If you live in Baton Rouge or East Baton Rouge Parish (or nearby parishes) and can’t afford a private lawyer, there are nonprofit programs and volunteer-lawyer clinics ready to help. This guide shows where to turn, what kinds of cases legal aid covers, and how to prepare when you reach out.
Major Legal Aid Organizations Serving Baton Rouge / Surrounding Parishes
(SLLS — Baton Rouge Office)
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families (including seniors, people with disabilities, domestic-violence survivors, veterans, and others with limited resources) living in East Baton Rouge and many surrounding parishes.
- What cases they take: Civil-law matters such as housing (eviction defense, tenant/landlord disputes, mortgage or foreclosure issues), public benefits, consumer and debt issues (including bankruptcy assistance), family law, domestic-violence protection orders, wills & successions, tax- or lien-related issues, and other civil-legal needs.
- How to contact: Main Baton Rouge office: 715 St. Ferdinand St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Phone: (225) 448-0080 or toll-free (855) 512-3980.
- Notes: SLLS does not handle criminal defense or personal injury — its services are for civil law matters only.
(BRBA Pro Bono Project)
- Who they help: Low-income residents of Greater Baton Rouge who need civil-law assistance and may not qualify for or get help from full-service aid.
- What cases they handle: Through volunteer attorneys and clinics: consumer finance, housing, family law, juvenile matters, employment, benefits, small estates, maybe more — depending on volunteer availability.
- How to access: They offer a free legal-advice hotline and walk-in / clinic-style services (when available) rather than a full office representation model.
Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Self-Help Resources in Baton Rouge
- (Family Court Self-Help Center) — Located on the 4th Floor of the 19th Judicial District Courthouse at 300 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70801. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Helps individuals who represent themselves (“pro se”) with court-approved forms, procedural guidance, and general information for certain civil family-court matters (divorce, custody, child-support modifications) — though volunteers do not provide legal representation.
- Virtual & Online Help — — A free online civil-legal advice clinic where qualifying residents can post questions about housing, evictions, benefits, consumer or debt issues, family law, employment, and other civil matters — then get responses from volunteer attorneys.
- Special-purpose legal aid (for example, health-related or HIV clients) via — For people living with HIV, offering help with public benefits, housing discrimination, health-care access, privacy rights, wills & estate planning, and other civil needs.
What Legal Aid in Baton Rouge Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Criminal defense / serious criminal cases: The main civil-aid providers (SLLS, BRBA Pro Bono Project, etc.) focus on civil-law issues — housing, benefits, consumer protection, family law, debt — not criminal defense.
- Large-scale commercial or complex business litigation: Aid services are oriented to individuals, families, and low-income communities — not corporations or high-stakes business disputes.
- No guarantee of full representation: Because resources are limited and demand high, many clients may receive advice, limited-scope assistance, or referrals instead of full representation — especially for non-urgent or complex matters.
When You Need Emergency or Urgent Help
If you face urgent civil-legal problems — eviction, risk of homelessness, unsafe housing, domestic violence or protective-order needs, benefit denial, debt collection, or other serious civil crises — certain programs may respond more quickly or prioritize urgent cases:
- Call Southeast Louisiana Legal Services immediately at (225) 448-0080 or 1-855-512-3980 — SLLS handles emergency housing issues, foreclosures, evictions, benefits issues, and other urgent civil-law needs.
- Contact Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project (hotline or clinics) — For quick legal advice or referrals when a full legal-aid office may be backlogged.
- Use Self-Help Resource Center — especially for urgent family court filings (divorce, custody, support) — if you need to file paperwork quickly but can’t get a lawyer right away.
How to Prepare Before You Call or Ask for Help in Baton Rouge
- Gather proof of income or public-benefits status — pay stubs, benefit letters, unemployment/disability documentation, or other evidence showing limited resources. Many legal-aid providers in Baton Rouge use income-based eligibility screening.
- Collect any documents related to your legal issue — For housing: lease or rental agreements, eviction notices, mortgage or foreclosure notices, mortgage/ rent payment history, photos of unsafe conditions. For benefits: denial letters, agency correspondence. For debt/consumer: bills, collection or court notices. For family law: court papers, protection-order requests, custody or support paperwork. For wills/estate matters: any prior wills, death certificates, asset information, beneficiary data, etc.
- Have household and personal information ready — number of people in your household, dependents, ages, special needs or disabilities, veteran status, address and contact info. This helps determine eligibility for aid.
- Note any upcoming deadlines — eviction hearing dates, court dates, benefit-termination deadlines, utility shut-offs, or any urgent date. Urgency often affects whether a case gets prioritized.
- Write a clear, simple summary of what happened — include when the problem started, who’s involved, what changed, and what outcome you’re seeking (housing restoration, benefit appeal, debt relief, protection order, etc.). Clear explanation helps intake staff quickly evaluate if they can help.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Full Legal Aid
- Use the BRBA Pro Bono Project hotline or clinics — Volunteer-attorney or limited-scope help may still be available even if full legal-aid offices are full or you don’t meet strict income thresholds.
- Submit a question to Louisiana Free Legal Answers online — Good for civil-law questions (housing, debt, benefits, family law) if you need guidance, want to know your rights, or need help preparing paperwork.
- Use the Self-Help Resource Center to handle filings yourself (pro se) — Especially for family-court matters like divorce, custody, child-support modifications, or other civil-law issues when you can’t afford a lawyer.
- Seek help from specialized nonprofit legal-services groups (e.g. CrescentCare Legal Services) — For certain populations (people with HIV, disabilities, veterans, older adults) who may have legal issues around housing, benefits, health care, discrimination, etc.
Key Takeaways
- Baton Rouge is served by a strong civil-legal aid infrastructure — with major providers like Southeast Louisiana Legal Services and the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project, plus self-help centers and specialized nonprofit services — to help low-income, vulnerable, or marginalized residents with housing, debt, benefits, family law, consumer issues, and more.
- If you face urgent civil-legal problems — eviction, housing instability, benefits loss, domestic violence or protective-order needs, debt or consumer crises — it’s worth calling early. Free or low-cost help may be available, or at least guidance or referral.
- Even if full representation isn’t guaranteed — limited-scope, pro bono, self-help, or specialized legal-services options exist that can help you navigate forms, appeals, filings, or urgent civil needs.
- Before reaching out — gather income info, relevant documents, household details, any deadlines, and a clear summary of your situation. Being prepared helps legal-aid staff respond more efficiently and increases your chance of getting help quickly and effectively.