Legal Aid in Burlington, VT: Free & Low-Cost Help Guide (2026)

If you live in Burlington and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Chittenden County. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, health care access, 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 Burlington

Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont

What they do: Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont are both headquartered in Burlington and serve Chittenden County and all of Vermont. Vermont Legal Aid's Burlington office at 264 North Winooski Avenue offers walk-in hours Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3:30 PM. Legal Services Vermont is at 274 Winooski Avenue. Together they handle eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence, foreclosure, health care access and billing disputes, public benefits, consumer debt, disability law, civil rights, and elder law. Vermont Legal Aid's Elder Law program serves Vermonters age 60 and older with no income limits on housing, financial exploitation, Social Security, Medicaid, and guardianship matters.

Who they help: Low-income Vermont residents who meet eligibility requirements. Seniors age 60 and older are served by Vermont Legal Aid's Elder Law program regardless of income for housing, financial exploitation, Social Security, Medicaid, and guardianship matters.

Contact: Statewide hotline: (800) 889-2047 (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-2 PM). Burlington office (VLA): (802) 863-5620. Use the Legal Help Tool or request form at vtlawhelp.org. Website: vtlawhelp.org.

Have Justice Will Travel

What they do: Provides free legal and support services to low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking across Vermont including Chittenden County. Attorneys advise on protection orders, civil legal matters, and connect survivors to community resources.

Who they help: Low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking across Vermont.

Contact: Phone: (877) 496-8100. Website: havejusticewilltravel.org.

HOPE Works

What they do: Burlington's dedicated sexual violence crisis center serving Chittenden County. Provides a 24-hour sexual assault hotline, hospital and legal advocacy for survivors, short-term counseling, and support groups. Can accompany survivors to court and help with protection orders related to sexual violence.

Who they help: Survivors of sexual violence in Chittenden County.

24/7 Hotline: (802) 863-1236. Website: hopeworksvt.org.

Steps to End Domestic Violence

What they do: Provides crisis support, legal advocacy, protective order assistance, safety planning, and referrals for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Chittenden County.

Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Chittenden County and throughout Vermont.

24/7 Hotline: (802) 658-1996. Website: www.stepsvt.org.

Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

What they do: Connects Vermont residents with private attorneys for consultations across all civil practice areas. Useful for residents who do not qualify for free legal aid or need services beyond Vermont Legal Aid's scope.

Contact: Phone: (800) 639-7036. Website: vermontbar.org.

Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Burlington

• 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 (3SquaresVT, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)
• Foreclosure prevention and homeowner assistance
• Health care access, billing, and insurance disputes
• Record sealing and expungement
• Elder law and financial exploitation prevention
• Civil rights and discrimination claims
• Health care access and insurance billing disputes

What Burlington 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 Burlington Residents Should Seek Help Immediately

• You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - Vermont eviction cases move fast in Chittenden County courts and tenants have limited time to respond.
• You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call Steps to End Domestic Violence at (802) 658-1996 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
• You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact Vermont Legal Aid right away.
• Your landlord refuses urgent repairs: Document conditions with photos and written requests, then contact Vermont Legal Aid before taking further steps.
• Your public benefits were denied or cut: Appeals windows are short - call Vermont Legal Aid at (800) 889-2047 as soon as you receive a denial notice.
• You experience domestic violence: Steps to End Domestic Violence at (802) 658-1996 provides 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, and legal advocacy specifically for Chittenden County residents.
• You are a senior age 60 or older: Call Vermont Legal Aid at (800) 889-2047 - the Burlington office offers walk-in hours Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3:30 PM for seniors and others.
• You need a legal clinic appointment for DV matters: Legal advice clinics for Chittenden County domestic violence victims are held by phone or Zoom each Monday, 5:30-7:30 PM and every other Wednesday, 3-5 PM - call (802) 658-1996 to schedule.

How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid

1. Gather documents: leases, eviction notices, court papers, photos of housing conditions, debt collection letters, benefit denial letters, ID, pay stubs, and any health insurance or disability documentation.
2. Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming court or hearing dates.
3. Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and current benefits - eligibility screening requires this.
4. Write a brief issue summary: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome you need.
5. 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

• Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: connects you with private attorneys for consultations at (800) 639-7036.
• VTLawHelp.org (statewide): free legal forms, plain-English guides, legal roadmaps, and the Legal Help Tool for common civil issues.
• Vermont Free Legal Answers (online clinic): submit a civil legal question at vt.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 Burlington Residents Should Start

If you need civil legal help in Burlington and cannot afford a private attorney, call Vermont Legal Aid or Legal Services Vermont at (800) 889-2047 or use the Legal Help Tool at vtlawhelp.org. Seniors age 60 and older can call for Elder Law help regardless of income. For domestic violence emergencies, call Steps to End Domestic Violence at (802) 658-1996 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 639-7036. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.