Pro Bono Lawyers and Attorneys in Iowa
Where to ask for pro bono legal services or a free attorney in Iowa, 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 | The Iowa State Bar Association's pro bono page names two programs. Iowa Legal Aid, a nonprofit law firm providing free legal services, which also runs volunteer lawyers projects: apply online, or call 1-800-532-1503 (under 60) or 1-800-992-8161 (60 and over). The Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, run by the Polk County Bar Association: see pcbaonline.org/community-services. Iowa Legal Aid says there are not enough volunteer attorneys to help everyone, and there may not be one in your county who handles your type of case. Apply: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/resource/applying-for-help-from-iowa-legal-aid |
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| Who qualifies | Iowa Legal Aid usually helps people earning up to 125% of the poverty level and can make exceptions up to 200%; some special grants cover higher incomes for specific issues or groups. Income is counted as gross income, and household members' income is counted, except an abusive spouse's. Eligibility depends on income and legal issue. Being a survivor of domestic abuse, a veteran, or 60 or older are also listed as ways to qualify. Source: Iowa Legal Aid, FAQ |
| Cases covered | Iowa Legal Aid handles civil issues such as housing (eviction, housing assistance, repairs, discrimination), income (Social Security overpayments or terminations, Medicaid, Medicare, food assistance, unemployment), family (custody, divorce, protective orders), disaster recovery, and consumer protection (garnishment, bankruptcy). It does not take criminal charges, appeals, probation or parole, though it can help expunge old records. It also does not take child support, SSI or Social Security Disability applications, wills and estates if you are under 60, or workers' compensation. Source: Iowa Legal Aid, FAQ |
Other free or low-cost help
| Free legal questions online | Iowa Free Legal Answers is a "virtual legal advice clinic where qualifying users can post civil legal questions at no cost," listed by the Iowa State Bar Association. Service: http://iowa.freelegalanswers.org/ |
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| Does the bar's referral service find free lawyers? | The Iowa State Bar Association says lawyers in its Iowa Find-A-Lawyer program "charge zero to $25 for up to 30 minutes of initial consultation." The same page lists legal service providers separately as sources of free or low-cost help for people who meet eligibility requirements. |
| Free legal aid | Iowa Legal Aid, the state's LSC-funded legal aid organization, provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Iowans; toll-free (800) 532-1275, iowalegalaid.org. Other free options listed by the federal court for Iowa include the University of Iowa Clinical Law Program ((319) 335-9030, toll-free (866) 251-5491) and the Drake University Legal Clinic ((515) 271-3851). Iowa Free Legal Answers (iowa.freelegalanswers.org) lets qualifying users post civil legal questions at no cost. Phone numbers from https://www.iand.uscourts.gov/content/how-can-i-find-attorney |
| Lawyer referral service | The Iowa State Bar Association's Iowa Find-A-Lawyer is a free, voluntary web-based referral program that matches the public with Iowa attorneys; the ISBA refers all phone calls from people looking for a lawyer to this website. "Attorneys listed in this directory charge $25 or less for up to 30 minutes of initial consultation"; when you contact a lawyer, say you found them through the program and ask what they charge. ISBA phone (general): (515) 243-3179. Ways to get legal help: https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=Waystogetlegalhelp |
Do Iowa lawyers have to do pro bono work?
| State rule | "Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year." A substantial majority of the 50 hours should go, without fee or expectation of fee, to persons of limited means or to organizations addressing their needs. |
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All legal help in Iowa · 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.