If you live in Denver and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. Many Coloradans turn to nonprofit legal aid and pro bono services when they need help with housing, benefits, family law, immigration, or other civil issues. This guide shows where to turn — quickly — for legal help in Denver, what problems legal aid covers, and how to contact help.
Major Legal Aid Organizations in Denver
Colorado Legal Services (CLS)
CLS is the main statewide civil-legal aid provider in Colorado. Their Denver office serves the city and surrounding counties.
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, seniors, and certain vulnerable populations across Denver and nearby counties.
- What cases they take: Civil legal issues including eviction defense and housing problems, tenant-landlord disputes, public benefits, consumer or debt issues, family law, immigration-related services (including help for crime victims, farmworkers, and survivors of trafficking via specialized units), and more.
- How to contact: Their Denver office is at 1905 Sherman St, Ste 300, Denver, CO 80203. Phone: 303-837-1313. New applicants are usually accepted during regular business hours (intake lines).
- Eligibility: Based on income and other factors (household size, issue type). CLS serves individuals who meet low-income guidelines or are seniors.
Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center (JAMLAC)
JAMLAC is a nonprofit serving the metro Denver area that offers civil-legal services — particularly focusing on survivors of abuse, immigrants, and people at risk of homelessness.
- Who they help: Low-income clients, including survivors of domestic abuse, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations.
- What cases they take: Family law (domestic violence, custody, etc.), immigration law, and other civil matters depending on capacity. They also run legal-advice clinics and workshops in the Denver area.
- How to contact: Contact info and more details are on JAMLAC’s website. Clients can request representation or consult about eligibility and services.
- Notes on eligibility: Because capacity is limited, acceptance depends on availability and the nature of the case — but JAMLAC aims to support people in crisis or with urgent needs.
Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Hotlines in Denver
- Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) — The pro bono arm associated with the local bar association. MVL connects eligible people to volunteer lawyers for civil-legal issues when CLS or other legal aid is full.
- Colorado Lawyers Committee “Denver Legal Night” Clinic — Free Legal-Advice Nights — Held typically on the first and third Wednesday evenings of the month at a community center (Centro San Juan Diego). Offers help on a variety of civil issues like immigration, family, landlord/tenant, employment, and more. Interpreters are available. First-come/first-served.
- ABA Free Legal Answers (virtual legal-advice clinic) — If you qualify, you can post civil-law questions online (housing, benefits, debt, etc.) and get responses from volunteer attorneys. Useful for quick advice, especially when in-person aid is delayed or unavailable.
What Legal Aid in Denver Usually Doesn’t Handle
Though resources exist, free legal aid has limits:
- Criminal defense or traffic-ticket cases: CLS and most civil-aid providers in Denver focus on noncriminal (civil) issues.
- Large-scale business litigation, major corporate disputes, or high-value commercial cases: Aid usually targets individuals, families, and those with limited income — not complex corporate matters.
- Even when eligible: if demand is high or resources are limited, you may receive only limited help (advice, paperwork help, or referrals) instead of full representation.
Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Denver
If you face urgent problems — eviction or housing instability, domestic violence, sudden benefit loss, or immigration-status issues — these resources are more likely to prioritize fast help:
- Call Colorado Legal Services right away — for eviction defense, housing-related emergencies, benefit denials, consumer-debt emergencies, or family-law crises. Their statewide presence and broad civil-aid scope make them a strong first call.
- Attend a Denver Legal Night clinic — walk in early on clinic nights (first/third Wednesday) at Centro San Juan Diego for free quick consultation on issues that may need immediate action (immigration, landlord/tenant, consumer, etc.).
- Use MVL pro bono matching — if legal aid is full, the volunteer-lawyer network sometimes accepts urgent cases, depending on attorney availability.
How to Prepare Before You Call for Help in Denver
Gathering documents and info ahead of time helps speed up intake and improve your chances of getting help.
- Proof of income or benefits (pay stubs, unemployment letters, benefit statements)
- Housing or tenancy documents if housing-related (lease, eviction notices, rent receipts, landlord letters, utility shut-off or code-violation notices)
- Any legal or administrative paperwork — court notices, benefit denials, debt or collection letters, identification papers, immigration or visa documents (if relevant)
- Names and details of household members (especially if eligibility depends on household size), your address, contact info, and mailing address
- Any upcoming deadlines — e.g. court dates, eviction hearings, benefit hearings — and a clear explanation of why you need help and how soon
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Volunteer-lawyer help via Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) — a good option if your income is too high or legal aid is full.
- Free legal-advice clinics or nights (like Denver Legal Night) — helpful for initial advice, form help, or navigating next steps even if you don’t get full representation.
- Virtual resources like ABA Free Legal Answers — for advice or information if you can’t find in-person help.
- Representation through attorneys matching volunteer or modest-means programs — sometimes accepting limited-scope or fee-reduced cases if you don’t meet free-aid criteria. (Contact MVL or other referral services.)
Key Takeaways
- Denver has several strong legal aid and pro bono resources — including Colorado Legal Services and Justice & Mercy Legal Aid Center — that help low-income residents, immigrants, seniors, and other vulnerable groups.
- If you face serious civil issues — like eviction, housing disputes, benefit loss, domestic violence, immigration, or debt — there’s a good chance one of these organizations can help you for free or very low cost.
- Emergency situations often get priority — but you need to call quickly and with documentation ready. Clinics like Denver Legal Night or volunteer-lawyer networks may offer faster help when regular caseloads are full.
- Even if you don’t qualify for full representation — legal-advice clinics, virtual help, referrals and self-help tools can still give you a strong starting point.