If you live in El Paso and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving El Paso 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 El Paso
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) - El Paso Office
What they do: TRLA is the primary free civil legal aid provider for El Paso and Hudspeth counties. They handle eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, family law, foreclosure, bankruptcy, public benefits, consumer protection, disability rights, wills and estates, immigration-related civil matters, and farmworker rights. Services are available in English and Spanish.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in El Paso County who meet income eligibility requirements.
Contact: Phone (El Paso office): (915) 585-5100 or toll-free (833) 329-8752. Website: trla.org.
Center Against Family Violence
What they do: Provides emergency shelter, legal advocacy, protective order assistance, safety planning, and court support for survivors of domestic violence and family violence in El Paso County.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and family violence in the El Paso area.
Contact: Phone: (915) 593-7300. Website: cafv.org.
Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services (DMRS)
What they do: Provides free and low-cost immigration civil legal services to low-income El Paso residents, including assistance with family petitions, asylum, humanitarian relief, naturalization, and immigration-related civil matters.
Contact: Phone: (915) 532-3976. Website: dmrs-ep.org.
El Paso Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
What they do: Connects El Paso County residents with private attorneys for low-cost consultations across all civil practice areas. The association also hosts a monthly free legal advice clinic on the second Saturday of each month at Cielo Vista Mall where volunteer attorneys answer civil legal questions in person.
Contact: Phone: (915) 532-7052. Website: elpasobar.com.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in El Paso
- 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
- Farmworker rights and employment issues
What El Paso 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 El Paso Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - eviction cases move fast in El Paso County courts.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Contact the Center Against Family Violence at (915) 593-7300 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and shelter.
- You receive garnishment or debt-collection paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact TRLA 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 - contact TRLA as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You need immigration civil legal help: Contact TRLA or DMRS - both handle civil immigration matters for eligible clients.
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 immigration or disability documentation.
- Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming hearings or deadlines.
- 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
- El Paso Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost attorney consultations at (915) 532-7052.
- TexasLawHelp.org (statewide): free legal forms, plain-English guides, and a live chat feature for civil issues.
- Texas Free Legal Answers (online clinic): submit a civil legal question at texas.freelegalanswers.org and receive a response from a volunteer attorney.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where El Paso Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in El Paso and cannot afford a private attorney, call Texas RioGrande Legal Aid at (915) 585-5100 or the toll-free line at (833) 329-8752. For domestic violence emergencies, contact the Center Against Family Violence at (915) 593-7300. For immigration civil legal help, contact DMRS at (915) 532-3976. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the El Paso Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service or visit TexasLawHelp.org. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.