Legal Services and Assistance Programs

Legal Services and Assistance Programs provide free legal assistance in civil matters (not criminal cases). You may be able to get legal advice and/or legal representation in court or agency hearings. If you need legal help but can’t afford a lawyer, these programs are a valuable resource.

How do Legal Services and Assistance Programs work?

These programs help older adults get free legal help on civil matters like housing, health care, Social Security, wills, and fraud. Note: Civil cases are about disagreements between people or groups. They usually involve money or property. Criminal cases are when someone breaks the law.

If you qualify for help, you can get free advice from lawyers and legal experts. They can explain your rights, help you fill out important forms, and even represent you in legal matters if needed.

Many Legal Services and Assistance Programs are provided by nonprofit legal aid organizations, senior advocacy groups, and government programs. Some programs focus on specific issues. These may include protecting older adults from scams and financial abuse, helping with landlord-tenant problems, or ensuring fair access to benefits like Medicaid and Medicare.

Legal support is available in various areas of the law, including:

• Employment

These legal services can help you:

• Get unemployment pay and benefits

• Protect your rights if you're a victim of discrimination at work

• Make sure you get the minimum wage or overtime payments you deserve

• Family

These legal services can support you by:

• Representing you in court if you're a victim of domestic violence, and making sure you and your children are safe

• Providing support in issues of child custody, visitation rights, divorce, name change, elder abuse and exploitation, domestic violence, and mental health commitment

• Helping you get child support in divorce and paternity cases

• Helping social services in guardianship and conservatorship of minors

• Health, disability, and income

These legal services can support you by:

• Cash benefit programs (Social Security, SSI, SSDI, and TANF)

• Health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, and other health insurance programs)

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits

• Unemployment benefits, veteran's benefits, and worker' compensation

• Housing

These legal services can support you by:

• Get access to emergency shelter and long-term housing

• Handle landlord/tenant issues (such as eviction defenses, rent disputes, illegal lockouts, utility cutoffs by landlords, housing discrimination, and public subsidized housing disputes)

• Consumer and finance

These legal services can support you by:

• Bankruptcy, debt relief, credit access, loans, and installment purchases

• Contracts and warranties

• Energy and public utilities

• Unfair sales practices

• Immigration

These legal services can support you by:

• Helping you get legal status to stay in the U.S. if you are an undocumented victim of domestic violence, or you are fleeing persecution in your own country

• Representing you in removal proceedings and political asylum cases

• Providing assistance if you are a refugee

• Individual Rights

These legal services can help you with mental health issues, disability rights, and long-term care resident rights.

• Miscellaneous

These legal services can help you with issues related to licenses, general wills/estates, living wills, and powers of attorney.

Legal Services and Assistance Programs may include projects that serve special populations (such as people with limited ability to speak English). They also provide community outreach and legal education.

Who can get free legal services?

Every state, legal aid office, and program has its own rules about who can get free legal services. Generally, you may qualify if you:

• Are age 60 or older: Many programs focus on helping seniors with legal issues related to aging.

• Have low income: Free legal aid is often available to those who meet certain income limits. If you are 60 or older or you are a victim of domestic violence, you generally do not need to meet an income limit.

• Have a disability: Some programs provide legal help for people with physical or mental disabilities.

• Need help with specific legal issues: Many services focus on helping people with Social Security, Medicare, housing, elder abuse, or fraud.

• Are a veteran: Special legal programs exist for veterans, especially those facing housing or benefits issues. Some VA facilities have free legal clinics.

• Face serious legal problems: Even if you don’t meet income limits, some programs may help you if you are in danger of losing your home, health care, or other basic needs.

How do I get help from these programs?

To find out if you qualify for free legal help, you can:

• Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to get a referral.

• Find legal resources in your state by visiting LawHelp.org.

• Find legal aid organizations near you by visiting the Legal Services Corporation website.

• Explore more resources for free legal help on the American Bar Association website.