Pro Bono Lawyers and Attorneys in Alabama
Where to ask for pro bono legal services or a free attorney in Alabama, including legal aid programs, who qualifies, and other free or low-cost help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
Where to ask for a free lawyer or attorney
| Pro bono and legal aid programs | Five volunteer lawyer programs cover Alabama, each serving low-income residents in certain civil matters: Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham, (205) 250-5198; Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program, (256) 539-2275; Montgomery Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program (Montgomery County), (334) 265-0222; South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program (Mobile, Baldwin, Washington and Clarke counties), (251) 438-1102 or (855) 997-2857; and the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program for all other counties, (888) 857-8571. The bar says to call or visit the program's website to see if you qualify. |
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| Who qualifies | The volunteer lawyer programs serve low-income residents, and also community-based organizations that serve low-income Alabamians. The bar's pages do not state an income limit; each program decides whether you qualify. |
| Cases covered | Certain civil matters. Criminal matters are not covered. |
Other free or low-cost help
| Free legal questions online | Alabama Free Legal Answers lets qualifying users post a non-criminal civil legal question online at no charge, answered by volunteer lawyers. Topics include family, divorce, custody, housing, eviction, consumer, employment, unemployment, health and disability, civil rights, juvenile and education law. Volunteer lawyers cannot call you or represent you in court. A short set of questions determines whether you qualify. It is a project of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. |
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| Does the bar's referral service find free lawyers? | The Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service says it is "designed to assist members of the public who can afford to pay a lawyer, but do not know how to find one." It directs people who cannot afford a lawyer to Legal Services or the bar's Volunteer Lawyers Program. Participating lawyers may charge "no more than $50 for an initial 30-minute consultation." |
| Free legal aid | Legal Services Alabama, the LSC-funded legal aid program for the state, provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income people in all 67 counties (apply at 866-456-4995 or online); it does not handle criminal cases. Volunteer lawyer programs also take civil cases for eligible people, including the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program at (888) 857-8571 for counties without a local program. Alabama Legal Help (alabamalegalhelp.org) offers free legal information and self-help forms. Phone numbers from https://alabar.org/for-the-public/get-legal-help |
| Lawyer referral service | The Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service helps people who can afford to pay a lawyer find one. A representative takes basic information and gives you the name and contact details of a participating attorney in your county, if one is available; you can also request a referral online 24/7. Participating lawyers agree to "charge no more than $50 for an initial 30 minute consultation"; other fees are negotiated with the lawyer. Phone: 1-800-392-5660 (Mon-Fri, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.). Referrals are not made by email, and the service does not cover out-of-state matters. Also described at https://alabar.org/for-the-public/get-legal-help |
Do Alabama lawyers have to do pro bono work?
| State rule | "A lawyer should render public interest legal service." A lawyer may do this by providing services at no fee or a reduced fee to people of limited means or to public service or charitable groups, by activities that improve the law or legal system, and by financial support for legal services organizations. The rule states no hours goal, and its comment says it is not intended to be enforced through the disciplinary process. |
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All legal help in Alabama · What is a pro bono lawyer? · Pro bono lawyers in other states
Last verified against official sources: November 4, 2026.
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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.