Get help
Find a lawyer or free legal aid in the US
Key takeaways
- Legal aid organizations help eligible people with low income in civil matters, for free.
- State bar referral services connect you with a lawyer; several publish a low price for the first half hour.
- Charged with a crime and can't afford a lawyer? Ask the court about a public defender.
Start with free and official help. Legal aid covers many civil problems for people with low income, and state bar referral services offer low-cost first consultations. The prices below are shown exactly as each service publishes them.
We have no partnership with any of these services and receive no referral fee.
Free and low-cost legal help, by state
Checked Sep 28, 2026. We have no partnership with these services and receive no referral fee. Prices and availability can change; confirm with the service.
Charged with a crime?
If you cannot afford a lawyer in a criminal case, ask the court about a public defender. The referral services and legal aid above are mostly for civil problems. See also your rights when police want to question you.
Before you call: what to prepare
- A short timeline: what happened, and when.
- The documents: letters, contracts, pay stubs, court papers, messages.
- Names of the people and organizations involved.
- Any deadline on a letter or court paper, and the date you received it.
- What you want to happen next.
Common questions
Can I get a free lawyer?
In a criminal case, the court can appoint a public defender if you cannot afford a lawyer. In civil cases, legal aid organizations help eligible people with low income for free.
What does a lawyer referral service do?
It connects you with a lawyer who handles your kind of problem. Several state bar services publish a low price for the first consultation.
How much does a first consultation cost?
It depends on the service. The table above shows each price as the service publishes it, for example up to $20 for up to 30 minutes through the State Bar of Texas service.
Official sources
- USAGov: Find a lawyer for affordable legal aid usa.gov
- Legal Services Corporation: I need legal help lsc.gov
- State Bar of California: Find a lawyer referral service calbar.ca.gov
- State Bar of Texas: Lawyer Referral & Information Service texasbar.com
- The Florida Bar: Lawyer Referral Service floridabar.org
- New York State Bar Association: Lawyer Referral Service nysba.org
Related
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.