If you live in Laramie and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Albany County. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, 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 Laramie
Legal Aid of Wyoming (LAW)
What they do: Legal Aid of Wyoming is the statewide free civil legal aid program for low-income Wyoming residents. Laramie and Albany County residents are served by Legal Aid of Wyoming. The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie and its law clinics provide additional free legal services to area residents. LAW handles eviction defense, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence (protective orders, divorce, custody when DV is involved), public benefits, consumer debt, bankruptcy, wills, elder law, and tribal law for Wind River Indian Reservation members. Seniors age 60 and older are served regardless of income.
Who they help: Low-income Wyoming residents who meet eligibility requirements. Seniors age 60 and older are served regardless of income.
Contact: Hotline: (877) 432-9955 (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4 PM). Apply online or schedule a hotline appointment at lawyoming.org. Website: lawyoming.org.
University of Wyoming College of Law - Legal Clinics
What they do: Provides free civil legal services through supervised law student clinics. The Civil Legal Services Clinic handles housing, expungement, consumer rights, veterans' benefits, and public benefits. The Family and Child Legal Advocacy Clinic handles divorce, child custody, domestic violence protection orders, and family matters. Walk-in and appointment services available in Laramie.
Who they help: Low-income Wyoming residents, especially those in Laramie and Albany County.
Contact: Phone: (307) 766-6416. Website: law.uwyo.edu.
Albany County Safe Harbor
What they do: Provides legal advocacy, crisis support, protective order assistance, safety planning, and referrals for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Albany County.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Albany County and surrounding areas.
Contact: Phone: (307) 742-7273. For 24-hour national support also call the National DV Hotline at (800) 799-7233. Website: albanycountysafeharbor.org.
Wyoming State Bar Modest Means Program
What they do: Connects Wyoming residents with household income between 200-300% of the Federal Poverty Level with private attorneys who agree to charge no more than $75 per hour and no more than a $500 retainer. Covers civil matters including family law, housing, and consumer issues.
Contact: Website: wyomingbar.org. Search "Modest Means Program" on their site.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Laramie
- 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
- Student-related civil legal issues (tenant, employment)
What Laramie 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 Laramie Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - Wyoming eviction cases can move to a hearing quickly in Albany County courts.
- You experience domestic or sexual violence: Call Albany County Safe Harbor at (307) 742-7273 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact Legal Aid of Wyoming 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 - call Legal Aid of Wyoming at (877) 432-9955 as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You experience domestic violence: Albany County Safe Harbor at (307) 742-7273 provides 24-hour crisis support and legal advocacy in Albany County.
- You need legal advice but not full representation: The UW Law clinics at (307) 766-6416 offer free civil legal services to low-income Laramie residents.
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 disability or veteran documentation.
- Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming court or hearing dates.
- 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
- Wyoming State Bar Modest Means Program: low-cost attorneys capped at $75/hr for those between 200-300% of the poverty level - see wyomingbar.org.
- Wyoming Free Legal Answers (online clinic): submit a civil legal question at wyoming.freelegalanswers.org and receive a response from a volunteer attorney.
- Wyoming 211: dial 211 for free referrals to local legal and community services statewide.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Laramie Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Laramie and cannot afford a private attorney, call Legal Aid of Wyoming at (877) 432-9955 or apply online at lawyoming.org. Seniors age 60 and older are served regardless of income. For domestic violence emergencies, call Albany County Safe Harbor at (307) 742-7273 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, the Wyoming State Bar Modest Means Program connects you with attorneys at reduced rates, or you can submit a question through Wyoming Free Legal Answers. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.