Legal Aid in Pittsburgh, PA: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer

If you live in Pittsburgh and cannot afford a private attorney, several nonprofit and regional organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal help. These groups handle housing and eviction cases, family law matters, domestic violence protection, debt collection, and benefits appeals. (You may also upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)

Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Pittsburgh

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS)

What they do: NLS is the primary civil legal-aid provider for low-income residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties. They handle housing and eviction defense, domestic violence protective orders, family law (custody, child support, divorce), consumer and debt issues, public-benefits disputes (SNAP, SSI, unemployment), and elder-law concerns.

Who they help: Low-income individuals, seniors, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and people with disabilities.

Contact: 928 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Phone: (412) 255-6700. Website: nlsa.us.

Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh — Legal Advocacy Program

What they do: Provides legal advocacy and protection-order assistance for survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Advocates help file Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders and accompany survivors to court hearings.

Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence, regardless of income or immigration status.

Contact: 6401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. 24-hour hotline: (412) 687-8005. Website: wcspittsburgh.org.

University of Pittsburgh School of Law — Civil Practice Clinic

What they do: Offers free legal assistance to qualifying low-income individuals in civil cases under attorney supervision. Focus areas include landlord-tenant disputes, family law, unemployment-compensation appeals, and protection-from-abuse orders.

Who they help: Low-income Allegheny County residents referred through legal-aid agencies or by direct inquiry.

Contact: Barco Law Building, 3900 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Phone: (412) 648-1300. Website: law.pitt.edu.

Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh — Housing and Legal Support

What they do: Provides fair-housing assistance, tenant-rights education, and referrals to legal-aid partners for eviction prevention, discrimination, and housing stability.

Who they help: Low- and moderate-income tenants and homeowners in Allegheny County.

Contact: 610 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Phone: (412) 227-4802. Website: ulpgh.org.

Pro Bono Center of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation

What they do: Connects low-income residents to volunteer attorneys for free legal assistance in housing, family law, consumer, and veteran-related matters. The center operates several specialty clinics, including a Debt Advice Clinic and Family Law Project.

Who they help: Low-income residents of Allegheny County who meet income and case-eligibility guidelines.

Contact: 11th Floor Koppers Building, 436 Seventh Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Phone: (412) 402-6677. Website: pittsburghprobono.org.

Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Pittsburgh

• Eviction defense and landlord–tenant disputes
• Unsafe or uninhabitable housing and fair-housing complaints
• Domestic violence and protection orders (PFAs)
• Custody, child support, and divorce for low-income families
• Debt collection, garnishment, and bankruptcy referrals
• Public-benefits problems (SNAP, SSI, unemployment, Medicaid)
• Employment discrimination and wage-theft cases
• Elder-law and disability-rights issues

What Pittsburgh Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle

• Criminal defense or traffic offenses
• Personal-injury or malpractice lawsuits
• Business or corporate litigation
• High-asset divorce or complex financial cases

When Pittsburgh Residents Should Seek Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice or court summons: Contact NLS immediately — eviction timelines in Allegheny County are short.
• You experience domestic violence or need protection: Call the Women's Center & Shelter 24-hour hotline or NLS for legal advocacy.
• Your benefits were denied or terminated: File an appeal as soon as possible; legal aid can help you meet deadlines.
• You receive debt-collection or wage-garnishment paperwork: Early help can prevent default judgments.
• You are a senior or person with a disability facing eviction or exploitation: Specialized programs through NLS and the Pro Bono Center may help.

How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid

1. Gather documents: Leases, eviction notices, court papers, pay stubs, benefit-denial letters, and ID.
2. Write a short summary: Describe your problem, who’s involved, and what help you need.
3. List key dates: Deadlines, hearings, or notices received.
4. Provide proof of income: Pay stubs, unemployment, or benefit statements for eligibility screening.
5. Note urgent factors: Eviction risk, domestic violence, disability, or loss of benefits.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Reduced-cost attorneys: Contact the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service for modest-fee consultations. (acba.org)
• Self-help resources: Visit PALawHelp.org for forms and legal information.
• Community support: The Urban League and Women’s Center offer referrals and navigation help for residents in crisis.
• LegalClarity tools: Upload documents for plain-English explanations — informational only, not legal advice.

Conclusion: Where Pittsburgh Residents Should Start

If you need civil legal help in Pittsburgh and cannot afford a lawyer, start by contacting Neighborhood Legal Services at (412) 255-6700. For urgent safety issues, call the Women’s Center & Shelter 24-hour hotline at (412) 687-8005. For housing or benefits cases, NLS or the Pro Bono Center can help. If you don’t qualify for free legal aid, reach out to the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service or use LegalClarity’s plain-language document tools for guidance — informational only, not legal advice.