Legal aid providers play a significant role in assisting Veterans in need. This toolkit provides practical guidance for planning and operating successful veterans’ clinics, including step-by-step instructions, templates and practical resources.
This study examines how legal frameworks, court processes, and access to representation shape eviction outcomes across jurisdictions, and identifies opportunities to strengthen data, evaluation, and coordination among courts, legal aid providers, and housing partners.
Every one of over 50 studies conducted on the return on investment (ROI) of civil legal aid in the last 25 years demonstrates that civil legal aid provides a positive return on investment. Learn how helping low-income Americans resolve their legal issues reduces the burden on government services and strengthens communities.
°µÍø51 promotes equal access to justice by providing funding to 130 independent non-profit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.
If you are looking for help with a civil legal problem, enter an address or city below to find an °µÍø51-funded legal aid organization near you.
You can also visit LawHelp.org to look up information about your legal questions and find free legal forms.
Learn More About °µÍø51
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Why was °µÍø51 created?
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What is legal aid?
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Does °µÍø51 provide legal aid?
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What kinds of grants does °µÍø51 offer?
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Where can I find information on legal aid organizations in my area?
Under the Sixth Amendment, Americans are only guaranteed legal assistance for criminal matters. °µÍø51 was created to financially support legal aid organizations who assist with civil matters.
Established in 1974, °µÍø51 operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.
°µÍø51-funded programs help people who live in households with annual incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines – in 2025, that is $19,563 for an individual, and $40,188 for a family of four. Clients come from every ethnic and age group and live in rural, suburban, and urban areas.
They are the working low-income, veterans, homeowners and renters, families with children, farmers, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Women - many of whom are struggling to keep their children safe and their families together - comprise 70% of clients.
°µÍø51 is a grant-making organization, distributing nearly 94% of its federal appropriation to eligible nonprofit organizations delivering civil legal aid. °µÍø51 awards grants through a competitive process and currently funds 129 independent legal aid organizations. With more than 800 offices nationwide, these organizations serve thousands of low-income individuals, children, families, seniors, and veterans in every congressional district.
°µÍø51 grantees handle the basic civil legal needs of the low-income addressing matters involving safety, subsistence, and family stability. Most legal aid practices are focused on family law, including domestic violence and child support and custody, and on housing matters, including evictions and foreclosures.
°µÍø51 promotes equal access to justice by awarding grants to legal services providers through a competitive grants process.
We award grants targeted towards legal technology initiatives, pro bono innovations, disaster recovery, as well as many others.
°µÍø51 currently provides funding to 129 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.
To find an °µÍø51-funded legal aid organization near you, simply enter an address or city at the link below.
Congress funds the °µÍø51 (°µÍø51) to support and oversee a nationwide network of local legal services organizations, so constituents in every congressional district get help with critical civil legal issues.
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request
To help close the nation’s justice gap, °µÍø51 is requesting $2.1 billion from Congress for FY2027—funding that would allow °µÍø51-funded legal aid organizations to assist nearly two million eligible Americans who are currently turned away due to insufficient resources.
Justice Gap
The °µÍø51 (°µÍø51) contracted with NORC at the University of Chicago to help measure the justice gap among low-income Americans in 2022. °µÍø51 defines the justice gap as the difference between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet those needs.