Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in Massachusetts

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in Massachusetts, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.

Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases

Statewide: No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases found in G.L. c. 239. The trial court must report monthly how many landlords and tenants received legal representation through on-site court diversion programs. G.L. c. 239, § 15(c)(ix)

Boston: No general right. Access to Counsel program for eligible families with K-12 students. Source

Free legal aid organizations

Greater Boston Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of the Greater Boston area; housing is a core practice.
Serves: Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell), Suffolk County (Boston), Norfolk County (Quincy)
Northeast Legal Aid — Low-income/elderly residents of Northeastern MA (offices in Lowell, Lawrence, Lynn); Housing Unit runs Lawyer for the Day. Intake 978-458-1465.
Serves: Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell), Essex County (Lynn / Lawrence)
MetroWest Legal Services — Framingham-based civil legal aid incl. housing. Intake (508) 620-1830.
Serves: Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell), Norfolk County (Quincy)
Lawyer for the Day (Housing Court) — Volunteer attorneys give free same-day advice to unrepresented landlords and tenants; Northeast (Lowell) (978) 458-1465, Woburn (781) 322-9119 ext. 146; Eastern Division numbers on the resources page.
Serves: Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell)
Court Service Centers (Massachusetts Trial Court) — Free help for anyone without a lawyer (forms, procedures); no income or immigration requirements.
Serves: Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell), Suffolk County (Boston), Worcester County (Worcester), Essex County (Lynn / Lawrence), Norfolk County (Quincy), Bristol County (New Bedford / Fall River)
Lawyer for the Day (Eastern Housing Court) — Volunteer Lawyers Project (617) 603-1700; GBLS (617) 603-1807; De Novo (617) 661-1010; Justice Bridge (617) 860-3414; Harvard Law School Legal Services (617) 390-2535.
Serves: Suffolk County (Boston)
Community Legal Aid — Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of Central and Western MA. Intake 855-252-5342.
Serves: Worcester County (Worcester), Hampden County (Springfield), Hampshire County
Lawyer for the Day (Northeast Housing Court) — Lawrence/Lynn (978) 458-1465; Salem (978) 500-5790.
Serves: Essex County (Lynn / Lawrence)
South Coastal Counties Legal Services — Low-income residents of Southeastern MA; housing/eviction help. Intake 800-244-9023.
Serves: Norfolk County (Quincy), Bristol County (New Bedford / Fall River), Plymouth County (Brockton, Plymouth), Barnstable County
Lawyer for the Day (Southeast Housing Court) — 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Wednesdays virtual, Thursdays in person at Fall River, Fridays in person at New Bedford. SCCLS (800) 244-9023; Justice Bridge (508) 449-9296.
Serves: Bristol County (New Bedford / Fall River)
Hampden County Bar Association Lawyer for the Day (landlords) — Landlords only: (413) 733-6500.
Serves: Hampden County (Springfield)
Southeast Housing Court Lawyer for the Day Program — Free volunteer-attorney advice for unrepresented landlords and tenants, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Wednesdays on Zoom, Thursdays in person in Fall River, Fridays in person in New Bedford.
Serves: Barnstable County
Hampden County Legal Clinic (Lawyer for the Day) — Landlords and tenants, by Zoom on Mondays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Serves: Hampshire County
Community Legal Aid - Pittsfield office — 152 North Street, Suite E155, Pittsfield, MA 01201; satellite office 33 Main Street, North Adams. Intake 855-CLA-LEGAL (855-252-5342).
Serves: Berkshire County (Pittsfield)

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in Massachusetts

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.

Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — (617) 654-0400; toll-free (866) 627-7577
Referral is free; under MBA LRS rules the first half-hour consultation costs no more than $25. Reduced-fee referrals are available to callers who qualify.

Official court and state resources

Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.