Legal Aid in Jackson, MS: Where to Get Help If You Can’t Afford a Lawyer

If you live in Jackson or Hinds County and cannot afford a private attorney, there are a number of nonprofit and public-service organizations offering free or low-cost civil legal aid. These providers help with eviction defense, landlord/tenant problems, housing issues, domestic violence and protective orders, family-law matters, debt and consumer issues, public-benefits appeals, elder law, and other civil-law issues. Even when full representation isn't possible, many offer legal clinics, limited-scope help, self-help resources, or referrals. (Residents can also upload legal documents to the LegalClarity tool for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)

Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Jackson & Hinds County

Mississippi Center for Legal Services (MCLS) — Jackson Office

What they do: MCLS provides free civil legal services to low-income residents across central and southern Mississippi, including Jackson and Hinds County. They handle housing issues (eviction, unsafe or unhabitable housing, landlord/tenant disputes), consumer protection, debt collection, public-benefits problems, education/juvenile rights, family law, elder law, and other civil-legal matters.

Contact: Phone: 1-800-498-1804 (statewide intake). Local Jackson office: 414 South State Street, The Dixie Building, Third Floor, Jackson, MS 39205. Phone: (601) 948-6752.

Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (MVLP)

What they do: MVLP is a statewide volunteer-attorney program that provides free civil legal aid for eligible low-income individuals. They handle a variety of civil matters through pro bono attorneys — including family law, housing, consumer/debt issues, expungements, and more.

Contact: Phone: (601) 960-9577. Address: 1635 Lelia Dr #101, Jackson, MS 39216.

Mission First Legal Aid Office — Jackson Clinic

What they do: A nonprofit legal-aid clinic based in Jackson that offers free or low-cost assistance for qualifying individuals with cases involving housing, landlord/tenant disputes, guardianship, child custody and visitation, property issues, bankruptcy, and debt/credit issues. They also handle some family-law and probate matters.

Contact: Phone: (601) 608-0056. Their offices serve Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties.

Other Helpful Legal-Aid & Advocacy Groups

If you have specialized needs, or if the main legal-aid offices are full or have long waitlists, consider these organizations:

• Catholic Charities Jackson Legal Assistance Clinic — Offers legal representation for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. They assist with protective orders, custody, housing claims, and related civil matters. Serves Hinds, Rankin, and Madison counties.
• Mississippi Center for Justice — A public-interest law firm focused on systemic issues: housing discrimination, consumer protection, civil-rights cases, fair housing, and education-related legal aid statewide.
• Disability Rights Mississippi — Provides legal services statewide to people with disabilities. Handles issues related to special education, Medicaid, community services, abuse or neglect, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations. Useful if disability or special-needs rights are involved.
• American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi (ACLU-MS) — Engages in civil liberties advocacy, constitutional-rights litigation, and civil-rights issues statewide, including in Jackson.
• Statewide tool Mississippi Free Legal Answers — An online “ask-a-lawyer” portal where eligible users can post civil legal questions for free and receive volunteer-attorney responses. Good for quick guidance where immediate legal representation isn’t available.

Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Jackson

• Evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, unsafe or uninhabitable housing, security-deposit disputes, rent issues
• Foreclosure prevention and mortgage problems
• Debt collection, creditor harassment, consumer-fraud defense, repossessions
• Domestic violence, restraining/protective orders, stalking, housing claims related to abuse
• Family law: child custody, child support, child-visitation, guardianship, divorce (when accepted), adoptions (in limited cases)
• Public-benefits disputes — e.g. SNAP, Medicaid/healthcare, disability benefits, unemployment or welfare appeals
• Elder law issues — wills, probate, guardianship, elder abuse, financial exploitation, long-term care queries
• Consumer protection — including predatory lending, debt collection defense, identity theft, consumer fraud
• Immigration-related civil services (by providers offering immigrant-services support or referrals)

What These Legal-Aid Providers Usually Don’t Handle

• Criminal defense (felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, criminal cases in general) — legal aid here focuses on civil matters only.
• Large-scale commercial litigation or complex business disputes
• Most personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuits (some may be referred through pro-bono networks, but not guaranteed)
• Criminal immigration court representation (detention/removal), in most cases — though some immigrant-rights groups offer limited civil or administrative help.

When Jackson Residents Should Seek Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice or unlawful-detainer lawsuit: Contact MCLS, MVLP, or Mission First as soon as possible — housing cases often have tight deadlines.
• Your housing becomes unsafe or uninhabitable, and landlord refuses repairs: Seek tenant-rights help quickly to preserve documentation.
• You face domestic violence, stalking, or threats: Contact the Catholic Charities Legal Clinic or another support provider immediately for protective orders and safety planning.
• You receive debt-collection or garnishment papers: Save all documents and call a legal-aid provider — deadlines and statute-of-limitations may apply.
• Your public benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.) are denied or discontinued: Legal aid can help navigate appeals or recertifications — act before deadlines pass.
• You’re a senior or disabled and facing exploitation, eviction, or abuse: Elder-law or disability-rights providers can assist; early contact is key.

How to Prepare Before Calling or Applying for Legal Help

1. Gather essential documents: leases, eviction notices, rent receipts, utility bills, housing code violations or repair requests, debt or collection letters, court papers, benefit letters or denial notices, pay stubs/income proof, ID, medical or disability paperwork (if relevant), police or abuse reports (if any), and any written communication with landlords, creditors, or agencies.
2. Create a clear timeline: list important dates (when notice received, when issues began, when rent is due, when communications occurred, when court hearings are scheduled, etc.).
3. Prepare a household & income summary: number of people in household, monthly income, benefits, disabilities, dependents — this helps determine eligibility for many aid programs.
4. Write a short summary of your problem: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome you hope for (eviction defense, protective order, benefits restoration, etc.).
5. Highlight urgent or high-risk factors: homelessness risk, domestic violence, health or disability issues, children involved, upcoming court dates — these may help prioritize service.

Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid or Services Are Over Capacity

• Mississippi Free Legal Answers — free online service: post your civil-legal question and receive an answer from a volunteer attorney. Useful for quick guidance or when you need help understanding documents.
• Private attorneys via referral: the state or local bar referral services — especially useful for cases beyond civil aid scope (personal injury, complex law, crimes, etc.).
• Non-profit advocacy groups: organizations like Mississippi Center for Justice, Disability Rights Mississippi, or civil-rights groups — especially if your matter involves discrimination, disabilities, or systemic issues.
• Legal-aid clinics or limited-scope representation: Some groups (e.g. Mission First, MVLP) may accept limited cases or brief representation, even if full representation isn’t available.
• LegalClarity document-explainer tool: If you just need help understanding legal documents — upload them to get a plain-English explanation (informational only, not legal advice).

Conclusion: Where Jackson Residents Should Start

If you need civil-legal aid in Jackson, begin by contacting Mississippi Center for Legal Services at 1-800-498-1804. If first intake is busy or you need specialized help, Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and Mission First Legal Aid Office are excellent alternatives. For domestic violence, housing, or disability-related help, groups like Catholic Charities Legal Clinic, Mississippi Center for Justice, or Disability Rights Mississippi may provide assistance. And whenever you have legal documents you don’t understand — whether an eviction notice, benefit denial, consumer debt letter, or court filing — using your LegalClarity upload tool can help clarify things in plain English (informational only, not legal advice).