Houston Area Legal Resources

Disability Rights Texas  Legal advocacy in disability-related issues, including access and discrimination.

Advocate Legal Senior Center  Guardianship, probate, money management and Medicaid financial planning.

Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA)  Emergency magistrate's orders, protective orders, information, representation and referral for victims of domestic violence and their minor children. Provides some legal representation if client meets screening guidelines.

American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU)  Information and assistance with civil liberty issues. Intakes are taken by mail only and must meet the selection criteria listed on the website.

Consejos Legales  Project of the Houston Mexican American Bar Association. Free legal advice in Spanish in legal, financial and citizenship matters. Does not provide legal representation in court.

Dispute Resolution Center  Free Service of the HBA that handles disputes between neighbors, consumers, landlords/tenants, employers/employees, families, and friends.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  Federal agency. Investigates employment discrimination complaints.

Family Violence Legal Hotline  800-374-HOPE Provides legal counseling and information about legal rights and options for victims of family violence

Fort Bend Lawyers Care Legal Line  Monthly free legal advice.

Fort Bend County Women's Center  Legal advocacy, emergency shelter, counseling, crisis intervention, financial assistance, transportation, job training, service referrals.

Gulf Coast Legal Foundation  713-652-5911

Harris County Area Agency on Aging  Provides persons 60 and over with administrative assistance, abuse/neglect referral, legal awareness education, health care information, long-term care insurance information, public benefits counseling/information, ombudsman services.

Harris County Bar Referral Service Referral Service   

Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association Referral Service

Harris County District Attorney's Office

Harris County Domestic Relations Office  Assists with the enforcement of child support, visitation and paternity problems and provides family mediation and parenting conferences.

Houston Area Women's Center  Attorney and service referrals, shelter, and counseling for victims of domestic abuse.

Houston Bar Association Legal Line  Any type of legal question is welcome.

Houston Lawyer Referral Service  Referral Service

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc.  Provides pro bono legal services for low-income and indigent residents of Harris County by promoting volunteerism among local attorneys.

Justice for Children  Child custody cases involving documented child abuse.

Legal Hotline for Texans  Answers questions free of charge in many areas of law, including consumer matters, housing and public benefits, wills and probate, guardianship, taxes, pension benefits and personal injury. Persons eligible for services are Texans 60 years of age or older, Medicare recipients, nursing home residents, and/or victims of violent crime and their family members who are indigent and either 60 years of age or older, a person with a disability or a person unable to access legal services locally. Referrals for reduced-cost legal services are available in some areas of the state.

Lone Star Legal Aid (Houston)  General civil legal services

Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF)  Racial discrimination, voting, and other civil rights cases.

Montgomery County Women's Center  Domestic violence issues, including protective orders and other family law matters.

South Texas College of Law Civil Clinic  

Southeast Texas Legal Clinic Provides assistance with civil matters for clients who are elderly or have HIV/AIDS

State Bar of Texas - Disaster Legal Hotline  You will be screened for eligibility based on income, residency, and case type.

State Bar of Texas - Statewide Lawyer Referral Service  For referrals to Texas attorneys in cities or counties without a local referral service

Texas Attorney General - Child Support  

Texas Attorney General - Senior Citizens  Legal information for senior citizens

Texas Civil Rights Project  Information, representation, and referral in civil rights cases.

Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources (Texas C-Bar)  Assists community groups with low-income housing development and other low-income community group efforts.

TexasLawHelp.org  Free online legal services directory

Texas Ratepayers' Organization to Save Energy  Represents residential and low-income consumers to promote energy efficiency and fair utility programs. Does not provide legal representation in court.

University of Houston Center for Consumer Law/People's Lawyer  Prof. Richard Alderman of the U of H Law Center maintains a website and a Center for Consumer Law offering a variety of legal information for the public including consumer tenant's rights, small claims courts, and other issues.

YMCA Immigration Services Civil legal services for immigrant victims of crime; T and U visas and VAWA and asylum cases not qualifying under other programs. Assists battered immigrant men, women, and children with pro bono legal representation for VAWA cases. Pro bono representation for all political asylum proceedings.