findlegalhelp.

org - Consumers' Guide to Legal Help - Finding Free Help Page 1 of 2

myABA | Contact Us | Join the ABA | Calendar | Member Directory | ABA Store | Sign In

Go
Membership ABA Groups Resources for Lawyers Publications & CLE Advocacy News

Legal Help Home

Select A State

Learn More/FAQs

Consumers' Guide to Legal Help

Finding Free Help

Who is entitled to a free lawyer?

Who else qualifies for a free lawyer?
What is a legal services/legal aid office?
What is a pro bono program?
What is a legal hotline?
For the
Are there other sources of free legal help?Public Resources For
What do I do if I can't get free legal
ABAhelp?
Approved Law Schools Bar Associations Military Lawyers
What are the current federal poverty guidelines?
Law School Accreditation Diversity Senior Lawyers
Public Education Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Small Firm Lawyers
Transgender Lawyers Back to Previous Page
Public Resources Solo Lawyers
Judges
Women Lawyers
Law Students
Who is entitled to a free lawyer? Young Lawyers
Lawyers of Color
The Constitution guarantees free legal help for people who are charged with a crime which might lead to imprisonment
Lawyers
and who cannot afford a lawyer. If you find yourself in this situation, requestwith
the Disabilities
appointment of counsel when you first
appear in court. When a court decides someone is "indigent" - with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney -
About Us | Contact | Terms of Usegenerally
| either
Privacy Policya private
| lawyer
Copyright & IPwill be| appointed
Policy by& the
Advertising court and
Sponsorship | paid with
© 2011 county
ABA, funds,
All Rights or a public defender program
Reserved
will be appointed to represent the person. Some public defender programs are permitted to charge an "application fee"
from clients, though this is usually a small amount.

Who else qualifies for a free lawyer?

In non-criminal or "civil" cases, you do not have the right to a free lawyer. But there are many legal aid and pro bono
programs that provide free legal help for the poor in civil cases. These programs generally help people whose income is
less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level, although in some cases they help people whose income is slightly
higher. (Look at the table at the bottom of this page for the current income guidelines.) In addition, people who are
elderly, disabled, the victims of domestic violence, enlisted in the military or in other special circumstances may be
eligible for help even if their income is a little higher. Because these community-based programs often operate with very
small budgets and don't have enough resources to serve all eligible people, they handle only certain types of cases and
must turn away many people who ask for help.

What is a legal service/legal aid office?

Legal services offices, also called legal aid offices, employ staff lawyers to provide legal help to poor clients. The lawyers
are usually experts in the types of problems that poor clients most often encounter. Some are federally funded and some
are privately funded. To search for legal aid or other programs in your state, please select a state from the Find Legal
Help home page.

What is a pro bono program?

Pro bono programs help low-income people find volunteer lawyers who are willing to handle their cases for free. These
programs usually are sponsored by state or local bar associations. You can look for a pro bono program in your state,
please select a state from the Find Legal Help home page.

What is a legal hotline?

A legal hotline allows people to talk to a legal aid lawyer by phone to ask about legal questions or problems. In addition
to providing legal advice, a hotline may be able to review documents, prepare letters and provide legal forms to callers. A
hotline may be able to make a referral to a free legal services program or private lawyer. Some hotlines limit their service
to specific legal matters or specific groups of people (such as a legal hotline for senior citizens). Many hotlines are
sponsored by legal aid programs. To search our site for legal hotlines in your state, please select a state from the Find
Legal Help home page.

A e the e othe so ces of f ee legal help?

http://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/faq_freehelp.cfm 3/30/2011
findlegalhelp.org - Consumers' Guide to Legal Help - Finding Free Help Page 2 of 2

Are there other sources of free legal help?

In addition to community-based legal help from legal aid and pro bono programs, some cities and states have other
programs that
Individuals give freeare
or families legal help toeligible
generally clients for
whofree
arehelp
elderly, disabled,
through a pro members of the
bono or legal military,
services or in other
program special
if their annual
circumstances. For athe
income is less than listamounts
of these shown
programs, select
below. Free
There areLegal
also Help for Special
exceptions Populations.
to these income limits, which you would need to
learn more about from your local legal aid or pro bono program.
What do I do if I can't get free legal help?
If you can't find help from a legal aid or
Legal pro bono
Services program, some
Corporation 2009alternatives include contacting
Poverty Guidelines * a lawyer referral service
(some may be able to refer you to a low-fee lawyer) or hiring a lawyer for only part of the legal work and doing other
parts yourself (this is known as "unbundled" legal services). You can also try to get legal information and try to handle
the legal issue yourself. Please visit our 48sections on legal information and helping yourself for more information. To
Contiguous
Size of Family Alaska Hawaii
search our site for help in your state, please Statesselect
& DCa state from the Find Legal Help home page.

1 $13,538 $16,913 $15,575

What are the current federal poverty guidelines?
2 $18,213 $22,763 $20,950

3 $22,888 $28,613 $26,325

4 $27,563 $34,463 $31,700

5 $32,238 $40,313 $37,075

6 $36,913 $46,163 $42,450

7 $41,588 $52,013 $47,825

8 $46,263 $57,863 $53,200

For each additional member
of the household in excess $4,675 $5,850 $5,375
of 8, add:

* The figures in this table represent 125% of the poverty guidelines by family size as determined by the Department of
Health and Human Services.

Updated: 01/26/2010

Back to Top

About Us/Disclaimer | Terms of Use

American Bar Association © Copyright Statement

http://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/faq_freehelp.cfm 3/30/2011