The Modest Means Directory is designed to help people in Louisiana who don’t qualify for free legal services to find an attorney who charges reduced rates. To use the online directory, you must be income eligible and agree to the terms of use. The directory provides the name of the attorney, contact information, where their services are available, and their practice areas. For information on fees and services, you will need to contact the attorney directly.
Legal Assistance
Included in this list are organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to victims of abuse and others who qualify. Even if the organization does not have a lawyer available to represent you in court, you may want to ask if there is a lawyer who you can consult with to get advice. Please note that we list the organizations by the town/city or county where the office is located – however, many offices may likely serve multiple counties. We indicate the “counties served” whenever possible. You can click “View All” to look through the complete list of organizations.
Louisiana State Bar Association Modest Means Directory
Caddo
Acadiana Legal Services Corporation - Shreveport Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
Calcasieu
Acadiana Legal Services Corporation - Lake Charles Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
SWLA Law Center
SWLA Law Center provides reduced fee legal services to those who are technically above the poverty level and do not qualify for legal aid. $50 consultation fee available, attorney discusses financials and payment plans with the client.
East Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project
Pro Bono Project volunteers provide critical civil legal services for low income people in the community struggling with some of life’s most difficult problems: family disintegration, loss of housing, bankruptcy, loss of income through disability domestic violence and more.
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) member programs provide direct assistance to victims of domestic violence across the state of Louisiana. LCADV website provides a list of all parishes with individual resources available to provide services to victims of domestic abuse.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - Baton Rouge Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans and St. Charles Parishes. For information in Spanish access website.
Jefferson
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - Gretna Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans and St. Charles Parishes. For information in Spanish access website.
Lafayette
Acadiana Legal Services Corporation - Lafayette Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
Lafayette Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
The Lafayette Bar Association has links to attorneys in different practice areas (but they do not guarantee a low-cost initial consultation). They also have a program called “Counsel on Call” which is a free program that gives self-represented litigants an opportunity to discuss legal matters with volunteer attorneys. Participants are assisted on a first come first served basis and will be limited to a 15 minute conference with the volunteer attorney. Please be advised, these attorneys do not represent you as counsel in court. The program occurs every Friday (excluding holidays) from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Lafayette Bar Association in the Lafayette Parish Law Library which is located at 2607 Johnston Street. The office opens at 8:30 AM and participants are advised to arrive early. There are only 8-12 spots each Friday depending on the number of volunteer attorneys and you are limited to participating in the program once a month. In addition, for people who have filed for a protective order and have a temporary restraining order and upcoming court date, they offer limited representation for the Protective Order Hearing/Rule. Call the Lafayette Bar Association to schedule an appointment or apply in person. If you apply in person please bring your initial petition, TRO, drivers license, and any copies of police reports, photos of injuries, medical records, or pertinent evidence.
Natchitoches
Acadiana Legal Services Corporation - Natchitoches Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
New Orleans
Mil Mujeres
Mil Mujeres provides direct legal services in the area of immigration law to low-income Spanish-speaking survivors of domestic violence, physical assault, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and to Spanish-speaking immigrant children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Their services include help with U visas, VAWA self-petitions and DACA immigration processes. There are costs associated with the services.
Orleans
Project SAVE
Project SAVE provides free, emergency legal representation to survivors of domestic violence in Orleans parish. Staff attorneys help with legal orders to keep survivors safe and to protect their legal rights. Our legal services may include temporary restraining and protection orders, temporary child support, custody, and use of property.
New Orleans Pro Bono Project
The Pro Bono Project helps people by pairing them with a volunteer lawyer who will help them resolve civil legal issues. Contact The Pro Bono Project for additional information on how to apply for services.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - New Orleans Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans and St. Charles Parishes. For information in Spanish access website.
Tulane Law School Clinic
Tulane Law School Clinic provides free legal advice and low-cost representation to current Tulane University students, staff, and faculty. TULAP also provides free notarial services and information regarding legal rights. Please note that TULAP’s services are available ONLY to current Tulane students, faculty, and staff.
Ouachita
Acadiana Legal Services Corporation - Monroe Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
Rapides
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation - Alexandria Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
The Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project
The Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project provides an array of family law and civil matters services through experienced legal professional volunteers. Please contact The Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project for a free initial consultation.
St. Charles
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - Hahnville Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans, and St. Charles parishes. For information in Spanish access website.
St. Mary
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation - Franklin Office
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (ALSC) provides free, specialized, civil legal services to eligible low-income individuals and families across 42 Louisiana parishes. ALSC can assist with a range of legal issues including family law (domestic violence, divorce, custody, adoption, and more), employment, housing, health, consumer rights, education, and other legal areas. To be eligible for services, clients must meet income requirements or age 60 or older, and live in their service area. Contact one of their offices to apply for services.
St. Tammany
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - Covington Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans, and St. Charles parishes. For information in Spanish access website.
Tangipahoa
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - Hammond Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans, and St. Charles parishes. For information in Spanish access website.
Terrebonne
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services - Houma Office
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low-income people in Louisiana. Offering help in the following areas: Domestic Violence and Other Family Problems; Predatory Lenders; Consumer Law Problems; Housing Problems; Low-Income Taxpayer Problems; Government Benefits; Job-related Problems; School Problems; Homelessness Problems; Elderly Services; Successions/Title Clearing; Home Mortgage Foreclosures; Child Victims of Abuse and/or Neglect;(Court appointment to represent Children in Need of Care). Offices available in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, New Orleans, and St. Charles parishes. For information in Spanish access website.