NEED LEGAL HELP?
Get Help
Volunteer Lawyers Project represents the people of Greater Boston. Our work is possible thanks to our staff and 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 and does not charge clients for legal services.
Request Legal Assistance Online
An email address is 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
Apply Online for Legal Assistance with appeals
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:
Our call center’s hours during the pandemic are:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9AM-12PM
Tuesday & Thursday: 12:30PM-3:30PM
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.
Landlord Advocacy
Are you an owner-occupant landlord? Connect with a lawyer conveniently through LegalSquirrel, a software platform. VLP cannot guarantee an attorney will be available, but we will put you in touch if someone is able to discuss your case with you.
Are you a landlord with a question about an ongoing case?
Contact CELHP Landlord Project Coordinator Yesenia Carrion.
Phone: +1-857-320-6452
Email: ycarrion@vlpnet.org
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.
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.
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.
VLP helps lower income families 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 & 13)
- ID Theft
- Legal issues with taxes
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
If we can’t help you, maybe some of these resources can. Below we have provided emergency hotlines, additional legal help, basic legal information that is available to the public, and trusted links.
Emergency Hotlines and Services
Domestic Violence:
Safelink Domestic Violence Hotline
877-785-2020
TTY 877-521-2601
Confidential hotline, open 24/7.
Translation services in over 140 languages
Child Abuse & Neglect:
800-792-5200
Abuse & Neglect of
Persons with Disabilities:
Disabled Persons Protection Commission Hotline
800-426-9009
TTY 888-822-0350
LGBT+ Crisis Intervention:
866-488-7386
Confidential hotline or online messaging, available 24/7.
Disaster Assistance:
Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency (MEMA)
Call 2-1-1 for non-emergency help
For Seniors:
Elder Abuse Hotline
800-922-2275
800 Age Info
800-243-4636
Questions about Covid-19?
Browse our FAQ’s and resources specific to the pandemic at our Coronavirus Support page.