If you need help applying for public benefits or filling taxes, have legal issues related to family law (marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, tce) or domestic violence, or generally think you need a legal advocate, you may want to reach out to a Legal Aid organization.
Below, find statewide organizations as well as county-by-county listings.
Note: For many of these organizations, you will need to have any legal documents available for them to assist you, and some may require income verification to ensure you qualify for pro bono services. (If you make too much for pro bono services, some organizations might offer a sliding scale for fees.)
Statewide Legal Aid Services
Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ). Coordinates the statewide Legal Services system in New Jersey, providing free legal assistance to low-income people in civil matters.
You can call them at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529) Monday through Friday from 8am to 5:30pm or .
This organization can connect you to attorneys that can assist with:
- Family law issues (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Education including special education
- Consumer including bankruptcy and debt collection
- Health care
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Public benefits, foreclosure, landlord/tenant
- immigration
- taxes including earned income tax credit
- employment and unemployment and expungements
- (They don't provide advice on criminal matter or municipal matters like parking tickets or DUIs, but they provide links to relevant directories for those types of issues.)
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
You can call them at 973-275-1175, email them at chlpinfo@chlp.org, or .
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
, through the New Jersey State Bar Association. This is a program that provides pro bono legal support in civil cases to New Jerseyans who have served overseas after the 9/11 attacks.
Call Christina Pateman at 732-937-7514, or call 1-888-541-1900, or email mlap@njsba.com.
This organization can connect you to attorney that can assist with:
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Employment law
- Debtor-creditor law
- Military / administrative law
This organization specializes in the listed specific areas and focuses on serving veterans, parents in Newark's South Ward, and trafficking survivors.
Fill in the , email vlj@vljnj.org or call 973-645-1955.
This organization can connect you to attorney that can assist with:
- Eviction
- Civil lawsuits
- Divorce
- Bankruptcy
- Driver's license restoration
- Criminal record expungement
- Denial of special education services
If you need help with another kind of issue, they would direct you to other legal aid organizations
Legal Aid by County
Atlantic County
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
South Jersey Satellite Office
Phone: (856) 858-9500
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Bergen County
This organization provides assistance to low-income individuals and families in civil cases. They also have multilingual representatives.
To apply for assistance in Bergen County, call 201-487-2166, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Office is located at 190 Moore St., Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601. You can also .
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Housing
- Public benefits
- Family and relationships
- Domestic violence and sexual assault (e.g., restraining and protection orders)
- Consumer rights and debt collection seniors' rights
- Veterans
- Immigration
- Federal taxes
- Expungements
- The Ryan White Project (HIV/AIDS)
- Elder justice
- Disaster assistance
- Education law
Burlington County
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
Central Jersey Satellite Office
Phone: (609) 261-3453
Fax: (609) 261-8596
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Camden County
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
South Jersey Main Office
Phone/TTY: (856) 858-9500
Fax: (856) 858-9545
E-mail: Collingswood@chlp.org
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Essex County
This organization provides legal support to low-income Essex County residents in civil cases. Their free services are limited to households with incomes less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. Sliding scale fees are available for households that make more than that.
They receive calls, so strongly recommend that people fill in their . Someone will be in touch with you via phone, email or text within 2 business days. If you prefer to call, that number is 973-622-0063.
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Eviction
- Unsafe living conditions
- Illegal lockouts
- Utility shutoff
- Collection/garnishment
- Education law
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
North Jersey Office
Phone: (973) 680-5599
Fax: (973) 680-1488
TTY: (973) 680-1116
E-mail: Bloomfield@chlp.org
Administration Office
Phone: (973) 275-1175
Fax: (973) 275-5210
TTY (973) 275-1721
E-mail: chlpinfo@chlp.org
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- public entitlements
- landlord-tenant matters
- family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- consumer law
- foreclosure
- reverse mortgage issues
- barrier-free accessibility
- housing discrimination
- guardianships
- document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Hudson County
This organization aids to low-income individuals and families in civil cases. They also have multilingual representatives.
To apply for assistance in Hudson County, call 201-792-6363, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Office is located at 574 Summit Ave., 2nd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07306. You can also .
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Housing
- Public benefits
- Family and relationships
- Domestic violence and sexual assault (e.g., restraining and protection orders)
- Consumer rights and debt collection seniors' rights
- Veterans
- Immigration
- Federal taxes
- Expungements
- The Ryan White Project (HIV/AIDS)
- Elder justice
- Disaster assistance
- Education law
Mercer County
This organization is currently seeing clients in their offices by appointment. Call the number for help in Mercer County – (609) 695-6249 – and leave a message; an intake or case worker will get back to you within two days. You can also email cjls@lsnj.org – be sure to include your phone number.
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Landlord / tenant
- Family - custody, divorce, support
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Bankruptcy and debt collection
- Public assistance
- Health care
- Foreclosure
- Immigration for survivors of domestic violence
- Unemployment
- Expungements
- (They do not handle criminal matters or municipal court matters like DUIs, parking, or other traffic tickets.)
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
Central Jersey Main Office
Phone: (609) 392-5553
Fax/TTY: (609) 392-5369
E-mail: Trenton@chlp.org
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Middlesex County
This organization is currently seeing clients in their offices by appointment. Call the number for help in Middlesex County – (732) 249-7600 – and leave a message; an intake or case worker will get back to you within two days. You can also email cjls@lsnj.org – be sure to include your phone number.
This organization can connect you to attorneys that can help with:
- Landlord / tenant
- Family - custody, divorce, support
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Bankruptcy and debt collection
- Public assistance
- Health care
- Foreclosure
- Immigration for survivors of domestic violence
- Unemployment
- Expungements
- (They do not handle criminal matters or municipal court matters like DUIs, parking, or other traffic tickets.)
Monmouth County
This organization provides legal assistance for low-income individuals with civil trials in Monmouth County. Types of cases include bankruptcy, landlord/tenant matters, divorce, custody, child support, etc. You can review and their . Open Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm. Call 732-556-8268 or email monmouthlegalaidapps@gmail.com for more information.
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
Shore Area Main Office
Phone: (732) 380-1012
Fax: (732) 380-1015
E-mail: Neptune@chlp.org
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Ocean County
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
Shore Area Satellite Office
Phone: (732) 349-6714
Fax: (732) 349-6935
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney
Passaic County
This organization provides assistance to low-income individuals and familes in civil cases. They also have multilingual representatives.
To apply for assistance in Passaic County, call 973-523-2900, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Office is located at 100 Hamilton Plz. Suite 200, Box 3, Paterson, NJ 07505. You can also .
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Housing
- Public benefits
- Family and relationships
- Domestic violence and sexual assault (e.g., restraining and protection orders)
- Consumer rights and debt collection seniors' rights
- Veterans
- Immigration
- Federal taxes
- Expungements
- The Ryan White Project (HIV/AIDS)
- Elder justice
- Disaster assistance
- Education law
Union County
This organization is currently seeing clients in their offices by appointment. Call the number for help in Union County – (908) 354-4340 – and leave a message; an intake or case worker will get back to you within two days. You can also email cjls@lsnj.org – be sure to include your phone number.
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Landlord / tenant
- Family - custody, divorce, support
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Bankruptcy and debt collection
- Public assistance
- Health care
- Foreclosure
- Immigration for survivors of domestic violence
- Unemployment
- Expungements
They do not handle criminal matters or municipal court matters like DUIs, parking, or other traffic tickets.
. Provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly.
East Jersey Main Office
Phone: (908) 355-8282
Fax: (908) 355-3724
TTY: (908) 355-3369
E-mail: Elizabeth@chlp.org
This organization can connect you to an attorney that can assist with:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Public entitlements
- Landlord-tenant matters
- Family law (like marriage, divorce, juvenile offenses, adoption, and paternity)
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Home care issues involving private duty nursing, personal care assistance, and durable medical equipment
- Consumer law
- Foreclosure
- Reverse mortgage issues
- Barrier-free accessibility
- Housing discrimination
- Guardianships
- Document drafting such as Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney