If you live in Springfield or Hampden County and you can’t afford a private lawyer, there are nonprofit and volunteer-based legal aid organizations ready to help. This guide shows where to turn, what kinds of cases they handle, and how to prepare before you reach out.
Major Legal Aid Organizations Serving Springfield / Hampden County
(CLA – Springfield Office)
- Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, seniors, people with limited resources, domestic violence survivors, immigrants — residents in Springfield and wider central & western Massachusetts.
- What cases they take: Civil-law matters: housing (eviction defense, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe or substandard housing), public benefits, family law (divorce, custody, child support, protective orders), consumer/debt issues, immigration-related civil services (where eligible), elder-law issues, and more.
- How to contact: Springfield office at One Monarch Place, Suite 400, Springfield, MA 01144. Phone: (413) 781-7814 (intake also via toll-free line (855) 252-5342).
(HCLC / Bar Association-Affiliated Clinic)
- Who they help: Area residents who need civil-law advice or limited-scope services — often for those who may not qualify for full legal aid or need brief help.
- What they handle: Family law, landlord/tenant & housing issues, small-claims cases, and other common civil-law problems. Services include “Lawyer-for-the-Day” events, brief consultations, and help with paperwork — especially for people representing themselves.
- How to contact: Based in Springfield; call (413) 733-6500 to check clinic schedule or register for “Lawyer-for-the-Day” sessions.
Other Local & Regional Support: Self-Help, Referrals & Immigration Resources
- Public & court law libraries — e.g. : Offers public access to legal-research materials, case law databases, and help for people representing themselves (“pro se”) in civil matters.
- Immigration & immigrant-support services via CLA / regional networks: For immigrants needing help with immigration-related civil legal issues (e.g. status applications, immigrant rights), CLA may provide services — depending on eligibility.
- Referral resources and legal-help directories such as or the : These statewide tools can help locate additional legal-aid providers, court self-help centers, and modest-fee or pro bono attorneys if full aid isn’t available.
Common Issues Springfield Legal Aid Services Often Cover
- Eviction defense, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe housing or housing code violations
- Public-benefits problems (benefit denials, access, appeals) — including disability, unemployment, elder-benefits
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, domestic violence, guardianship, elder-law matters
- Consumer and debt issues — debt collection, unfair billing, wage/ employment-related issues
- Immigration-related civil legal services (for eligible immigrants including asylum, status adjustments, VAWA/VAWA-related claims) when applicable
- General civil-law access: document help, simple representation for modest cases, support to people representing themselves
What Legal Aid in Springfield Usually Doesn’t Handle
- Serious criminal defense or felony criminal cases — The civil-aid organizations focus on non-criminal civil matters: housing, family law, consumer, benefits, etc.
- Large-scale commercial litigation, complex corporate or business disputes — Aid services are designed for individuals, low-income families, tenants, seniors — not corporations or high-value commercial cases.
- No guarantee of full representation in every case — Demand for services is often very high; eligible clients may receive advice, limited-scope help, referrals, or self-help guidance instead of full representation.
How to Prepare Before You Call or Request Help
- Have proof of income or financial hardship ready — pay stubs, benefit letters, disability/unemployment documentation, tax returns, etc. Many legal-aid providers use income-based eligibility screening.
- Gather any relevant documents related to your legal issue — e.g. lease or rental agreement and eviction/notice letters (for housing); bills or collection notices (for debt); court papers or agency notices (for family law, benefits, immigration); ID or immigration paperwork (if relevant) etc.
- Note any upcoming deadlines or court dates — eviction hearings, benefit-cutoff dates, payments due, etc. Urgency can affect whether a case gets prioritized.
- Prepare a simple summary of your situation — include when the problem started, who’s involved, what changed, and what outcome you hope for (e.g. avoid eviction, get benefits, custody, debt relief). Clear, honest info helps intake staff decide quickly if they can help.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Use Hampden County Legal Clinic “Lawyer-for-the-Day” programs — Volunteer-attorney clinics for brief advice, document help, or representation in limited-scope matters.
- Use court/ public-law libraries and self-help resources — The local law library provides research tools and filing help if you represent yourself.
- Use statewide referral tools like Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder / MassLegalHelp — To locate modest-fee attorneys, other nonprofit providers, or additional resources across Massachusetts.
- Check community or immigrant-support organizations for help or referrals — Some local nonprofits or advocacy groups may be able to assist with housing, benefits, immigration, or elder-law issues.
Key Takeaways
- Springfield and Hampden County have several civil-legal aid resources — especially Community Legal Aid and the Hampden County Legal Clinic — that serve low-income, vulnerable, and marginalized residents with housing, family law, benefits, debt, elder, immigrant, and other common legal issues.
- If you face urgent or serious civil problems — eviction, housing instability, benefit denial, domestic-violence, debt crisis, immigration issues — reach out as soon as possible. Prompt contact improves the chance of getting help.
- Even if full representation isn’t available — volunteer-attorney clinics, self-help resources, modest-fee referrals, or limited-scope help are better than trying to navigate alone.
- Before contacting providers: gather income or hardship documentation, relevant legal/household info, any deadline dates, and a clear summary of your situation. Being organized helps legal-aid staff respond more effectively.