1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Lone Star Legal Aid
- Covers 72 counties in East Texas, Houston, and the Gulf Coast.
- Website: lonestarlegal.org
- Phone: 1-800-733-8394
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)
- Serves 68 counties in South Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Austin.
- Website: trla.org
- Phone: 1-888-988-9996
- Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT)
- Covers 114 counties in North and West Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo).
- Website: lanwt.org
- Phone: 1-888-529-5277
- Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC)
- Statewide support for specialized issues (disability rights, veterans, disaster relief).
- Website: tlsc.org
- Phone: 1-800-622-2520
2. Regional Legal Aid Providers
- Coastal Bend Legal Services
- Serves 19 counties in the Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend region.
- Website: cbls.org
- Phone: 1-800-299-2997
- Legal Aid of Southeast Texas (LASETX)
- Covers 12 counties in the Beaumont and Southeast Texas region.
- Website: lasetx.org
- Phone: 1-800-777-3247
- West Texas Legal Services
- Serves 39 counties in West Texas (Midland, Odessa, San Angelo).
- Website: wtls.org
- Phone: 1-800-658-6984
3. Directories & Search Tools
- LawHelp Texas
- Search for legal aid by zip code or issue: lawhelp.org/tx.
- Texas State Bar Legal Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: texasbar.com/legalhelp.
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Directory
- Federally funded programs in Texas: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
- TexasLawHelp.org
- Free forms, guides, and self-help tools: texaslawhelp.org.
4. Hotlines
- Texas Legal Services Center Hotlines:
- Veterans Legal Assistance: 1-800-622-2520
- Disability Rights: 1-800-622-2520
- Disaster Legal Services: 1-800-504-7030 (for disaster survivors).
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (National Domestic Violence Hotline).
- Tenant Rights Hotline: 1-888-797-8990 (Texas Tenants’ Union).
- Senior Legal Hotline: 1-800-622-2520 (for Texans 60+).
5. Additional Resources
- 211 Texas: Dial 211 or visit 211texas.org for local referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- Houston Volunteer Lawyers: makejusticehappen.org.
- Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program: dallasvlp.org.
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- RAICES (San Antonio/Austin): raicestexas.org.
- American Gateways (Central Texas): americangateways.org.
- Native American Legal Services:
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (serves tribal communities in Texas): 1-907-729-3911.
- Contact local tribal courts (e.g., Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe).
- Self-Help Centers:
- Travis County Law Library (Austin): lawlibrary.traviscountytx.gov.
- Harris County Law Library (Houston): harriscountylawlibrary.org.
6. Law School Clinics
- University of Texas School of Law Clinics (Austin): Free services in immigration, criminal defense, and civil rights: law.utexas.edu/clinics.
- SMU Dedman School of Law Clinics (Dallas): law.smu.edu/clinics.
- Thurgood Marshall School of Law Clinics (Houston): tsulaw.edu/clinics.
Note
- Eligibility: Most legal aid programs prioritize low-income individuals (typically under 200% of the federal poverty level) and specific case types (e.g., housing, domestic violence, public benefits).
- Apply Online: Many organizations (e.g., TRLA, LANWT) offer online intake forms.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines or visit courthouse self-help centers.