Legal Aid in Hartford: Where to Get Free or Low-Cost Legal Help

If you live in Hartford or nearby areas and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. This guide shows you where to turn — nonprofit legal aid organizations, clinics, and hotlines — to get free or low-cost civil legal help.

Major Legal Aid Organizations in Hartford

(GHLA)

• Who they help: Low-income individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, families, renters, and others in Hartford and surrounding communities.
• What cases they take: Housing (eviction defense, unsafe housing, tenant/landlord disputes), public-benefits and safety-net issues, domestic violence and family law (including restraining orders), consumer and debt problems, elder law, immigration-related civil matters, and more.
• How to contact: Office at 999 Asylum Avenue, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-541-5000.
• Eligibility: Services are generally for low-income individuals and families; GHLA screens clients based on income and type of legal issue.

(SLS) — Hotline & Referral Center

• Who they help: Low-income Connecticut residents (especially if you live in Greater Hartford and need civil legal aid) who need screening, advice, or referral to appropriate legal-aid providers.
• What they do: Provide intake, initial advice, referrals to full-service legal aid offices (like GHLA) or pro bono services. They can guide people who are unsure where to start or qualify.
• How to contact: Toll-free: 1-800-453-3320, or local: 860-344-0380.

Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Additional Help Services

• — Online self-help & information portal: Offers free legal guides, fact sheets, and court forms for a variety of civil issues (housing, family, consumer, public benefits, debt, etc.). Good if you must represent yourself.
• Specialty & Pro Bono Programs — Through referral networks under SLS or local bar-association pro bono lists (e.g. for disability-rights, elder law, veterans, consumer, immigration, etc.). For example, the helps veterans with civil-legal needs statewide.
• Volunteer-lawyer & self-help clinics via the Court / Judicial Branch — For tenants, small claims, family law, landlord/tenant issues, and other civil matters. These often serve people who cannot afford full representation.

What Legal Aid in Hartford Usually Doesn’t Handle

• Criminal defense for serious crimes — Most aid providers focus on civil matters like housing, benefits, family law, consumer debt, not criminal cases.
• Large-scale business or commercial litigation — These organizations serve individuals, families, and low-income clients, not corporations or high-value commercial disputes.
• Capacity limitations — Even eligible clients may receive only limited advice, referrals, or paperwork help instead of full representation if resources are stretched or demand is high.

Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Hartford

If you face urgent trouble — eviction, unsafe or substandard housing, loss of public benefits, domestic violence, or other civil-legal crises — these resources are likely to respond more quickly or prioritize your case:

• Call GHLA at 860-541-5000 — for housing emergencies, eviction defense, domestic violence protection orders, public-benefits crises, and other urgent civil issues.
• Call the SLS hotline (1-800-453-3320) — for initial screening and referral if GHLA or other providers are full; SLS can guide you to alternatives or pro bono programs.
• Use CTLawHelp self-help guides or court clinics — useful if you need to act quickly (e.g. file for eviction defense, protective orders, benefit appeals) and can represent yourself in the short term.

How to Prepare Before You Call

• Proof of income, benefits, or financial hardship — pay stubs, public-benefit letters, unemployment, disability, etc., to show you qualify.
• Relevant documents related to your legal issue — lease or housing contract, eviction or landlord letters, benefit-denial notices, debt or collection letters, court or agency paperwork, medical or elder-care or disability documentation (if applicable), etc.
• Household information — number of people in household, dependents, ages, relationships, any disabilities or special needs, address. U.S. and CT legal aid providers often use this for eligibility screening.
• If there's an urgent deadline — court date, eviction notice date, benefit cutoff, utility shut-off — write it down and mention it when you call. Urgency can affect prioritization.
• A clear, simple summary of what’s happening — when the problem started, who’s involved, what happened, and what outcome you need (housing, benefits, protection, debt relief, etc.). This helps intake staff understand quickly whether they can help.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Pro bono or modest-means attorneys via bar-association referral services or statewide networks — Some civil-law attorneys take low-fee or pro bono cases for people with modest income or special circumstances.
• Self-help & Do-It-Yourself resources at CTLawHelp — For housing, benefit appeals, consumer problems, small claims, family law filings, and other civil matters where you may represent yourself.
• Specialty/advocacy organizations for particular populations — e.g. for veterans (via Connecticut Veterans Legal Center), disability/mental-health needs (via (CLRP)), elder law, housing-discrimination, and other civil-rights or benefits-related issues.

Key Takeaways

• Hartford is served by a strong civil-legal aid infrastructure — led by Greater Hartford Legal Aid (GHLA) for low-income residents, supported by the statewide intake/referral network (SLS), plus self-help resources and specialty nonprofit providers.
• If you face serious civil legal issues — housing and eviction, public-benefits loss, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer/debt problems, elder or disability-related needs — there is a real possibility of free or low-cost legal help or referrals.
• Urgent problems (eviction, homelessness risk, domestic-violence, benefit denial) tend to be prioritized — calling early and being prepared with documentation increases chances of getting help.
• If full legal aid isn’t available — there are still paths: self-help tools, pro bono or modest-means lawyers, specialized nonprofits, and court clinics — all can offer help or guidance to get started.
• Before contacting legal aid: gather income info, documents related to your issue, household info, deadlines, and a clear summary. That helps intake staff act more efficiently and improves your chances of getting needed help.