Pro Bono Lawyers and Attorneys in North Carolina
Where to ask for pro bono legal services or a free attorney in North Carolina, 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 | Legal Aid of North Carolina gives "free legal help to low-income North Carolinians in civil cases" and has a pro bono section for volunteer lawyers. Apply by phone, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday, through its "Apply by Phone" page, or online through JusticeHub. |
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| Who qualifies | Legal Aid of North Carolina says its help is for low-income North Carolinians in civil cases involving basic needs such as safety, shelter and income. The page does not state an income limit. |
| Cases covered | Legal Aid of North Carolina lists disaster relief, housing, family law, employment, education, government benefits, domestic violence and sexual assault, consumer issues, and other matters such as expunction and services for veterans and immigrants. The page does not list case types it declines. |
Other free or low-cost help
| Free legal questions online | NC Free Legal Answers is a free question-and-answer service for which limited-income individuals may qualify, according to the North Carolina Bar Association. The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center says income-eligible individuals can ask civil legal questions through the ABA Free Legal Answers portal, and that veterans' questions go to a separate veterans project. Service: https://nc.freelegalanswers.org/ ; NC PBRC: https://ncprobono.org/ |
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| Does the bar's referral service find free lawyers? | The North Carolina Bar Association says "The LRS does not make referrals for pro bono legal services." It says an initial 30-minute consultation costs $50, and lawyers who accept referrals do not work for free. |
| Free legal aid | Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to people with low incomes; apply online through its website. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) lists Legal Aid of North Carolina as the LSC-funded grantee in the state. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
| Lawyer referral service | The North Carolina Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) refers members of the public to attorneys through its call center (919-677-8574) or an online self-referral. Using the LRS costs $50 for an initial 30-minute consultation with the attorney; fees for longer consultations and ongoing representation are set by each lawyer. The LRS does not make pro bono referrals, but people with limited income may qualify for NC Free Legal Answers. Call center number from NCBA LRS page: https://www.ncbar.org/members/benefits/lawyer-referral-service/ |
Do North Carolina lawyers have to do pro bono work?
| State rule | The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center says North Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 "encourages all North Carolina attorneys to provide at least fifty hours of pro bono legal services each year." The page does not describe a reporting requirement, though it links to a Pro Bono Reporting page for its Honor Society. |
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All legal help in North Carolina · 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.