If you live in Cambridge and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Middlesex County. 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 Cambridge
Greater Boston Legal Services - Cambridge/Somerville Office (CASLS)
What they do: GBLS's Cambridge office serves Cambridge, Somerville, and surrounding Middlesex County communities. They handle eviction defense, tenant rights, public benefits, family law, domestic violence, immigration civil matters, disability, and elder law.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Cambridge, Somerville, and surrounding areas.
Contact: Phone: (617) 603-2700. Website: gbls.org.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
What they do: Provides free civil legal services to low-income tenants, immigrants, domestic violence survivors, and people with disabilities in Cambridge and Greater Boston. Handles housing and eviction prevention, family law, domestic violence, immigration civil matters, and disability-related issues.
Who they help: Low-income tenants, immigrants, domestic violence survivors, and people with disabilities in Cambridge and Greater Boston.
Contact: Phone: (617) 661-1010. Website: denovocenter.org.
Jane Doe Inc. - Massachusetts DV Hotline
What they do: Statewide hotline connecting survivors to local shelter programs, legal advocacy, protective order assistance, and safety planning across Massachusetts including Cambridge.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Massachusetts.
24/7 Hotline: (877) 785-2020. Website: janedoe.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Cambridge
- 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
- Civil rights and discrimination claims
- Immigration civil legal help
What Cambridge 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 Cambridge Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Massachusetts eviction cases move quickly - contact GBLS Cambridge at (617) 603-2700 immediately.
- You experience domestic violence: Call Jane Doe Inc. at (877) 785-2020 for 24-hour crisis support and legal advocacy.
- You need immigration civil legal help: Both GBLS and De Novo handle immigration civil matters for eligible Cambridge residents.
- Your public benefits were denied: Contact GBLS immediately - appeals deadlines are strict.
- You face a housing discrimination complaint: De Novo and GBLS both handle fair housing cases.
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
- Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost attorney consultations at (617) 654-0400.
- MassLegalHelp.org: free legal forms, plain-English guides, and self-help resources at www.masslegalhelp.org.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Cambridge Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Cambridge and cannot afford a private attorney, call Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) at (617) 603-2700. For domestic violence emergencies, call Jane Doe Inc. at (877) 785-2020 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (617) 654-0400. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.