GET HELP

Need Legal Help?

Volunteer Lawyers Project represents the people of Greater Boston. Our work is possible thanks to our staff and a strong team of volunteers. We stand ready to provide you with legal help. To find out if you qualify, read through the information below.

VLP provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals in the greater Boston area.

Request Legal Assistance Online

An email address and a phone number are required to request help online. 

If you do not have an email address, please call our hotline at 617-603-1700.

Apply Online for Legal Assistance

Click here to begin

Call for Legal Assistance

We represent US citizens, green card holders, and certain other immigrants. Specific rules do apply, and our legal help may be limited due to funding requirements.  Even if you do not qualify for our services, we do our best to offer referrals. 

 

All information shared with VLP is private and confidential, regardless if you are eligible for our assistance.

 

To find out if you qualify for our services, call:

617- 603-1700 or 1-800-342-LAWS (5297)

Please note: we do not accept walk-ins of any kind at the main office or call center.

Our call center’s hours are:

 

Monday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tuesday: 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

 

When you call ERLI, you may need to wait to speak to a Legal Advocate. Please be patient as we assist many people. Whatever you tell ERLI is private and confidential. An ERLI staff person will ask you some questions to find out if you qualify for legal services from VLP or another organization. ERLI may be able to give you information or advice about your legal problem. Some callers are scheduled for 30-minute telephone legal advice sessions with experienced pro bono attorneys.

HELP VLP SET OUR PRIORITIES

Want to help VLP serve you better?  Take a moment to fill out our brief, confidential survey.

This survey is part of VLP’s process of reviewing our priorities and finding out about the legal issues faced by low-income people in the communities we serve. We appreciate you taking a couple minutes to answer these questions.

 

English

 

Esta encuesta forma parte de un proceso que VLP está llevando a cabo para examinar nuestras prioridades y determinar las situaciones legales que enfrentan los residentes de bajos ingresos de las comunidades que servimos. Mucho le agradeceremos que dedique unos pocos minutos a contestar estas preguntas.

 

Español

GRIEVANCE POLICY

If you are dissatisfied with the services provided by a Project staff member or your volunteer attorney, you should first bring your complaint directly to that attorney or staff member. If, after discussing your complaint, you are still dissatisfied, you may call or write the Project’s Executive Director: 

 

Joanna Allison

7 Winthrop Sq. Floor 2, Boston, MA. 02110

(617) 423-0648

 

VLP may call you during and after your case to ask if you are satisfied. Please tell us if you have ideas of how we can serve you better.

FAQS FOR CLIENTS

Questions to Get You Started

Volunteer Lawyers Project serves residents in Greater Boston. If you live in one of these towns, we may be able to help:

Acton, Arlington, Ashland, Bedford, Bellingham, Belmont, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Dedham. Dover, Everett, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Millis, Milton, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, Norwell, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Wollaston, Wrentham.

 

 

Volunteer Lawyers Project also serves low-income landlords in Boston and Worcester.

VLP helps lower income families (under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level) from the Greater Boston Area. To find out if you qualify, please call our ERLI helpline at 617.603.1700.

 

 

We provide legal help, information, or advice in the following areas:

 

Civil Appeals

If you think the decision made at court was wrong or unfair? We may be able to help you appeal the decision. 

 

Please call the Eastern Region Legal Intake helpline and ask to be screened for the Civil Appeals Clinic.  Or apply for assistance online here.

 

Click here for more information about the Civil Appeals Clinic, and for information on how to start an appeal, you can visit the Appeals Court Help Center here.

 

Consumer / Bankruptcy

  • Being harrassed or sued by debt collectors
  • Debt relief
  • Utilities being shut off
  • Bankruptcy (Chapters 7)
  • Identity Theft

Employment

  • Wage theft and hour work violations
  • Unpaid wages
  • Denial of lawful benefits
  • Unemployment insurance
  • Nonpayment of overtime
  • Misclassification of independent contractor

Family Law and Guardianship

  • Guardianship over disabled adult child over 18
  • Family members seeking guardianship of minor children whose parents are unavailable
  • Modifications of child support and child custody
  • Child support
  • Child custody
  • Paternity
  • Divorce
  • Court cases for restraining orders in an abusive relationship

Housing

  • Tenants and families facing eviction
  • Filing a complaint against a landlord for bad living conditions
  • Low-income landlords with problem tenants
  • Homeownership preservation
  • Post-foreclosure eviction

Probate

  • Wills
  • Healthcare proxies
  • Powers of attorney