If you live in New York City and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. Many residents rely on free or low-cost legal aid every day. This guide shows where to turn — quickly — for legal help in NYC, what problems legal aid can cover, and what to expect when you call.
Major Legal Aid Organizations in New York City
The Legal Aid Society (NYC)
The Legal Aid Society is the oldest and one of the largest providers of free legal services in New York City.
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families across all five boroughs.
- What cases they take: Civil matters like housing, tenant rights (including public-housing issues via their Public Housing Unit), family law, benefits, consumer issues — and criminal or juvenile defense in certain cases.
- How to contact: Main number 212-577-3300. Headquarters at 199 Water Street, NYC — plus neighborhood offices in Brooklyn, Queens (Kew Gardens), Bronx, Staten Island.
- Eligibility: People with low income; the Society focuses on those who can’t afford a private lawyer.
Legal Services NYC (LSNYC)
LSNYC is another major nonprofit organization providing free civil-legal help to low-income New Yorkers across all boroughs.
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in NYC.
- What cases they take: Housing issues (evictions, tenant rights), public benefits, family law, consumer problems, immigration, and more.
- How to contact: Call their Access Line at 917-661-4500 (Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.). They handle intake in multiple languages.
- Eligibility: Low-income residents; LSNYC screens based on your income, household size, and legal problem to determine eligibility.
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
NYLAG provides free civil legal services and advocacy for people facing poverty, crises, or other legal needs — including immigrants, tenants, seniors, and individuals with health or disability-related issues.
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, immigrants, seniors, people experiencing homelessness or medical hardship.
- What cases they take: Tenant/eviction defense, housing rights, immigration, family law, benefits, disability/health-related legal issues, and more.
- How to contact: NYLAG Intake line 212-613-5000 (certain days/hours). They also have a “Mobile Legal Help Center” for remote intake.
- Eligibility: People with low income or facing crisis (eviction, homelessness, serious illness). Services often prioritise urgent needs.
Free or Low-Cost Legal Clinics & Hotlines in NYC
- City Bar Justice Center (Legal Hotline) — Offers free legal advice for low-income New Yorkers on civil issues like housing, family law, debt, and benefits. Call 212-626-7383 (Mon–Thu 10am–12pm & 2pm–4pm; Fri 9am–12pm).
- Hotline for tenants via NYC 311 / Tenant Helpline / HRA’s Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) — If you face eviction or live in public housing or Section 8, call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline. OCJ partners with nonprofit law offices to offer free tenant-rights help.
- Housing Court Answers — For tenants in or headed to Housing Court: hotline at 212-962-4795 to get referrals, info, or free lawyer access depending on eligibility.
- General statewide resource directory: LawHelpNY — Use this site to find free or low-cost legal aid and self-help tools across NYC and the rest of New York State.
What Legal Aid in NYC Usually Doesn’t Handle
Even with many resources, free legal aid still has limits. In New York City:
- Not every case gets accepted — legal aid offices screen based on income, type of problem, and available capacity. If demand is high, they may only offer limited help (advice, referrals, not full representation).
- Some types of legal issues — like complex business disputes, major commercial litigation, or certain non-civil problems — may be outside their scope. Most legal aid focuses on civil and housing, benefits, family, immigration, or public-interest issues.
- Even eligible people sometimes only get partial help (forms, limited advice, referrals) instead of full legal representation — especially when resources are stretched.
Emergency Legal Help in NYC
If you face an urgent problem — eviction, homelessness, housing code violations, threats to safety, or benefit loss — there are services meant for faster response:
- NYLAG’s and other organizations’ homelessness or housing-rights hotlines. For example, NYLAG often helps tenants & homeowners threatened with eviction or displacement.
- Public housing/Section 8 tenants can call the OCJ Tenant Helpline via 311 for free legal referrals and advice — regardless of immigration status.
- Free legal-advice hotlines (like the City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Hotline) when you need quick guidance on civil issues like housing, domestic violence, debt, or benefits.
How to Prepare Before You Call for Legal Aid
Before reaching out, try to gather relevant documents and details — this will help intake staff decide quickly whether they can help.
- Proof of income, benefits, or unemployment (pay stubs, letters, bank statements)
- Household information — who lives with you, how many dependents, shared income or support
- Documents related to your legal problem: eviction notices, lease agreements, landlord letters, court papers, benefit-denial letters, creditor notices
- Your contact info, address, and residency information (especially if you’re in public housing or subsidized housing)
- Any deadlines or urgent dates (court dates, eviction hearings, benefit cut-offs, housing court appearance) — helps when prioritizing urgent cases
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
Not everyone will get free representation — but there are still options in NYC:
- Referrals through New York City Bar Association Legal Referral Service: If you don’t qualify for free legal aid, you can call their referral line (212-626-7373) to find attorneys who offer lower-cost or sliding-scale legal help.
- Free or low-cost legal-advice hotlines and clinics (like City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Hotline or other nonprofit referral programs) — for advice, document help, or referrals.
- Self-help resources and form directories via resources like LawHelpNY — for people representing themselves or needing guidance without a lawyer.
Key Takeaways
- New York City has multiple nonprofit legal aid organizations that help low-income people get free civil legal help: The Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, NYLAG, and more.
- If you face housing issues, benefits problems, family or immigration law issues, debt or consumer problems — there’s a good chance one of the organizations above may help you.
- Emergency situations like eviction, homelessness, or benefit loss are often given priority — so call as early as possible, with documents ready.
- If you don’t qualify for full representation — there are still hotlines, referral services, and self-help resources to help you take first steps or get affordable advice.