Helpful Resources

Essential Legal Tools for Every Individual

Whether you're navigating a legal issue or just want to understand your rights, having access to clear and reliable resources is key. We’ve gathered the best tools to help you take control and find support.

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Government Resources

These official sites offer trusted legal information, forms, and tools. Always start here for accurate guidance:

  • USA.gov Legal Aid – A centralized page for finding free and low-cost legal help, courts, and lawyer referral services by state..
  • LawHelp.org – Find state-specific legal information and local legal aid programs for civil legal issues like housing, family, and immigration..
  • Nolo Legal Encyclopedia – Plain-English articles and legal definitions for common situations.
  • CourtListener – Free public access to U.S. court opinions and filings.
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Legal resources about credit, housing, and financial rights.
  • DOJ Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (LAIR)
    Learn about federal initiatives supporting civil legal aid and access to justice.
  • Benefits.gov
    Official source for government benefit programs including legal assistance, housing help, and public aid.
Community Forums

Trusted online spaces where you can discuss legal questions with others...

  • Avvo Q&A Forum
    Ask legal questions and receive brief answers from licensed attorneys in all 50 states. Free and open to the public.
  • Reddit r/legaladvice
    A large, moderated community where users can post legal questions and get feedback from others (note: not official legal advice).
  • LawGuru
    Users can ask legal questions and get answers from a network of U.S. attorneys — searchable by topic.
  • Justia Ask a Lawyer
    A free service where verified attorneys provide answers to public legal questions across a wide range of topics.
  • Nolo Legal Encyclopedia
    While not a forum, Nolo offers readable legal articles and FAQs often linked to user discussions and forums.
Self-Help Books

Curated list of legal self-help books available online or in libraries...

Landlord & Tenant Help

Resources on rent disputes, lease agreements, eviction prevention, and housing rights...

  • HUD – Tenant Rights by State
    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s guide to tenant laws by state, including eviction rules and renters’ rights.
  • Nolo – Landlord & Tenant Law Center
    Easy-to-read legal guides on leases, security deposits, repairs, and evictions from one of the most trusted names in self-help law.
  • LawHelp.org – Housing Legal Help
    State-by-state directory of legal aid services and information for renters and low-income tenants.
  • Just Shelter
    A national directory of organizations helping people facing eviction, housing discrimination, or homelessness.

For General Legal Help & Representation

If you cannot afford an attorney or legal services, contact the Bar Association of your State for referrals on probono services or general law information. They also have a ton of information on their websites for individuals that DIY:

For NY:

New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)
(518) 463-3200
https://nysba.org/

New York City Bar Association
(212) 382-6600
https://www.nycbar.org/

For a complete State list and their website, click here: https://generalbar.com/State.aspx

Other Legal Hotlines

In NY: Most of the hotlines listed provide help in English and Spanish. All of these hotlines are free and confidential. 

Visit https://www.lawhelpny.org/hotlines 

And choose your topic.

The Older Americans Act provides certain services for people over 60. Anyone over 60 can get free legal advice over the phone. For a list of hotlines across the U.S serving seniors, please visit:

https://www.seniorlaw.com/senior-legal-hotlines/

Immigration Matters

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

https://www.uscis.gov/   is the official website of the US Department of Homeland Security. 

Here you can access ALL forms, check case statuses, file cases, respond to request for evidence, and so much more!

Immigration Pro-bono Attorneys

The justice department provides a free list of agencies and law organizations providing free legal services for immigration cases for most states

Visit https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers

National Terrorism Advisory System

The National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) is a system to communicate information about terrorist threats by providing information to the American public. You can subscribe for alerts.

Visit https://www.dhs.gov/national-terrorism-advisory-system

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request

Under this law, and the Privacy Act (PA), you can request:

  • Your own immigration records;
  • Someone else’s immigration records, if you have their written permission; and
  • Agency policies, data, communications, and other records

Visit https://www.uscis.gov/records/request-records-through-the-freedom-of-information-act-or-privacy-act  to submit your request online.

NYC’s Immigration Hotline

The City of New York offers New Yorkers free, safe immigration legal help in a network of trusted community-based organizations at community sites, public health facilities, public schools, and libraries. Services are provided in your language. Your immigration status does not matter.

Call (800) 354-0365 

Visit: https://www.nyc.gov/site/immigrants/legal-resources/immigration-legal-services.page

Housing/Landlord & Tenant

For All states in the US

The US Department of Treasury

Provides information on emergency rental assistance programs available in your state and other available housing programs

Visit https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Another great site proving information on programs available in your state

Visit https://www.hud.gov/rent_relief

For tenants facing eviction in NYC

Right-to-counsel legal services are free and available in every zipcode, regardless of immigration status.

Call (718) 557-1379 or (212) 962-4795 

Visit the nyc’s HRA website at 

Call 311 and ask for the tenant helpline

Contact a nonprofit law office near you- visit the website above for a complete list of law office partners that provide free legal help.

The NYC Courts Help Centers

The Civil Court Help Centers provide free walk-in services to litigants who are not represented by an attorney and have cases pending in the Civil Court of the City of New York.

No appointment is necessary to use the Help Center

Visit https://www.nycourts.gov/courtsnychousing/resourcecenter.shtml for more information and phone numbers

Contact the Coalition for the Homeless

Call (212) 776-2039

Visit https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/our-programs/crisis-services/eviction-prevention/