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

If you live in Boise or Ada County and can’t afford a private lawyer, you have real options. Several nonprofit and volunteer-attorney organizations provide free or low-cost civil-legal help to low-income people, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence. This guide explains where to turn, what issues they handle, and how to prepare when you call.

Major Legal Aid Organizations in Boise

(ILAS — Boise Office)

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families; seniors (age 60+); survivors of domestic or sexual violence, stalking, or trafficking. Their Boise office serves Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley counties.
• What cases they take: Civil legal issues such as housing (eviction, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe housing), public benefits, consumer and debt problems, family law (divorce, custody, protection orders), domestic violence, elder law, and other essential civil-law needs.
• How to contact: Intake line: 208-746-7541 (Mon–Wed, 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. MT). Office address: 1447 South Tyrell Lane, Boise, ID 83706.

(IVLP)

• Who they help: Low-income Idaho residents who need civil legal assistance but may not qualify for full-service legal aid.
• What they handle: Free civil-law advice, brief legal services, and limited representation for matters like housing, family law, consumer/debt, estate planning, small claims, and other civil issues depending on volunteer attorney availability.
• How to contact: Call IVLP at 208-334-4500 or complete their online application.

Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Self-Help Resources in Boise / Ada County

• Self-Help Forms & Guides via Idaho Legal Aid — ILAS maintains an online library of court forms and instructions (for landlord/tenant, family law, protection orders, name changes, small claims, debt/consumer matters, and more) for people representing themselves.
• — Offers free help for people who need to represent themselves: reviews forms, helps with filing, especially for family law (custody, divorce), eviction response, small claims, and more.
• Pro Bono Referrals via ILAS/IVLP or court-linked pro bono networks — When full legal aid isn’t available, eligible clients may be referred to volunteer or modest-means attorneys through the statewide pro bono program.
• Student Legal Consults (for students at local universities) — If you’re a student at a local university (e.g. ), some student-legal services may offer free attorney consultations.

What Legal Aid in Boise Usually Doesn’t Handle

• Criminal defense or serious criminal cases — ILAS, IVLP, and related programs focus on civil matters (housing, family law, benefits, consumer, etc.), not on criminal defense.
• Large-scale corporate litigation or complex business disputes — Aid is directed at individuals, families, vulnerable populations — not businesses or corporate cases.
• No guarantee of representation — especially for non-urgent or complex matters — Because demand is high and resources limited, some eligible clients may only get brief advice, document help, or referrals rather than full representation.

Emergency & Urgent Legal Help in Boise / Ada County

If you face urgent civil-legal problems — eviction, risk of homelessness, unsafe housing, domestic violence or protection-order needs, public-benefits loss, or consumer fraud — these resources may respond faster or give priority:

• Call ILAS Intake Immediately at 208-746-7541 — Their intake line handles domestic/sexual-violence, housing, and benefits hotlines, which often prioritize urgent civil-law cases.
• Contact IVLP for volunteer-attorney help — Volunteer lawyers may take on urgent civil matters when available.
• Use Court Assistance Office or Self-Help Forms to act quickly — If you need to respond to an eviction or file for protection or benefits, using self-help resources can allow you to act even if representation isn’t immediately available.

How to Prepare Before You Call for Help in Boise

• Have proof of income or public-benefit status ready — pay stubs, benefit letters, disability or unemployment documentation, etc. ILAS and IVLP screen based on financial need.
• Gather documents related to your legal issue — For housing: lease/rental agreement, eviction notices, landlord letters, photos of unsafe conditions; for family law/domestic violence: protection-order requests, prior court or police letters; for benefits or debt/consumer: denial letters, bills, collection notices or agency correspondence.
• Write down household info — number of people living with you, ages, dependents, any disabilities, contact info, address. This helps with eligibility screening for low-income aid.
• If there’s a deadline — eviction date, hearing date, benefit cut-off, utility shut-off — note it clearly and mention it when you call. Urgency often affects prioritization.
• Prepare a brief, clear summary of what happened: when it started, who’s involved, what you need (housing, protection, benefits, debt relief, etc.). Clear, honest information helps legal-aid staff assess quickly.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Volunteer-attorney or modest-means representation (through IVLP / ILAS referral networks) — Even if you don’t meet strict aid thresholds, pro-bono or reduced-fee attorneys may accept civil-law cases for a modest cost.
• Self-help with court forms & support via Court Assistance Office — Good for simple civil matters (eviction response, small claims, custodial filings, protection orders, etc.), especially if you need to act quickly.
• Use statewide and national legal-aid referral directories — For example, resources listed on to find local, low-cost legal help in Idaho if local nonprofits are unable to take your case.

Key Takeaways

• Boise and surrounding Ada County are served by a strong civil-legal-aid network — led by Idaho Legal Aid Services, with additional support from the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program and Court Assistance Office for self-help.
• If you face serious civil-law issues — housing instability, eviction, domestic violence, benefit denial, debt or consumer problems, or other urgent needs — there’s a real chance you may get free or low-cost legal help.
• Even if full representation isn’t available — volunteer lawyers, self-help resources, and modest-means referrals remain viable paths to get started or handle simpler cases.
• Before you call: gather income info, relevant documents, household data, deadlines, and a clear summary. A well-prepared intake increases your chance of getting help quickly and effectively.