Find Legal Aid Near You

Last Updated: 03/12/2024

If you need help applying for public benefits or filling taxes, have legal issues related to family law (marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, tce) or domestic violence, or generally think you need a legal advocate, you may want to reach out to a Legal Aid organization.

Below, find statewide organizations as well as county-by-county listings.

Note: For many of these organizations, you will need to have any legal documents available for them to assist you, and some may require income verification to ensure you qualify for pro bono services. (If you make too much for pro bono services, some organizations might offer a sliding scale for fees.)

Statewide Legal Aid Services

Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ). Coordinates the statewide Legal Services system in New Jersey, providing free legal assistance to low-income people in civil matters.

You can call them at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529) Monday through Friday from 8am to 5:30pm or apply online.

This organization can connect you to attorneys that can assist with:

Family law issues (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
Education including special education
Consumer including bankruptcy and debt collection
Health care
Domestic violence restraining orders
Public benefits, foreclosure, landlord/tenant
immigration
taxes including earned income tax credit
employment and unemployment and expungements
(They don't provide advice on criminal matter or municipal matters like parking tickets or DUIs, but they provide links to relevant directories for those types of issues.)

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

You can call them at 973-275-1175, email them at chlpinfo@chlp.org, or review the list of local offices and contact the one closest to you directly.

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:

Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Public entitlements
Landlord-tenant matters
Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
Medicaid/Medicare
Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
Consumer law
Foreclosure
Reverse mortgage issues
Barrier-free accessibility
Housing discrimination
Guardianships
Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney

Military Legal Assistance Program, through the New Jersey State Bar Association. This is a program that provides pro bono legal support in civil cases to New Jerseyans who have served overseas after the 9/11 attacks.

Call Christina Pateman at 732-937-7514, or call 1-888-541-1900, or email mlap@njsba.com.

This organization can connect you to attorney that can assist with:

Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
Employment law
Debtor-creditor law
Military / administrative law

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ). This organization specializes in the listed specific areas and focuses on serving veterans, parents in Newark's South Ward, and trafficking survivors.

Fill in the online take form here, email vlj@vljnj.org or call 973-645-1955

This organization can connect you to attorney that can assist with:

Eviction
Civil lawsuits
Divorce
Bankruptcy
Driver's license restoration
Criminal record expungement
Denial of special education services

If you need help with another kind of issue, they would direct you to other legal aid organizations

Legal Aid by County
Atlantic County

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

South Jersey Satellite Office
160 South Pitney Road
Galloway, NJ 08205
Phone: (856) 858-9500

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:

Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Public entitlements
Landlord-tenant matters
Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
Medicaid/Medicare
Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
Consumer law
Foreclosure
Reverse mortgage issues
Barrier-free accessibility
Housing discrimination
Guardianships
Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney

Bergen County

Northeast New Jersey Legal Services. This organization provides assistance to low-income individuals and families in civil cases. They also have multilingual representatives.

To apply for assistance in Bergen County, call 201-487-2166, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Office is located at 190 Moore St., Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601. You can also apply for assistance online here.

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:

Housing
Public benefits
Family and relationships
Domestic violence and sexual assault (e.g., restraining and protection orders)
Consumer rights and debt collection seniors' rights
Veterans
Immigration
Federal taxes
Expungements
The Ryan White Project (HIV/AIDS)
Elder justice
Disaster assistance
Education law

Burlington County
Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

Central Jersey Satellite Office
4 Commerce Place
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: (609) 261-3453
Fax: (609) 261-8596

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:

Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Public entitlements
Landlord-tenant matters
Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
Medicaid/Medicare
Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
Consumer law
Foreclosure
Reverse mortgage issues
Barrier-free accessibility
Housing discrimination
Guardianships
Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney

Camden County

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

South Jersey Main Office
Station House Office Building
900 Haddon Avenue, Suite 400
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Phone/TTY: (856) 858-9500
Fax: (856) 858-9545
E-mail: Collingswood@chlp.org

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
● Social Security Disability Insurance
● Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
● Public entitlements
● Landlord-tenant matters
● Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
● Medicaid/Medicare
● Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
● Consumer law
● Foreclosure
● Reverse mortgage issues
● Barrier-free accessibility
● Housing discrimination
● Guardianships
● Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney

Essex County

Essex County Legal Aid Association (ECLAA). This organization provides legal support to low-income Essex County residents in civil cases. Their free services are limited to households with incomes less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. Sliding scale fees are available for households that make more than that.

They receive calls, so strongly recommend that people fill in their online intake form. Someone will be in touch with you via phone, email or text within 2 business days. If you prefer to call, that number is 973-622-0063.

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
● Eviction
● Unsafe living conditions
● Illegal lockouts
● Utility shutoff
● Collection/garnishment
● Education law

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

North Jersey Office
650 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite 210
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Phone: (973) 680-5599
Fax: (973) 680-1488
TTY: (973) 680-1116
E-mail: Bloomfield@chlp.org

Administration Office
185 Valley Street
South Orange, NJ 07079
Phone: (973) 275-1175
Fax: (973) 275-5210
TTY (973) 275-1721
E-mail: chlpinfo@chlp.org

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
● Social Security Disability Insurance
● Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
● public entitlements
● landlord-tenant matters
● family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
● Medicaid/Medicare
● home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
● consumer law
● foreclosure
● reverse mortgage issues
● barrier-free accessibility
● housing discrimination
● guardianships
● document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney

Hudson County
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services. This organization aids to low-income individuals and families in civil cases. They also have multilingual representatives.

To apply for assistance in Hudson County, call 201-792-6363, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Office is located at 574 Summit Ave., 2nd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07306. You can also apply for assistance online here.

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
● Housing
● Public benefits
● Family and relationships
● Domestic violence and sexual assault (e.g., restraining and protection orders)
● Consumer rights and debt collection seniors' rights
● Veterans
● Immigration
● Federal taxes
● Expungements
● The Ryan White Project (HIV/AIDS)
● Elder justice
● Disaster assistance
● Education law

Mercer County
Central Jersey Legal Services. This organization is currently seeing clients in their offices by appointment. Call the number for help in Mercer County – (609) 695-6249 – and leave a message; an intake or case worker will get back to you within two days. You can also email cjls@lsnj.org – be sure to include your phone number.

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
● Landlord / tenant
● Family - custody, divorce, support
● Domestic violence restraining orders
● Bankruptcy and debt collection
● Public assistance
● Health care
● Foreclosure
● Immigration for survivors of domestic violence
● Unemployment
● Expungements
● (They do not handle criminal matters or municipal court matters like DUIs, parking, or other traffic tickets.)

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

Central Jersey Main Office
225 East State Street, Suite 5
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: (609) 392-5553
Fax/TTY: (609) 392-5369
E-mail: Trenton@chlp.org

Middlesex County
Central Jersey Legal Services. This organization is currently seeing clients in their offices by appointment. Call the number for help in Middlesex County – (732) 249-7600 – and leave a message; an intake or case worker will get back to you within two days. You can also email cjls@lsnj.org – be sure to include your phone number.

This organization can connect you to attorneys that can help with:
● Landlord / tenant
● Family - custody, divorce, support
● Domestic violence restraining orders
● Bankruptcy and debt collection
● Public assistance
● Health care
● Foreclosure
● Immigration for survivors of domestic violence
● Unemployment
● Expungements
● (They do not handle criminal matters or municipal court matters like DUIs, parking, or other traffic tickets.)

Monmouth County
Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County, Inc. This organization provides legal assistance for low-income individuals with civil trials in Monmouth County. Types of cases include bankruptcy, landlord/tenant matters, divorce, custody, child support, etc. You can review a list of documents they will need here and their application for assistance here. Open Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm. Call 732-556-8268 or email monmouthlegalaidapps@gmail.com for more information.

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.

Shore Area Main Office
3301 Rt. 66
Bldg. C, Suite 130
Neptune, NJ 07753
Phone: (732) 380-1012
Fax: (732) 380-1015
E-mail: Neptune@chlp.org

Ocean County
Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
Shore Area Satellite Office
250 Washington Street, Suite 5
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: (732) 349-6714
Fax: (732) 349-6935

Passaic County
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services. This organization provides assistance to low-income individuals and familes in civil cases. They also have multilingual representatives.

To apply for assistance in Passaic County, call 973-523-2900, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Office is located at 100 Hamilton Plz. Suite 200, Box 3, Paterson, NJ 07505. You can also apply for assistance online here.

Union County
Central Jersey Legal Services. This organization is currently seeing clients in their offices by appointment. Call the number for help in Union County – (908) 354-4340 – and leave a message; an intake or case worker will get back to you within two days. You can also email cjls@lsnj.org – be sure to include your phone number.

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
● Landlord / tenant
● Family - custody, divorce, support
● Domestic violence restraining orders
● Bankruptcy and debt collection
● Public assistance
● Health care
● Foreclosure
● Immigration for survivors of domestic violence
● Unemployment
● Expungements
They do not handle criminal matters or municipal court matters like DUIs, parking, or other traffic tickets.

Community Health Law Project (CHLP). Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
East Jersey Main Office
65 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 402
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Phone: (908) 355-8282
Fax: (908) 355-3724
TTY: (908) 355-3369
E-mail: Elizabeth@chlp.org

This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:

Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Public entitlements
Landlord-tenant matters
Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
Medicaid/Medicare
Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
Consumer law
Foreclosure
Reverse mortgage issues
Barrier-free accessibility
Housing discrimination
Guardianships
Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney