1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Legal Services of Missouri (LSM)
- A coalition of three regional legal aid providers covering the entire state:
- Legal Aid of Western Missouri: Kansas City, St. Joseph, and surrounding counties.
- Website: lawmo.org
- Phone: 1-816-474-6750
- Mid-Missouri Legal Services: Columbia, Jefferson City, and central MO.
- Website: mmls.org
- Phone: 1-800-568-4931
- Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM): St. Louis and eastern MO.
- Website: lsem.org
- Phone: 1-800-444-0514
- Legal Aid of Western Missouri: Kansas City, St. Joseph, and surrounding counties.
- A coalition of three regional legal aid providers covering the entire state:
- Missouri Legal Aid
- Statewide portal connecting residents to regional legal aid offices.
- Website: missourilegalaid.org
2. Directories & Search Tools
- LawHelp Missouri
- Search for legal aid by topic or county: lawhelpmo.org.
- The Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: mobar.org.
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Directory
- Federally funded programs in Missouri: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
- Missouri Courts Self-Help Center
- Guides, forms, and referrals: courts.mo.gov/selfhelp.
3. Hotlines
- Legal Services of Missouri Hotline: 1-800-444-4863 (statewide intake).
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (National Domestic Violence Hotline) or contact the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence: mocadsv.org.
- Senior Legal Helpline: 1-800-235-5503 (for Missourians 60+).
- Veterans’ Legal Assistance: Contact LSEM or Legal Aid of Western Missouri.
4. Additional Resources
- 211 Missouri: Dial 211 or visit 211helps.org for community referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- Self-Help Centers:
- Jackson County Self-Help Clinic (Kansas City): jacksongov.org.
- St. Louis City Law Library: stl-law.libguides.com.
- Greene County Self-Help Center (Springfield): circuitcourt.greencountymo.gov.
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project: mica-missouri.org.
- International Institute of St. Louis: iistl.org.
- Native American Legal Aid:
- Eastern Shawnee Tribe Legal Aid (serves members in MO/OK): 918-666-2435.
- Oklahoma Indian Legal Services: okindianlegal.org (may assist MO tribal members).
- Law School Clinics:
- University of Missouri School of Law Clinics: law.missouri.edu/clinics.
- Saint Louis University Legal Clinics: law.slu.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., Legal Aid of Western Missouri, LSEM) offer online intake forms.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines or visit courthouse self-help centers.
- Tribal Members: Contact tribal courts or Oklahoma Indian Legal Services for specialized support.