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

If you live in Eugene and can’t afford a private attorney, several nonprofit organizations and statewide legal-aid programs offer free or low-cost civil legal services. These groups can help with housing issues, evictions, family law, domestic violence protective orders, debt and consumer problems, benefits appeals, and senior or disability-rights matters. (You may also upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation — informational only, not legal advice.)

Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Eugene

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) — Lane County Office

What they do: LASO provides comprehensive civil-legal services to low-income residents of Eugene and Lane County. Areas covered include eviction defense, housing rights, domestic violence protective orders, custody and child-support disputes, consumer and debt issues, public-benefits appeals (Oregon Health Plan, SNAP, SSI/SSDI, unemployment), and senior or disability-law assistance.

Who they help: Individuals and families with low income (typically under 125% of the federal poverty level), seniors, and people with disabilities.

Contact: 376 E. 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401. Phone: (541) 485-1017. Website: lasoregon.org.

Oregon Law Center (OLC) — Lane County Regional Office

What they do: The OLC Lane County office provides free civil-legal help to low-income residents in Eugene and neighboring communities. They handle housing law (evictions, unsafe housing, discrimination), employment and wage-theft issues, family-law cases involving safety or child custody, public-benefits disputes, consumer rights, and civil-rights violations.

Who they help: Low-income individuals and households, including workers, tenants, domestic-violence survivors, and people denied public benefits.

Contact: 376 E. 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401 (same building as LASO). Phone: (541) 485-1017. Website: oregonlawcenter.org.

University of Oregon School of Law — Civil Legal Services Clinic

What they do: The University of Oregon’s Civil Legal Services Clinic provides free legal assistance to low-income residents in Lane County under the supervision of licensed attorneys. Focus areas include housing, family law, domestic-violence protective orders, and public-benefits cases. Law students handle cases with oversight from faculty attorneys.

Who they help: Low-income residents of Lane County, especially those with housing, family, or benefits issues who cannot afford private representation.

Contact: 1515 Agate Street, Eugene, OR 97403. Phone: (541) 346-3821. Website: law.uoregon.edu.

St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County — Second Chance Legal Services

What they do: Provides free or sliding-scale legal help for low-income residents needing assistance with housing, eviction prevention, or expungement/record-clearing. The program is part of St. Vincent de Paul’s homelessness-prevention and re-entry efforts.

Who they help: Individuals and families in Lane County with limited income, particularly those facing eviction, discrimination, or seeking record expungement.

Contact: 2890 Chad Drive, Eugene, OR 97408. Phone: (541) 687-5820. Website: svdp.us.

Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Eugene

• Eviction defense and landlord-tenant disputes
• Unsafe or uninhabitable housing and repair issues
• Domestic violence and restraining orders
• Custody, visitation, child support, and family-law matters
• Debt collection, garnishment, and consumer-protection problems
• Public-benefits denials (SNAP, SSI/SSDI, Oregon Health Plan, unemployment)
• Employment law issues — wage theft or wrongful termination
• Expungement and record-clearing assistance
• Senior-law and disability-rights advocacy

What Eugene Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle

• Criminal defense or traffic-related cases
• Personal-injury or malpractice lawsuits
• Business or corporate disputes
• High-asset divorce or complex financial litigation

When Eugene Residents Should Seek Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice or court summons: Contact LASO or OLC right away — housing cases move quickly.
• You experience domestic violence or stalking: Seek immediate help from LASO or the University of Oregon’s Civil Legal Services Clinic for protective orders.
• Your benefits were denied or terminated: Appeals often have short deadlines — call legal aid as soon as possible.
• You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Early action can prevent loss of wages or property.
• You need record expungement or have trouble finding housing due to past convictions: Contact St. Vincent de Paul’s Second Chance Legal Services.

How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid

1. Gather documents: Leases, eviction notices, rent receipts, benefit denial letters, court documents, pay stubs, medical or disability paperwork, and any communications with landlords or agencies.
2. Prepare a short summary: 2–3 sentences describing your problem, when it started, and what help you need.
3. List key dates: Deadlines, hearings, or eviction notices — this helps prioritize your case.
4. Bring proof of income: Pay stubs, benefit statements, or proof of unemployment are usually required for intake.
5. Highlight urgent risks: eviction, domestic violence, benefit cutoffs, or health-related emergencies — these may fast-track your application.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Low-cost attorneys: Use the Oregon State Bar’s Modest Means Program or Lawyer Referral Service for reduced-rate consultations. (osbar.org)
• Community legal clinics: The University of Oregon Clinic and St. Vincent de Paul’s program offer affordable assistance for those slightly above legal-aid income limits.
• Self-help resources: Visit Oregon Law Help for free legal forms and guides. (oregonlawhelp.org)
• LegalClarity tools: Upload documents for plain-language explanations — informational only, not legal advice.

Conclusion: Where Eugene Residents Should Start

If you need civil legal help in Eugene and cannot afford an attorney, begin by contacting Legal Aid Services of Oregon — Lane County Office at (541) 485-1017. If LASO is at capacity, try Oregon Law Center at the same number, or the University of Oregon Civil Legal Services Clinic. For expungement or record-related help, contact St. Vincent de Paul Second Chance Legal Services. If you don’t qualify for free legal aid, explore low-cost attorneys through the Oregon State Bar or use LegalClarity’s document explainer to better understand your paperwork (informational only, not legal advice).