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.
14 Resources
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service connects qualifying low-income women with pro bono attorneys for civil legal matters including family law, housing, consumer debt, and tax issues. Call 410-539-6800 or email info@mvlslaw.org to apply. Located at 201 N Charles St, Baltimore. Bring photo ID and proof of income. Income limits apply based on household size. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. MVLS coordinates one of the largest pro bono networks in Maryland, matching clients with experienced volunteer attorneys at no cost.
410-539-6800 · 201 N Charles St Suite 1400, Baltimore, MD 21201 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Community Legal Services of Prince George's County provides free civil legal help for qualifying low-income residents including family law, housing, benefits, and immigration matters. Call 240-391-6370 or email info@clspgc.org. Located at 6301 Ivy Ln, Greenbelt. Bring photo ID, proof of income, and documentation related to your legal issue. Income eligibility required. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Staff attorneys assist with court filings, hearings, and negotiations. Serving PG County residents with a wide range of civil legal needs.
240-391-6370 · 6301 Ivy Ln Suite 720, Greenbelt, MD 20770 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Civil Justice Network provides free civil legal services for low-income women in Baltimore and throughout Maryland covering housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer protection. Call 410-706-0174 or email info@civiljusticenetwork.org. Located at 520 W Fayette St, Baltimore. Bring photo ID, proof of income, and any relevant court documents or notices. Income eligibility required. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. A collaborative network of law school clinics and legal aid providers coordinating services across the state.
410-706-0174 · 520 W Fayette St, Baltimore, MD 21201 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
University of Baltimore School of Law operates free legal clinics providing family law, immigration, and civil legal assistance to qualifying low-income women, supervised by faculty attorneys. Call 410-837-5706 to inquire about clinic availability during the academic semester. Located at 1401 N Charles St, Baltimore. Bring photo ID, proof of income, and relevant documentation. Services available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm during fall and spring semesters. A valuable resource for women needing legal help who qualify based on income and case type.
410-837-5706 · 1401 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (semester) · Visit Website
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law runs the Access to Justice Clinic providing free civil legal services including family law, housing, and consumer matters for qualifying low-income clients, supervised by experienced faculty. Call 410-706-3295 to inquire about enrollment and semester availability. Located at 500 W Baltimore St, Baltimore. Bring photo ID, proof of income, and all relevant documentation. Services available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm during academic semesters. Income limits apply.
410-706-3295 · 500 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (semester) · Visit Website
The Legal Services Corporation funds civil legal aid organizations in every US state and territory. Their website allows women to search for their nearest LSC-funded program by ZIP code, covering family law, housing, benefits, and immigration issues. All LSC programs serve income-qualifying individuals at no cost. Visit lsc.gov to find local legal aid. Services range from brief advice to full representation in civil court matters.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
LawHelp.org is a free nationwide directory connecting low-income women to local legal aid programs, self-help resources, and court assistance centers. Search by state or legal topic to find help with family law, housing, benefits, immigration, and consumer protection. Links to state-specific legal information guides and downloadable forms. Available 24/7 at lawhelp.org — no registration needed. A reliable first stop when you need free civil legal help.
Nationwide · Online
The American Bar Association Free Legal Help directory connects women with pro bono legal programs, reduced-fee attorney services, and court self-help centers in every state. Search by location and legal issue type at americanbar.org. Covers family law, housing, consumer debt, and more. Includes law school clinics, bar association referral programs, and hotlines. No registration required. A comprehensive national resource for finding affordable legal assistance.
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Pro Bono Net is a national network connecting low-income women with volunteer attorneys and legal aid resources. Their online tools include guided interviews that help you understand your legal situation and prepare court forms. The clinic directory lists free legal clinics by location and topic. Visit probono.net to access state-specific legal help pages. Covers family law, housing, immigration, and consumer issues. Available 24/7 with no income screening required to access information.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Justia's Legal Aid Directory provides a free, searchable database of legal aid offices, pro bono programs, and self-help centers organized by state and legal category. Find representation for family law, housing, immigration, disability, and consumer matters. Profiles include contact information, eligibility requirements, and services offered. Access free at justia.com — no account needed. A useful tool for quickly identifying all free legal resources available in your county.
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WomensLaw.org provides free legal information and a lawyer-search tool specifically designed for women facing abuse, custody disputes, and family court proceedings. Find attorneys and legal aid programs by state, read plain-language guides on restraining orders and custody, and use the secure email hotline to ask questions of trained advocates. Available 24/7 at womenslaw.org. Resources available in Spanish and other languages. No account required to access information.
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The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides legal advocacy resources for DV survivors including state-specific protective order guides, safety planning tools, and information on how abuse affects custody decisions. Visit ncadv.org to access the legal help section and find local legal advocates. Resources include sample safety plans, what to bring to court, and how to enforce orders in other states. Free to access 24/7 — no account required.
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Stateside Legal connects active-duty servicewomen, veterans, and military families with free civil legal help. Services cover family law, federal benefits appeals, housing disputes, and consumer protection. The online directory links to military legal assistance offices and pro bono attorneys familiar with military-specific issues like deployment custody orders and VA benefits. Visit statesidelegal.org — available 24/7. No registration needed to search the resource directory.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The US Department of Justice maintains an official directory of accredited immigration legal aid organizations searchable by state, providing free or low-cost immigration legal services to qualifying women. Services include asylum applications, VAWA petitions for abuse survivors, DACA renewals, and family petitions. Visit justice.gov to search by state. Bring immigration documents, passport, and any court notices to your consultation. No cost to search the directory.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website