If you live in Colorado Springs and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. There are nonprofit and volunteer-lawyer organizations serving low-income residents of El Paso County (and nearby counties) that help with civil legal problems. This guide shows where to turn — quickly — for legal aid in Colorado Springs, what kinds of cases get help, and how to prepare when you call.
Major Legal Aid Organizations in Colorado Springs
Colorado Legal Services (CLS — Colorado Springs Office)
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, seniors, and people with limited resources living in El Paso County and nearby counties (Lincoln, Teller, Fremont, etc.).
- What cases they take: Civil-law matters including housing (evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosures), public benefits, consumer/debt issues, family law (custody, divorce, protection orders), domestic violence, veterans’ issues, elder law, and other basic-needs issues.
- How to contact: Office at 102 South Tejon St, Ste 430, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Phone: 719-471-0380.
- Eligibility: Based on income and resources. CLS serves low-income and vulnerable people; services are free for eligible clients.
The Justice Center (Pro Bono & Reduced-Cost Lawyers Program)
- Who they help: Residents of El Paso and Teller Counties who need legal help and may not qualify for full free legal aid. The program offers both free (Pro Bono Publico) and reduced-fee (Modest Means) assistance. Priority may be given to survivors of domestic violence, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, renters/tenants, and others with urgent needs.
- What they handle: Civil legal issues including family law, housing/tenant rights, consumer/debt problems, and other civil matters (depending on volunteer attorney availability).
- How to contact: Call 719-473-6212 — especially during their “Call-a-Lawyer” hours (Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 p.m. MST) for free legal advice.
Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Hotlines in/near Colorado Springs
- El Paso County Self-Help Center / “Call-a-Lawyer” Clinic — Offers free legal advice from volunteer attorneys for civil matters. Call 719-473-6212 (Wednesday evenings) for help.
- Bar-Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) — Through the El Paso County Bar Association (EPCBA): if you don’t qualify for free aid, LRIS may connect you with attorneys willing to do modest-means or reduced-fee representation.
- Specialty clinics (e.g. Veterans, Senior clients) — Some pro bono and volunteer-attorney clinics are tailored to veterans, seniors, or people with disabilities (such as those listed by CLS or The Justice Center) for housing, benefits, or family-law issues.
What Legal Aid in Colorado Springs Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Criminal defense or serious criminal cases — Legal aid organizations like CLS and The Justice Center focus on civil legal matters (housing, benefits, family law, consumer issues). Criminal defense is outside their scope.
- Large-scale commercial or complex business litigation — Aid is aimed at individuals, families, and vulnerable populations, not big-business or corporate legal disputes.
- Limited capacity — may only get brief advice or referrals — Even if eligible, due to high demand, some clients may receive only limited help (advice, paperwork assistance, self-help referrals) instead of full representation.
Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Colorado Springs
If you face urgent problems — eviction, risk of homelessness, unsafe housing, domestic-violence, sudden benefit loss, or other civil emergencies — these resources are likely to respond faster:
- Call Colorado Legal Services immediately — For eviction defense, housing emergencies, public-benefits issues, family-law crises (custody, protection orders), and other civil-legal emergencies. CLS is the main statewide civil-legal aid provider.
- Contact The Justice Center’s Call-a-Lawyer clinic (Wednesdays) — Free legal advice over the phone from volunteer attorneys can help with urgent civil-law questions or to decide next steps.
- Use Bar Association Referral or modest-means help if you don’t qualify for free aid — The El Paso County Bar’s LRIS may help connect you with affordable attorneys.
How to Prepare Before You Call for Help in Colorado Springs
Having the right information and documents ready makes intake faster and increases your chance of getting help:
- Proof of income or public benefits (pay stubs, benefit letters, social security, unemployment, etc.) — many aid providers in Colorado screen based on income/resources.
- For housing issues: lease or rental agreement, eviction notices, landlord letters, rent receipts, utility shut-off or code-violation notices, photos of unsafe conditions if relevant.
- For family-law or domestic-violence issues: any court documents, protection-order requests, custody documents, correspondence, or notices you have received.
- Debt, consumer, or benefit issues: bills, collection letters, benefit-denial notices, correspondence, or notices from agencies or creditors.
- Household information — number of people in household, dependents, ages, relationship, address, contact info, disability status, veteran status (if relevant) — used to determine eligibility.
- If there’s an upcoming deadline — eviction date, court hearing, utility shut-off, benefit-cut-off, etc. — write it down and mention it when you call. Urgency can make a difference.
- Prepare a clear summary of what’s happening: when it started, who’s involved, what you’ve been told or given (notices, letters), and what you need (housing help, protection order, debt relief, benefits, etc.). Clear, concise info helps intake staff assess fast.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- The Justice Center (modest-means or volunteer-attorney help) — For people above income limits or with cases outside CLS scope. They may provide reduced-fee or pro bono representation depending on availability.
- Bar-Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service (EPCBA LRIS) — Helps connect you to attorneys for a reduced-fee or modest-means consultation and possibly ongoing representation.
- Self-help and court resource centers — If you must represent yourself, the county courthouse self-help center and online court forms/instructions can help you file basic civil cases or handle paperwork.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado Springs has a solid civil-legal aid network — led by Colorado Legal Services — that helps people with housing, family law, benefits, debt, and other urgent civil needs.
- If you’re facing eviction, housing problems, benefit denial, domestic violence, or other civil emergencies — call early. Free legal aid or volunteer-lawyer help may be available, especially in urgent cases.
- If full free aid isn’t an option — modest-means programs, volunteer-attorney clinics, bar-association referrals, and self-help resources still offer viable paths to get legal support or representation.
- Preparing documents (income, notices, correspondence) and a simple summary of what’s happening before you call greatly helps intake staff respond quickly and efficiently.