1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC)
- Funds and coordinates civil legal aid programs across the state.
- Website: mlac.org
- Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
- Serves low-income residents in Greater Boston (housing, immigration, employment, disability rights).
- Website: gbls.org
- Phone: 1-800-323-3205
- Community Legal Aid (CLA)
- Covers Central and Western Massachusetts (Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield).
- Website: communitylegal.org
- Phone: 1-855-252-5342
- Northeast Legal Aid (NLA)
- Serves Northeastern Massachusetts (Lowell, Lawrence, Lynn).
- Website: northeastlegalaid.org
- Phone: 1-978-458-1465
- Dental Legal Partnership (DLP)
- Focuses on health-related legal issues (disability benefits, insurance).
- Website: dentallegalpartnership.org
2. Regional Legal Aid Providers
- Massachusetts Justice Project (MJP)
- Serves Western Massachusetts (Springfield, Holyoke, housing and family law).
- Website: massjustice.org
- Phone: 1-413-781-7816
- South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS)
- Covers Southeastern Massachusetts (New Bedford, Fall River, Cape Cod).
- Website: sccls.org
- Phone: 1-800-244-9023
- Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP)
- Pro bono services for low-income residents in Boston and Suffolk County.
- Website: vlpnet.org
- Phone: 1-857-320-6452
3. Directories & Search Tools
- MassLegalHelp.org
- Free legal guides and resources: masslegalhelp.org.
- Mass Legal Answers Online
- Free virtual legal advice for qualifying residents: masslegalservices.org/MLAO.
- Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: massbar.org/public/lawyer-referral-service.
- Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)
- Advocacy and policy resources: mlri.org.
4. Hotlines
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-877-785-2020 (SafeLink, 24/7).
- Senior Legal Helpline: 1-800-342-5297 (for residents 60+).
- Disability Law Center: 1-800-872-9992 (advocacy for individuals with disabilities).
- Tenant Rights Hotline: 1-617-686-2131 (Greater Boston Legal Services).
5. Additional Resources
- 211 Massachusetts: Dial 211 or visit mass211.org for community referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- VLP (Volunteer Lawyers Project): vlpnet.org.
- Legal Advocacy & Resource Center (LARC): larcma.org.
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- Irish International Immigrant Center: iiicenter.org.
- Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR): pairproject.org.
- Native American Legal Services:
- Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs: [mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-commission-on-indian-affairs).
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF): narf.org.
- Self-Help Centers:
- Boston Housing Court Self-Help: mass.gov/boston-housing-court.
- Worcester Court Service Center: mass.gov/worcester-court-service-center.
- Law School Clinics:
- Harvard Legal Aid Bureau: hlab.org (family law, housing, government benefits).
- Boston College Legal Services Lab: bc.edu/legalservices.
Note
- Eligibility: Most programs prioritize low-income residents (under 200% of the federal poverty level) and specific case types (e.g., eviction, domestic violence, disability rights).
- Apply Online: Many organizations (e.g., CLA, GBLS) offer online intake forms.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines or courthouse self-help centers.
- Tribal Members: Contact the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs or NARF for specialized support.