Free New York Legal Advice - Online Chat

Several legal aid organizations in New York City and in upstate New York offer free legal advice for low-income New Yorkers. The legal areas covered by these non-profits include immigration, housing, family law, health care, and consumer law.

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYC)

• Website: www.nylag.org
• Hotline: 1-212-613-5000 (Mon, Wed, Thur, 9:00am to 3:00pm)
• Legal Areas: Immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, domestic violence, workers’ rights, consumer law, housing, health care, public benefits, and veterans’ rights.
• Free Advice: Comprehensive civil legal services are offered to poor and near-poor individuals and families residing in New York City. Eligibility requirements may be more or less stringent depending on the particular support program.

Legal Aid Society (NYC)

• Website: www.legalaidnyc.org
• Hotline: 1-212-577-3300 (Mon-Fri, 9:00am to 5:00pm)
• Legal Areas: Immigration and deportation, arrests and policing, bail and incarceration, family law, consumer law, employment, domestic violence, public benefits, health and disability, housing, education, and wrongful convictions.
• Free Advice: The Legal Aid Society offers free legal assistance to low-income residents of the five boroughs of New York City. Some forms of assistance, such as legal help for incarcerated individuals, are also available statewide.

LawNY (Western New York)

• Website: www.lawny.org
• Hotline: 1-315-781-1465 (main office) (Mon-Fri, 9:00am to 12:00pm, 1:00pm to 4:00pm)
• Legal Areas: Community health advocacy, consumer law, disability advocacy, domestic violence and sexual assault, education, housing, family law, name and gender marker changes, divorce, reentry, and elder law.
• Free Advice: LawNY provides free legal assistance to those with low incomes and few assets in 14 counties in western New York. Applicants must reside in one of the covered counties to receive assistance. LawNY does not assist with criminal matters.

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY (Northeastern New York)

• Website: www.lasnny.org
• Hotline: 1-833-628-0087 (Mon-Fri, 9:00am to 5:00pm)
• Legal Areas: Domestic violence, housing, public benefits, impact advocacy, immigration, consumer law, and disability issues.
• Free Advice: Low-income residents of northeastern New York are eligible to apply for free civil legal assistance. The income eligibility threshold is set at 125% of the federal poverty level (see table).

Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York (Central New York)

• Website: www.lasmny.org
• Hotline: 1-877-777-6152 (Mon-Thur, 9:00am to 5:00pm)
• Legal Areas: Bankruptcy, elder law, domestic violence, disability advocacy, foreclosure and eviction, and workers’ rights.
• Free Advice: People with civil (non-criminal) legal problems in central New York, as well as agricultural works throughout the state, may apply for free legal assistance. Generally, an applicant’s household income must be 125% of the federal poverty level or less.