About Legal Aid for Women
Legal aid in the United States is delivered through Legal Services Corporation (LSC)-funded nonprofits, law school clinics, pro bono panels, and court self-help centers. Most programs serve women at or below 125–200% of the Federal Poverty Level and handle family law, housing, public benefits, immigration, and protective orders. The American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession and the National Women's Law Center supplement local services. For women, the most common legal aid needs are custody, divorce, child support, VAWA-based immigration relief, and DV protective orders — all areas LSC grantees regularly handle. This directory aggregates state legal aid offices, women's legal clinics, and bar referral panels.
15 Resources
Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii matches qualifying low-income women with volunteer attorneys for free civil legal help in family law, housing, consumer debt, and other matters. Located at 545 Queen St Suite 100 in Honolulu, call 808-528-7046 Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm to apply. Income guidelines apply — bring proof of income and a summary of your legal issue. VLSH coordinates with bar association volunteers across Oahu and neighbor islands.
808-528-7046 · 545 Queen St Suite 100, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
The University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law operates free legal clinics where law students provide direct legal services under close faculty supervision. Located at 2515 Dole St in Honolulu, call 808-956-6545 for current clinic availability. Clinics operate during the academic semester and handle civil cases including family law, immigration, housing, and business matters. Services are free for qualifying clients.
808-956-6545 · 2515 Dole St, Honolulu, HI 96822 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (semester) · Visit Website
Hawaii Free Legal Answers is an online platform where low-income residents can submit civil legal questions and receive answers from volunteer attorneys within a few days at no cost. Access at hawaii.freelegalanswers.org — create a free account, verify income eligibility, and post your question. Attorneys respond with personalized legal guidance on matters including family law, housing, debt, and consumer issues. Available 24/7 with no appointment needed.
Online Service · Online 24/7 · Visit Website
Disability Rights Hawaii provides free legal advocacy and representation for women and individuals with disabilities facing discrimination, denial of services, or civil rights violations. Located at 1132 Bishop St Suite 2102 in Honolulu, call 808-949-2922 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. DRH handles cases involving housing, employment, education, healthcare access, and government benefits. No cost for eligible clients with qualifying disabilities.
808-949-2922 · 1132 Bishop St Suite 2102, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation provides free legal services to Native Hawaiian women and families in matters involving land rights, Hawaiian homelands, cultural access, water rights, and civil cases. Located at 1164 Bishop St Suite 1205 in Honolulu, call 808-521-2302 to inquire about eligibility. NHLC focuses on issues affecting Native Hawaiian communities and the preservation of Hawaiian cultural and legal rights. Open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
808-521-2302 · 1164 Bishop St Suite 1205, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website
The Hawaii Access to Justice Commission coordinates statewide initiatives to expand legal services for low-income and underserved women and families. Based at the Hawaii State Judiciary in Honolulu, call 808-539-4860 for information. The commission supports self-help centers, pro bono programs, and legal aid funding across all islands. While not a direct service provider, they can direct women to the appropriate legal aid resource for their situation.
808-539-4860 · Honolulu, HI · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
The Legal Services Corporation is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, supporting free legal help programs in every state for low-income individuals. LSC-funded organizations handle family law, housing, consumer debt, immigration, and benefits cases. Visit lsc.gov to find your nearest LSC-funded legal aid organization by state. Eligibility is based on income — generally at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
LawHelp.org is a free national directory connecting low-income individuals to local legal aid programs, self-help resources, and court information in every state. Search by state and legal issue type to find the right organization for your situation — whether family law, housing, immigration, or consumer debt. The site also offers plain-language legal guides and links to court self-help centers. No cost, no login required.
Nationwide · Online
The American Bar Association's Free Legal Help portal provides a national directory of free and reduced-fee legal aid programs, pro bono services, and court self-help centers organized by state. The ABA also maintains public resources on finding a lawyer, understanding your rights, and navigating common legal issues. Visit americanbar.org to search for local programs. No cost to use the directory — eligibility for services varies by program.
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Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit that connects low-income people with pro bono attorneys, online legal tools, and local clinic directories in every state. Their LawHelp network and online self-help guides cover family law, housing, immigration, and consumer issues. The organization partners with legal aid programs across the country to increase access to justice. Free to use at probono.net — find local resources by state.
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Justia's free legal aid directory lists legal aid offices, pro bono programs, law school clinics, and court self-help centers organized by state and city. The site also includes free access to US statutes, case law, regulations, and plain-language legal guides. Useful for finding local organizations and understanding the law before your court date. No account required — search at justia.com.
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WomensLaw.org provides free legal information and a lawyer directory specifically for women dealing with domestic abuse, protective orders, custody disputes, and family court matters. Written by attorneys in plain language, the site explains each state's laws, how to file for a protective order, what to expect in court, and how to find local legal help. Available in English and Spanish at womenslaw.org — free to use with no registration required.
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The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides free legal advocacy resources for survivors of domestic abuse, including state-specific guides to obtaining protective orders, understanding custody rights when leaving an abusive partner, and finding local legal aid. NCADV's website at ncadv.org also connects survivors to safety planning tools and local DV organizations. Free to use online — available 24/7.
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Stateside Legal connects veterans and active-duty military families with free legal aid across all 50 states. The site includes a searchable directory of legal aid organizations serving military members, covering VA benefits claims, family law, discharge upgrades, housing, and consumer protection. Available at statesidelegal.org — browse by state and legal issue. Especially useful for women veterans navigating VA disability claims or family court while stationed or transitioning.
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The US Department of Justice maintains a free directory of DOJ-recognized nonprofit immigration legal aid organizations searchable by state. These organizations provide low-cost or free help with visa applications, DACA, asylum, green card petitions, and naturalization. Access the directory at justice.gov — filter by state to find organizations near you. Services vary by organization; income eligibility may apply at some providers.
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