If you live in Anchorage and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. Many Alaskans rely on free or low-cost civil-legal aid — even in remote or rural communities. This guide shows where to turn in Anchorage, what kinds of cases legal aid takes, how to contact help, and how to prepare before you apply.
Major Legal Aid Organizations in Anchorage
Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC — Anchorage Office)
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, including seniors, people with disabilities, tenants, veterans, and those needing public-benefits or other civil legal help.
- What kinds of cases they take: Civil matters including housing (eviction, unsafe housing, tenant/landlord disputes), public benefits, family law, elder law, consumer/debt problems, health, Alaska Native-specific law, veteran issues, and more.
- How to contact: Office address: 1016 W. Sixth Avenue, Suite 200, Anchorage, AK 99501-1963. Phone: 907-272-9431. Toll-free statewide intake: 1-888-478-2572. Email: anchorage@alsc-law.org.
- Eligibility: Must meet income/asset guidelines; ALSC takes certain high-priority civil cases for eligible clients, but doesn’t guarantee representation in all cases.
Other Legal Aid Resources & Support Services
- Alaska Free Legal Answers (virtual legal-advice clinic) — For qualifying low-income Alaskans: you can submit civil-law questions online (housing, debt, family law, benefits, etc.) and get responses from volunteer attorneys. Good for quick advice if you can’t afford a lawyer or need initial guidance.
- Referrals via Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service / “Unbundled Services” list — If you don’t qualify for full legal aid, the Bar keeps a referral list of attorneys willing to provide limited-scope or consultative legal services (document preparation, advice, limited representation) for a fee or reduced rate.
- Self-help resources & forms — via Alaska Law Help — Online guides, forms, and instructions for people who represent themselves (pro se) in civil cases. Useful when full representation isn’t available.
What Legal Aid in Anchorage Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Criminal defense — ALSC and the free-aid providers focus on civil matters (housing, benefits, family law, debt, etc.).
- Complex or high-value commercial lawsuits, large-scale business litigation — legal aid is generally oriented toward individuals, families, and low-income residents.
- Even for civil issues: not all eligible applicants get full representation — sometimes only advice, referral, or self-help assistance is possible. ALSC prioritizes certain types of cases based on need and resources.
Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Anchorage
If you face an urgent problem — eviction, risk of homelessness, shut-off of utilities, benefit denial, unsafe housing, domestic-violence-related family issues — these resources may respond faster:
- Call Alaska Legal Services Corporation immediately using their statewide intake line (1-888-478-2572) — ALSC handles many urgent civil-legal issues involving housing, benefits, safety, elder law, and more.
- Use Alaska Free Legal Answers for quick advice — good for initial guidance or to know your rights if you don’t immediately qualify for full representation.
- Use Alaska Law Help resources — including self-help guides, forms, and community legal education — to start preparing documents or in cases where representation isn’t possible.
How to Prepare Before You Call for Legal Aid in Anchorage
Having information and documents ready will make intake easier and speed up help if you're eligible:
- Proof of income or public benefits, or documentation showing financial need (pay stubs, benefits letters, unemployment or SSI docs, etc.)
- Documentation related to your legal issue — e.g. lease or tenancy agreement, eviction or landlord notices, utility shut-off notices, benefit-denial letters, debt/collections letters, medical or health-care notices, court or agency correspondence, etc.
- Personal / household info — names, addresses, number of dependents, ages, whether anyone has a disability or is a veteran (if relevant).
- If there’s a deadline — eviction date, utility shut-off date, court date, hearing date, benefit-deadline — write it down and mention it when you call to help them assess urgency.
- A clear, simple explanation of your situation: what happened, when, who’s involved, what you need help with. Simple, direct descriptions help legal-aid staff understand quickly whether they can take your case.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral / Unbundled Services list — hire a private attorney for limited services (document preparation, advice, limited representation) rather than full-case representation.
- Alaska Free Legal Answers (online legal-advice clinic) — for civil-law questions, guidance, and forms even if you can’t get full representation.
- Self-help resources & forms via Alaska Law Help — especially for straightforward cases or if you need to represent yourself (pro se).
Key Takeaways
- Anchorage is served by a strong statewide civil-legal aid provider — Alaska Legal Services Corporation — that helps with many types of civil legal problems for low-income residents.
- If you face serious issues — eviction, unsafe housing, benefits denial, health or elder law issues, debt/consumer problems, or family-law challenges — there’s a real chance legal aid can help you for free.
- Even if you don’t qualify for full representation — online clinics, self-help guides, lawyer-referral services, and limited-scope help may still give you useful support.
- When calling for help: gather income info, relevant documents, household info, deadlines, and a clear description of your issue — that helps legal-aid staff assess quickly and respond more effectively.