Pro Bono Lawyers and Attorneys in Massachusetts
Where to ask for pro bono legal services or a free attorney in Massachusetts, 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 Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association delivers pro bono civil legal services to eligible clients in the Greater Boston area, including Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Quincy, Malden, Waltham, Woburn and many surrounding towns. Call the Eastern Region Legal Intake Helpline at 617-603-1700 or 1-800-342-LAWS (5297), Monday and Tuesday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or apply online. It does not accept walk-ins. Outside that area, the Legal Resource Finder at masslegalservices.org/findlegalaid directs people to civil legal aid programs that might help. Lawyer for the Day volunteer attorneys give free help to low-income people at some courthouses; ask your courthouse. Other resources: https://vlpnet.org/get-help/other-resources/ ; LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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| Who qualifies | The Volunteer Lawyers Project helps lower-income households, defined as those under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. It represents US citizens, green card holders and people with lawful status. "Specific rules do apply, and our legal help may be limited due to funding requirements." Call the helpline to find out whether you qualify. |
| Cases covered | The Volunteer Lawyers Project lists civil appeals (clinic screening); consumer and bankruptcy matters (debt collector harassment or lawsuits, utility shutoffs, Chapter 7, identity theft); employment (wage theft, unemployment insurance, misclassification); family law and guardianship (custody, child support, paternity, divorce, restraining orders); housing (eviction, bad living conditions, homeownership preservation); and probate (wills, healthcare proxies, powers of attorney). The Legal Resource Finder covers civil matters, not criminal. |
Other free or low-cost help
| Free legal questions online | Mass Legal Answers Online (mass.freelegalanswers.org), listed by the Volunteer Lawyers Project: "Have a question for a lawyer? Ask it online free." Listed topics include family law, bankruptcy, real estate, and labor and consumer rights. |
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| Free legal aid | Massachusetts's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Community Legal Aid, Northeast Legal Aid, South Coastal Counties Legal Services, and the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association. |
All legal help in Massachusetts · 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.