Meta: A 2025 plain-language guide to free and low-cost civil legal aid in Salem, Oregon — including verified providers, eligibility details, common case types, and how residents can prepare before requesting help. Not legal advice.
Legal Aid in Salem, OR: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer
If you live in Salem and cannot afford a private attorney, several statewide and community organizations offer free or low-cost civil legal aid. These groups can assist with housing and evictions, family law, domestic violence protective orders, 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 Salem
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) — Salem Regional Office
What they do: LASO provides full civil-legal aid to low-income residents in Salem and surrounding Marion and Polk counties. They handle eviction defense, housing discrimination, domestic violence protective orders, custody and child support, consumer and debt cases, public-benefits appeals, and elder law matters.
Who they help: Low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities, typically under 125% of the federal poverty level.
Contact: 280 Liberty Street SE, Suite 320, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: (503) 581-5265. Website: lasoregon.org.
Oregon Law Center (OLC) — Salem Office
What they do: OLC provides free civil-legal services for low-income residents in Marion, Polk, and nearby counties. They handle housing law (evictions, unsafe housing), employment and wage-theft issues, public-benefits disputes, family law for survivors of domestic violence, and civil-rights matters.
Who they help: Low-income residents facing eviction, benefit denials, discrimination, or family-law problems.
Contact: 280 Liberty Street SE, Suite 200, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: (503) 485-0696. Toll-free: 1-888-601-7907. Website: oregonlawcenter.org.
De Muniz Resource Center Legal Clinic
What they do: This community legal clinic helps Salem-area residents with landlord–tenant issues, expungements, minor civil matters, and reentry support. Services are provided by volunteer attorneys and law students.
Who they help: Residents who may not qualify for LASO or OLC services but still need affordable legal assistance.
Contact: 3950 Aumsville Highway SE, Salem, OR 97317. Phone: (503) 990-7370. Clinic typically operates on Fridays. Website: midvalleyliteracycenter.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Salem
- Eviction defense and landlord–tenant disputes
- Unsafe housing and repair issues
- Domestic violence protective orders and family law
- Debt collection and garnishment
- Public-benefits problems (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, unemployment)
- Elder-law and disability-rights issues
- Record expungement and reentry support
- Employment and wage-theft claims
What Salem Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense or traffic cases
- Personal-injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or corporate litigation
- High-asset divorce or complex financial cases
When Salem Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice or court summons: Contact LASO or OLC right away — eviction cases move fast.
- You experience domestic violence: Call LASO for protective orders or OLC for family-law support.
- Your benefits were denied or terminated: File an appeal immediately; legal aid can help you meet deadlines.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Respond quickly to protect wages or assets.
- You have a criminal record blocking housing or employment: Ask the De Muniz Clinic about expungement options.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather documents: Leases, eviction notices, benefit letters, pay stubs, debt notices, court papers, and ID.
- Prepare a summary: Write 2–3 sentences describing your problem and what help you need.
- List important dates: Deadlines, hearings, and notice dates are crucial for legal aid screening.
- Bring income proof: Pay stubs, benefit statements, or unemployment paperwork are required for intake.
- Highlight urgent issues: Eviction, domestic violence, loss of benefits, or safety concerns.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Low-cost attorneys: The Oregon State Bar’s Modest Means Program connects residents with reduced-fee lawyers. (osbar.org)
- Community legal clinics: Try the De Muniz Resource Center or local pro bono clinics for affordable help.
- Self-help resources: Visit Oregon Law Help for free legal forms and plain-language guides. (oregonlawhelp.org)
- LegalClarity tools: Upload documents for plain-English explanations — informational only.
Conclusion: Where Salem Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Salem and cannot afford a lawyer, start by calling Legal Aid Services of Oregon at (503) 581-5265 or Oregon Law Center at (503) 485-0696. For expungement or reentry help, contact the De Muniz Resource Center Legal Clinic. If you don’t qualify for free services, use the Oregon State Bar’s Modest Means Program or self-help resources through Oregon Law Help or LegalClarity — informational only, not legal advice.