Free Legal Aid in California — Low-Income Legal Help

Most California legal aid organizations serve individuals and families whose household income is at or below 125–200% of the federal poverty level. Some programs have higher income limits for seniors, veterans, or domestic violence survivors. Contact the legal aid organization in your area — they will ask about your income, assets, and the type of legal problem you have.

Legal aid organizations in California typically handle civil (not criminal) matters: housing/eviction defense, family law (custody, divorce, protective orders), public benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI), consumer debt, and employment issues. They generally do not handle fee-generating cases (like personal injury lawsuits where you could hire a private attorney on contingency).

Free legal representation depends on your income, the type of case, and available resources. California legal aid organizations prioritize the most urgent cases (evictions, domestic violence, benefits terminations). Even if they cannot represent you directly, most can provide legal advice, court forms, and self-help resources.

If your income is above the legal aid threshold, you still have options: (1) Use our free AI legal assistant to understand your rights and get plain-English legal information. (2) Ask the California State Bar for a low-cost or pro bono referral. (3) Many private attorneys offer free initial consultations, especially for personal injury and employment cases.