Free Legal Aid in Houston
Last updated: September 27, 2013
Do you have a legal issue, but can’t afford to hire an attorney? There are many free or low-cost legal service options for Harris county residents. The main ways are through legal assistance programs such as the Lone Star Legal Aid, a nonprofit corporation providing free legal aid to low-income residents and seniors, or through the Houston Bar Association. There may be income limits that apply for you to qualify for free/low-cost help. Contact the specific agency to learn more. Below is a list of several organizations available to help you.
Legal Aid Organizations
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American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
P.O. Box 8306
Houston, TX 77288
Tel: (713) 942-8146Areas of Law: Discrimination, Election and Voting, Freedom Speech, Freedom of Religion, Immigration Rights, LGBT Rights, Privacy, Police Practices, Jail and Prison Conditions, and other issues of fair treatment by government.
Good to Know: The ACLU does not usually assist in the following types of cases: criminal defense or post-conviction appeals, divorce or child custody disputes, property disputes, tax problems, workers compensation issues, consumer complaints, landlord-tenant disputes, building code issues and complaints about lawyers or judges. Requests for legal assistance must be submitted online.
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Houston Volunteer Lawyers (Houston Bar Association)
712 Main, Suite 2700
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: (713) 228-0735Areas of Law: Most civil matters except criminal, traffic, or personal injury plaintiffs.
Good to Know: The Houston Bar Association provides free legal aid to low-income individuals by connecting them with private lawyers who volunteer their time.
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Lone Star Legal Aid (Houston Office)
1415 Fannin St.
Clutch City, TX 77002
Tel: (713)652-0077Areas of Law: Domestic Violence, Elder Law, Health Care, Housing, Employment, Unlawful Trade Practices, Education, Civil Rights, and Disaster Relief.
Good to Know: This office offers advice/legal counsel, brief services, self-help clinics, community legal education, and referrals, as well as full representation in administrative hearings and county, state, and federal courts. They do not assist with immigration or prisoner issues. Call for details.
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AIDS/HIV Legal Aid Program and Legal Redress Program, NAACP
2002 Wheeler
Houston, TX 77004
Tel: (713) 526-3389Areas of Law: Estate matters, insurance, employment, social security, will, probate, landlord/tenant, powers of attorney, family law, monitor EEOC discrimination complaints, consumer problems, SSI, Social Security Disability (SSDI), government benefits.
Good to Know: Legal services are open to anyone who can meet the income level. You must be at or below 125% of poverty level for full representation, at or below 300% of poverty level for HIV+ and AIDS related services.
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Texas Advocacy Project
PO Box 833
Austin, TX 78767
Tel: 800-374-HOPEArea of Law: Domestic Violence, Family law, Sexual Assault.
Good to Know: This is a free statewide legal service for victims of domestic violence. They offer a legal aid hotline and direct legal services.
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Courthouse Information Booth (Harris County Family Law Center)
1115 Congress Ave
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: (713) 225-9455Areas of Law: Divorce, Name Change.
Good to Know: Lawyers help unrepresented persons with filing out forms for divorce or name changes.
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Carecen Central American Refugee Center
6006 Bellaire Boulevard, Ste. 100
Houston, TX 77081
Tel: (713) 665-1284Area of Law: Asylum, Domestic Violence, Immigration.
Good to Know: Services are by appointment only. They may charge a nominal fee. Income limits apply.
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Catholic Charities' St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Assistance
2900 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77006
Tel: (713)874-6570Area of Law: Domestic Violence, Immigration, Naturalization.
Good to Know: Services are by appointment only. There is a $30 intake fee, but most legal services are free or low-cost. Representatives speak Arabic, English, French, Sign language for the deaf, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
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Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
712 Main St., Suite 2700
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: (713) 228-0735, ext. 102Area of Law: Children, Immigration.
Good to Know: KIND helps refugee and immigrant children with a variety of immigration cases, including asylum, special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), U and T visas, VAWA petitions, family based petitions, and other forms of protection from deportation. Clients must be under 18 years old.
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YMCA International Services
6300 Westpark, Suite 600
Houston, TX 77057
Tel: (713) 339-9015Area of Law: Citizenship, Domestic Violence, Immigration, Refugee Assistance.
Good to Know: To become a client of the YMCA, attend one of their “Walk-In Wednesday” clinics every Wednesday. Call for hours.
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Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts
1540 Sul Ross
Houston, TX 77006
Tel: (713) 526-4876Area of Law: Non-Profit Arts Organization Incorporation, Contract Drafting, Negotiation and Review, Estate Planning for Artists, Copyright, Trademark, IP, Licensing, Arts-Related Landlord/Tenant Issues, Demand Letters, Dispute Resolution / Arts Mediation.
Good to Know: To be eligible for services you must be an individual artist with a combined annual household income less than $50,000 OR an arts nonprofit organization with annual gross revenue less than $200,000 AND less than $500,000 in assets AND be a resident of the state of Texas or organization established in the state of Texas.
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Advocate Legal Senior Center
3611 Ennis
Houston, TX 77004
Tel: (713)527-4029Area of Law: Guardianship, Probate, Money Management, and Medicaid Financial Planning.
Good to Know: This organization offers a full range of free or low-cost legal services for seniors and guardians.
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Legal Hotline for Texans
Tel: 1-800-622-2520Areas of Law: Consumer Matters, Housing and Public Benefits, Wills and Probate, Guardianship, Taxes, and Personal Injury.
Good to Know: Volunteer attorneys are available to answer basic legal questions via phone free of charge. Persons eligible for services are Texans 60 years of age or older, Medicare recipients of any age; nursing home residents of any age, and victims of violent crime and their family members who are indigent and either 60 years of age or older, a person with a disability, or a person unable to access legal services locally.
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Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
712 Main, Suite 2700
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: (713) 225-1TAXAreas of Law: Taxes.
Good to Know: This clinic is by appointment only. Call for details.
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Houston Volunteer Lawyers Veterans Clinic
2002 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, TX 77030
Tel: (713) 228-0732Areas of Law: Civil.
Good to Know: This clinic serves U.S. military veterans and spouses of deceased veterans. It runs every Friday from 2 - 4 pm.
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Texas Veterans Legal Assistance Project
Tel: 1-800-622-2520, Option 2Areas of Law: Family law, Employment, Housing, Consumer protection, Bankruptcy, Probate, Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, Military Discharge Upgrades.
Good to Know: This is a free, statewide legal services hotline. To receive services you must be a Texas resident, U.S. military veteran (or the spouse, dependent, or surviving spouse of a veteran), and have household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Law School Clinics
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South Texas College of Law Legal Clinics
1602 San Jacinto, 10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: (713) 652-0009Areas of Law: Uncontested Divorces, Uncontested Probate Matters, Estate Planning.
Good to Know: The Law School offers direct representation in a limited number of cases. Call to learn more.
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Texas Southern University (Thurgood Marshall School of Law – Legal Clinic)
3100 Cleburne Street
Houston, TX 77004
Tel: (713) 313-7275Area of Law: Immigration, Criminal Matters (Misdemeanors), Family Law (Simple Divorces/ No property and no children), Wills & Probate Matters, ADR/Mediation.
Good to Know: The Law School offers direct representation in a limited number of cases. Call to learn more.
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University of Houston Law Center (Clinical Legal Education Programs)
100 Law Center RM 56 TU II
Houston, TX 77204
Tel: (713) 743-2094Area of Law: Civil, Consumer, Criminal, Immigration, Mediation.
Good to Know: The Law School offers direct representation in a limited number of cases. Call to learn more.