can’t afford a private lawyer, you may qualify for legal aid.

Legal aid providers and attorneys often receive government funding and are typically tasked with taking on low-income cases. But because of limited funding, legal aid societies and lawyers can usually take on only a select few cases.

The lawsuits that legal aid attorneys normally litigate involve:

• Denial of unemployment benefits
• Social Security benefits
• Consumer credit issues
• Eviction and other landlord-tenant lawsuits

Most legal aid organizations have income eligibility requirements. It varies by organization, but most programs only take cases from individuals with incomes below 125% of the state poverty level.

Contact your local bar association to find information on legal aid organizations in your area. They can help you find out if you qualify for free legal services.

Nonprofit Legal Aid Organizations

Some nonprofit agencies provide low-cost or free legal services if your legal issues involve a social justice or public interest matter. These legal problems include:

• Discrimination
• Domestic violence
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Similar legal matters

The Legal Services Corporation, a federally funded nonprofit corporation, is the single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans in the country. Legal aid organizations can apply for grants from the LSC, which they use to provide free legal help to clients who qualify financially. One example of such an organization is the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, which provides free legal help to New Yorkers.

Other organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Los Angeles LGBT Center provide legal assistance and lawyer referral services for low-income people.

Law School Legal Clinics

Many law school legal clinics provide free legal help to low-income clients. Law students offer assistance under the supervision of an attorney (usually a clinical professor).

Generally, this type of pro bono work is offered in one or more particular areas, including family law, elder law, landlord-tenant issues, health care law, and financial assistance. Moreover, law students can provide a range of legal services. These include:

• Research and writing
• Drafting legal documents
• Client interviews
• Negotiation
• Court preparation

Other Legal Clinics

If you have specific legal questions, you may be able to get at least some insight through a legal clinic. Legal clinics differ from legal aid clinics. Instead of having legal aid offices staffed by hired lawyers, legal clinics are usually held in courthouses or law libraries and are staffed by lawyers who volunteer for a set number of hours. You can show up during operating hours, have consultations, ask questions, and get answers and guidance.

Self-Help Centers

Although it may go by different names depending on where you are, you may also get answers from a self-help center. A self-help center is a place staffed by court employees where you can get information and services about legal problems. They can provide you with forms and other resources that can help meet your legal needs.

One important note about self-help centers: The staff may be able to provide you with legal assistance, but as court employees they cannot provide you with legal advice. You cannot sue them for malpractice if they tell you something that turns out to be wrong. If you need more than that, you will need to speak with an attorney.

Personal Injury Attorneys on Contingency

Many personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay the attorney upfront, and they only get paid if you get paid. Contingency fee arrangements are useful in cases where you have no money to pay an attorney but need legal representation for your case.

Contingency fees are based on a percentage. The fee agreement gives a percentage of the settlement to the attorney as payment for legal services. The percentage is set by state law or the state bar association. It’s usually capped at roughly 35% of the settlement. A contingency fee agreement can include attorney fees and costs, such as filing fees.

FindLaw’s directory of personal injury attorneys can connect you with qualified attorneys in this area of law near you.

Small Claims Court

If you’re in a dispute with someone, you may be able to sue them yourself in small claims court. Small claims courts handle civil cases with amounts less than a limit set by state law. That limit depends on where you are, but it can range from $2,500 to $25,000.

The small claims court process is pretty straightforward:

• You prepare and file your written complaint with the court and pay the filing fee.
• Arrange that your complaint be “served” on the other side (that means delivered in a way that complies with state law).
• The other side prepares and files a written answer to your complaint within the time provided by state law (or risk default).
• Gather evidence that you need to prove your claim (doing legal research online can help you figure out what evidence you might need).
• Present your evidence to the court at the hearing (you can generally find out the procedures your small claims court follows on the court’s website).
• The other side presents their evidence.
• The court issues a decision (sometimes right there, sometimes in writing later).

These steps may vary, depending on where you are.

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Legal Forms

You can handle some basic legal needs on your own by using do-it-yourself legal forms and other self-help resources available for purchase online. All you need to do is fill in the legal forms with your specific information, as directed, and file them with the appropriate offices or officials.

Whether you need to create a will, file for divorce, sell your home, or declare bankruptcy, do-it-yourself legal forms can help you get it done at a fraction of the cost. Pre-drafted legal forms can also save your business time and money. The forms make starting a business, protecting your intellectual property, or hiring workers an affordable legal undertaking. They can provide reliable and low-cost legal help in certain situations, but not all types of cases are covered.

In legal matters where you don’t feel comfortable representing yourself, you can save money by filling out your own forms and then using an attorney to review the completed forms. You will have to pay the attorney for their time, but they can help ensure your forms are completed correctly and reduce the risk of errors.

If the issues involved in your case are particularly complicated, you’ll need to consult with an attorney. For example, if you have a family law case with custody or property issues or a personal injury case with lots of medical information, you’ll want to have an attorney on your side.

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law provides free legal information for many legal practice areas in an easily searchable format. You only need to enter the legal topic you are interested in to find resources that may help meet your needs and answer your questions.

FindLaw DIY Forms

FindLaw also provides some do-it-yourself options. If you need a will, health care directive, or a power of attorney, FindLaw has partnered with experienced estate planning attorneys to create forms you can fill out online. FindLaw has also partnered with experienced business attorneys to develop certain business forms.

How To Find a Lawyer Near You

Free legal answers are hard to come by. Only attorneys can give legal advice — and only if you are a client. The Rules of Professional Conduct and state laws prohibit a non-lawyer from giving legal advice.

Sometimes, there’s just no way around it: hiring a lawyer might be necessary. Because state law is relevant for most legal issues, your attorney should be licensed in your state. FindLaw’s lawyer directory can get you started. Enter your legal issue and location to find qualified legal advisors near you.

Keep in mind it is a general directory—not a list of pro bono attorneys. However, your search results will show useful details about each lawyer, including whether they offer free consultations. This makes it easier for you to find a local attorney who will give you a first appointment free of charge.