Where to find pro bono lawyers in your area
Pro bono lawyers are attorneys who take cases for free or at reduced cost. Your local bar association, legal aid society, and law school clinics are the three fastest places to find them. Each route connects you to different types of lawyers and different kinds of cases.
Start with your state bar association's website — most have a "find a lawyer" tool that filters for pro bono services. If that tool doesn't work or shows nothing nearby, call the bar association directly and ask for their pro bono referral program. They keep a list of attorneys who have committed to taking free cases, even if that list isn't published online.
Legal aid societies are nonprofit organizations that employ lawyers specifically to serve people who cannot afford representation. They exist in most counties and handle cases like eviction defense, family law, and benefits disputes. Search "[your county] legal aid" to find the office nearest you, or call 211 (a national helpline) and ask for legal aid in your area.
Key Takeaways
- Your state bar association maintains a pro bono referral list and can connect you to volunteer attorneys, even if their online tool is incomplete.
- Legal aid societies employ staff lawyers and are usually free if your income falls below their threshold, which varies by county and case type.
- Law school clinics offer free representation through student lawyers supervised by professors and handle cases in specific areas like housing, immigration, or family law.
- Some cases — criminal defense, immigration, and domestic violence — have specialized pro bono networks separate from general referral lists.
- You will need to describe your case briefly and provide income information; pro bono lawyers prioritize cases based on urgency and available resources.
Legal aid societies and what they cover
A legal aid society is a nonprofit law firm that serves people whose income is below a certain threshold. That threshold varies by state and by case type — a family law case might have a higher income limit than a housing case in the same county. When you contact legal aid, they will ask about your income and what your case involves, then tell you whether they can take it.
Legal aid societies prioritize cases by urgency. An eviction happening next week moves ahead of a contract dispute that has been pending for months. If your case falls outside their priority areas or if they are at capacity, they will often refer you to a pro bono attorney through the bar association instead of turning you away entirely.
To find your local legal aid office, search "[your county name] legal aid" or "[your state] legal aid," or call 211 and ask them to connect you. Have your income information ready — they will ask for recent pay stubs or tax returns — and a brief description of what you need help with.
Law school clinics in your community
Law schools run free legal clinics where law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, handle cases in specific practice areas. A clinic might focus on housing law, immigration, family law, or small business formation. The student does much of the work, but a professor reviews everything before it goes to court or to the other side.
Clinics are usually free and have no income requirement, though some prioritize low-income clients. The trade-off is that cases move more slowly than they would with an experienced solo attorney — a student needs time to research and write, and the professor needs time to review. If your case is not urgent, a clinic is often a good fit.
Find clinics by searching "[your state] law school clinic" or by calling the law schools in your area directly and asking what free services they offer. Many law schools list their clinics on their websites under "community service" or "clinical programs." Some clinics take walk-ins; others require you to call ahead.
Specialized pro bono networks for specific case types
Criminal defense, immigration, and domestic violence cases have their own pro bono networks separate from general referral lists. These exist because the stakes are high and the legal issues are complex.
Criminal defense: If you are facing criminal charges and cannot afford a lawyer, you have a right to a public defender appointed by the court at no cost. You do not need to find one — the court assigns one. If you are arrested, tell the judge or the police that you cannot afford a lawyer, and the court will appoint someone. If you have already been convicted and want to challenge the conviction, contact your state's appellate public defender office or search "[your state] criminal justice pro bono" for volunteer attorneys who handle appeals.
Immigration: Immigration law is federal and highly specialized. The Executive Office for Immigration Review maintains a list of pro bono providers at justice.gov/eoir. You can also search "[your city] immigration legal services" or contact RAICES, American Immigration Council, or the American Immigration Lawyers Association — all three maintain referral networks. Many immigration clinics are run by nonprofits rather than law schools.
Domestic violence: Domestic violence legal services are often bundled with shelter and counseling. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, and they will connect you to local legal resources. Many domestic violence organizations employ lawyers or have relationships with pro bono attorneys who prioritize these cases.
What information you will need to provide
When you contact a pro bono lawyer or legal aid office, have the following ready: your household income (or recent pay stubs or tax returns), a brief description of your legal problem, and any documents related to the case — a lease, a court notice, a contract, a letter from the other side, anything that explains what happened.
You will also need to describe what outcome you are looking for. Are you trying to stop an eviction, get custody of a child, challenge a denial of benefits, or something else? The clearer you are about what you need, the faster the lawyer can decide whether they can help and what the next step is.
Some pro bono programs ask you to fill out an intake form online or by mail. Others do intake over the phone. A few take walk-ins at specific hours. When you first contact the office, ask which method they use and whether you need an appointment.
What to expect after you make contact
After you reach out, the office will screen your case — that is, they will decide whether they have the resources and informed to take it. Screening usually takes a few days to a few weeks. During that time, they may ask follow-up questions by phone or email.
If they take your case, they will assign you a lawyer and schedule a first meeting. If they cannot take it, they will usually refer you to another pro bono source or to a low-cost private attorney. Being turned down by one office does not mean you have no options — it usually means that office is at capacity or the case is outside their practice area.
Once a lawyer is assigned, they will explain what they can do, what the likely timeline is, and what you will need to do on your end. Some cases settle quickly; others go to court. The lawyer will keep you informed at each step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be below a certain income to get pro bono help?
Legal aid societies have income limits, which vary by state and case type. Pro bono attorneys referred through bar associations often have no income requirement — they take cases based on the merits and their availability. When you contact an office, ask about their income threshold for your specific case type.
How long does it take to hear back after I contact a pro bono office?
Response time varies. Legal aid offices are often understaffed and may take two to four weeks to screen your case. Law school clinics may take longer because they work on a semester schedule. Bar association referral lines usually connect you to someone within a few days. If you have an urgent important date, say so when you call — it may move your case up.
What if I need a lawyer for something that happened a long time ago?
Pro bono offices prioritize urgent cases — evictions happening next week, custody disputes, criminal charges. Older cases are harder to place because they are less time-sensitive. You may still find help through a law school clinic or a bar association referral, but expect a longer wait or the possibility of being referred to a low-cost private attorney instead.
Can a pro bono lawyer represent me in small claims court?
Small claims court is designed for people to represent themselves, and most lawyers — pro bono or paid — do not take small claims cases because the amounts are too low. If your case is in small claims court, ask the court clerk whether they have a self-help center or whether any legal aid office offers limited information for small claims cases.
What if the pro bono lawyer I am assigned does not seem to understand my case?
Ask to speak with a supervisor or the office manager. If the lawyer is from a legal aid office, that office has a process for reassigning cases. If the lawyer is a volunteer referred through the bar association, contact the bar association and explain the problem — they can refer you to someone else. You have the right to work with a lawyer you trust.