Free Legal Aid in Denver

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado

Areas of Law: Discrimination, Election and Voting, Freedom Speech, Freedom of Religion, Immigration Rights, LGBT Rights, Privacy, Police Practices, Jail and Prison Conditions, and other issues of fair treatment by government.

Good to Know: The ACLU does not usually assist in the following types of cases: criminal defense or post-conviction appeals, divorce or child custody disputes, property disputes, tax problems, workers compensation issues, consumer complaints, landlord-tenant disputes, building code issues and complaints about lawyers or judges.

Ask a Lawyer

Areas of Law: Criminal and Civil

Good to Know: Volunteer attorneys are available to answer basic legal questions via phone free of charge. Calls are strictly confidential. Call to learn specific dates and times.

Colorado Legal Services

Areas of Law: Family law, Domestic Violence, Divorce, Custody, Guardianship, Consumer/Debt problems, Housing, Issues for Seniors, including Living Wills, Medical Durable Powers of Attorney, Public Benefits, and Immigration.

Good to Know: CLS does not provide help with traffic or criminal cases. This office serves the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson; seniors in Clear Creek, and Gilpin.

Metro Volunteer Lawyers

Areas of Law: Bankruptcy, unfair sales practices, consumer fraud, public benefits, family law, debt collection, garnishment, and repossession, public utilities, credit access, contracts/warranties, loans/ installment purchases

Good to Know: This group provides free or low-cost legal services. Call to be pre-screened. They serve residents of the following counties: Adams, Broomfield, Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert, Douglas, and Jefferson.

The Center’s Legal Initiatives Project

Areas of Law: HIV/AIDS advocacy

Good to Know: The Center operates both a legal clinic and a hotline. They offer legal advocacy and referrals for the GLBT community and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Appellate Pro Bono Program

Areas of Law: Civil Appeals

Good to Know: Appeals assistance is free for low-income persons. You must submit an application [PDF] for consideration. CBA will only help with civil cases. They will not assist with any criminal matters.

Bankruptcy Clinic

Areas of Law: Bankruptcy

Good to Know: This is a clinic designed to help unrepresented litigants understand bankruptcy forms and processes. They do not provide direct legal representation in court. Call to find out dates and times of the clinic.

Domestic Violence Initiative for Women with Disabilities

Area of Law: Disability, Domestic Violence

Good to Know: This is a statewide legal service providing help to battered women and survivors who are disabled or who are victims of caregiver abuse. Call for intake procedures.

The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People

Areas of Law: Disability, Abuse, Neglect, Benefits Assistance, Housing, Employment, Access to Public Accommodations, Special Education.

Good to Know: The Center provides legal representation to those with mental and physical disabilities, people with HIV, and older people throughout Colorado.

Colorado Anti-Violence Program/LGBT

Areas of Law: LGBT, Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse, Restraining Orders

Good to Know: This organization helps all domestic violence survivors regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Call to learn more.

Project Safeguard

Area of Law: Domestic Violence, Family law

Good to Know: This is a free statewide legal service for victims of domestic violence. They offer legal services clinics one night a week. Attorneys do not provide in court representation.

Important: If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Child Support Enforcement Clinic

Areas of Law: Child support, Paternity

Good to Know: This is a free informational, child support workshop. Volunteer lawyers do not provide legal advice or representation nor do they directly assist in completing court forms. Topics include establishment of paternity, contest of paternity, and the establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support orders under the federal IV-D program. Information on how to apply for services, child support calculation guidelines, and all child support obligations will also be provided.

Doing Your Own Divorce

Areas of Law: Divorce

Good to Know: This is a free informational, divorce workshop. Volunteer lawyers do not provide legal advice or representation nor do they directly assist in completing court forms.

Family Law Legal Clinic

Areas of Law: Family, Divorce, Child Custody, Paternity

Good to Know: This is a free informational, family law workshop. Volunteer lawyers do not provide legal advice or representation nor do they directly assist in completing court forms.

Catholic Charities of Denver

Area of Law: Domestic Violence, Immigration, Naturalization

Good to Know: This is a walk in legal consultation service for low-income immigrants. There is a $35 consultation fee.

Colorado Anti-Violence Program

Area of Law: Domestic Violence

Good to Know: This service walks clients through the restraining order process and accompanies them to court if they choose to seek a temporary or permanent restraining order against an abusive partner.

Small Claims Legal Clinic

Area of Law: Civil, Small Claims

Good to Know: This free clinic is offered to explain to the public how to file their own small claims cases in court and how to collect on the judgments. They do not provide direct representation in court.

Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center

Area of Law: Criminal law, Victim’s Rights

Good to Know: RMvlc represents child and adult victims of violence, including but not limited to the victims of sexual abuse, homicide, domestic violence, stalking, and vehicular assault. Clients must either be current residents of Colorado or victims of a crime that occurred in the state of Colorado, and the victim must be involved in an existing criminal matter. RMvlc does not litigate domestic, family, or civil cases.

University of Denver Sturm College of Law

Areas of Law: Civil Litigation, Civil Rights Community Economic Development, Criminal Defense, Environmental Law, Mediation and Arbitration

Good to Know: This program does not handle DUI/DWI, traffic, felony, social security, disability, divorce/child custody, elder law or immigration cases. Cases are only accepted certain times of the year or by referral from a judge. Call for consideration.

Graduate Tax Program Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Areas of Law: Tax

Good to Know: Students represent low and moderate-income taxpayers in administrative proceedings before the IRS and in the U.S. Tax Court (IRS levies, liens, audits, exams, offers in compromise, installment agreements, EITC issues, forgiveness of debt income and innocent spouse relief).