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.
12 Resources
The University of North Dakota School of Law operates supervised legal clinics where third-year students represent low-income clients in family, immigration, and Native American law matters under faculty supervision. Located at 215 Centennial Dr in Grand Forks, the clinic accepts new cases during fall and spring semesters. Call 701-777-2104 to ask about current openings and income eligibility.
701-777-2104 · 215 Centennial Dr, Grand Forks, ND 58202 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (semester) · Visit Website
ND Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic run by the State Bar Association where mothers post civil legal questions and licensed ND attorneys respond by email within a few business days. Cover topics include custody, eviction, public benefits, and consumer protection. Applicants must meet income limits (around 200% FPL); no court representation is provided — strictly advice on next steps.
Online Service · Online 24/7
ND's federally-designated Protection and Advocacy Project represents women with disabilities at 400 E Broadway in Bismarck. Free legal advocacy covers Medicaid waiver denials, special education for children, employment discrimination, and abuse in institutional settings. Call 800-472-2670 Mon-Fri to request intake; no income limit applies for many programs since they're funded under federal disability statutes.
800-472-2670 · 400 E Broadway Suite 409, Bismarck, ND 58501 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
The federally-chartered Legal Services Corporation funds Legal Services of North Dakota and tracks every other civil legal aid program in the country. Use the LSC website's locator to find LSC-funded programs covering family law, housing, public benefits, and consumer protection in your county. Useful for ND women who relocate or have ties to multiple states.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
LawHelp.org is a Pro Bono Net portal aggregating free legal information and aid directories from every state. The ND section links directly to Legal Services of ND intake, UND clinic schedules, and the State Bar's pro bono programs, plus self-help guides on common issues. Available in Spanish for ND's growing Latina population.
Nationwide · Online
The American Bar Association's consumer-facing 'Free Legal Help' directory at americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/flh-home lists pro bono programs, lawyer referral services, and court self-help centers across ND. Filterable by topic — family, immigration, housing, veterans — making it a fast way to identify a second-opinion resource if Legal Services of ND has a conflict.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Pro Bono Net partners with Legal Services of North Dakota to run online clinics where mothers can submit questions to volunteer ND attorneys. The probono.net consumer site also offers LawHelpInteractive — fill-in-the-blank document assemblers for restraining orders, custody motions, and uncontested divorces using state-approved forms.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Justia's legal aid directory at justia.com is a free index of every civil legal aid office, law school clinic, and pro bono panel in ND, with addresses, intake numbers, and service-area maps. Especially helpful for rural mothers who may need to travel to Bismarck, Fargo, or Grand Forks for representation.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
WomensLaw.org's Find Help directory lists ND domestic violence shelters with legal advocates, immigration attorneys familiar with VAWA self-petitions, and family law attorneys who accept survivors at no or reduced cost. Each listing notes language access, services for Native women, and whether the program serves the rural counties bordering the reservation.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NCADV's online legal resource library at ncadv.org/get-help covers protective order procedure, custody safety planning, and the new federal firearms-relinquishment rules under VAWA — all relevant to ND survivors filing under NDCC 14-07.1. Free downloads include a survivor's legal rights worksheet to bring to a Legal Services intake.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Stateside Legal is the only national legal aid portal focused on military and veteran families. ND women veterans, surviving spouses, and active-duty Air Force families at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB can use the interactive guides to understand SCRA protections, VA benefits appeals, and military divorce. Links out to local pro bono attorneys experienced with military issues.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review publishes the official list of nonprofit organizations and pro bono attorneys accredited to handle immigration matters in ND. Critical resource for immigrant women seeking VAWA self-petitions, U-visas after assault, or asylum, since notario fraud is a known problem in the state.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website