Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in Rhode Island

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in Rhode Island, 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. R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18

Providence: No guaranteed right to counsel. A City-funded eviction defense program ran from 2022; its current status was not verified. Source

Free legal aid organizations

Rhode Island Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for low-income Rhode Islanders; Housing Stability Project. Providence office 401-274-2652.
Serves: Providence County (Providence), Kent County (Warwick)
Center for Justice — Tenant Advocacy Project clinics for low-income tenants (substandard housing); listed by the District Court, (401) 491-1101.
Serves: Providence County (Providence), Kent County (Warwick)
RI Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Program — Listed by the District Court: (401) 421-7758; Lawyer Referral Service (401) 421-7799.
Serves: Providence County (Providence)

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in Rhode Island

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.

Rhode Island Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 401-421-7799 (email LRS@ribar.com)
A reduced-fee program for people of limited means caps participating attorneys' hourly rates at $100 and initial retainers at $500

Official court and state resources

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

← Rhode Island landlord-tenant law · Legal help in other states

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.