If you live in New Orleans and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Orleans Parish. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, immigration-related civil matters, disability benefits, senior legal needs, and more. (You may upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving New Orleans
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) - New Orleans Office
What they do: SLLS's New Orleans office is the primary free civil legal aid provider for Orleans Parish. They handle eviction defense, housing conditions, domestic violence, family law, public benefits, consumer debt, elder law, and disaster recovery.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Orleans Parish.
Contact: Phone: (504) 529-1000. Website: slls.org.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) - Civil & Pro Bono Project
What they do: Coordinates volunteer attorney representation for low-income New Orleans residents in civil matters including family law, housing, consumer, and other issues.
Who they help: Low-income Orleans Parish residents who need civil legal representation.
Contact: Phone: (877) 521-6242. Website: slls.org.
Crescent House - New Orleans DV Hotline
What they do: Provides 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, protective order assistance, and safety planning for survivors of domestic violence in Orleans Parish.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence in Orleans Parish.
24/7 Hotline: (504) 368-9788. Website: crescenthouse.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in New Orleans
- Eviction defense and unsafe housing conditions
- Landlord retaliation and habitability problems
- Domestic violence and protection orders
- Custody, visitation, and child support issues
- Debt collection, repossessions, and garnishment
- Public-benefits denials (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)
- Foreclosure prevention and homeowner assistance
- Immigration-related civil help
- Record sealing and expungement
- Elder law and financial exploitation prevention
- Consumer fraud and predatory lending
- Disaster recovery civil legal matters
What New Orleans Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense cases
- Traffic violations
- Personal injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or commercial disputes
- Immigration removal (deportation) defense
- High-asset or heavily contested divorce cases
When New Orleans Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - contact legal aid at (504) 529-1000 immediately upon receiving any court notice in Orleans Parish.
- You experience domestic violence: Call Crescent House at (504) 368-9788 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact legal aid right away.
- Your landlord refuses urgent repairs: Document conditions with photos and written requests before taking further steps.
- Your public benefits were denied or cut: Appeals windows are short - call legal aid as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face disaster-related civil legal issues: SLLS has a disaster recovery program for hurricane, flood, and other disaster-related civil legal matters - call (504) 529-1000.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather documents: leases, eviction notices, court papers, photos of housing conditions, debt collection letters, benefit denial letters, ID, pay stubs, and any disability or immigration documentation.
- Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming court or hearing dates.
- Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and current benefits - eligibility screening requires this.
- Write a brief issue summary: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome you need.
- Note urgent factors: upcoming court dates, eviction deadlines, risk of homelessness, violence, disability, or pending benefit cutoffs.
Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost attorney consultations at (800) 421-5722.
- Louisiana Law Help: free legal forms, plain-English guides, and self-help resources at www.louisianalawhelp.org.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where New Orleans Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in New Orleans and cannot afford a private attorney, call Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) at (504) 529-1000. For domestic violence emergencies, call Crescent House at (504) 368-9788 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 421-5722. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.