General Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services (Free or Low-Cost):

• Lone Star Legal Aid: This is the primary provider of free civil legal services to low-income individuals in Texas. They handle a wide range of issues.

   

  • What they offer: Help with family law, housing, employment, public benefits, consumer issues, and more.
  • Website/Contact: https://www.lonestarlegal.org/office/houston-office/ 

• Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL): A service of the Houston Bar Association, providing pro bono legal services to low-income residents of Harris County.

   

  • What they offer: Similar to Lone Star Legal Aid, covering various civil legal matters. They often run clinics.
  • Website/Contact: https://www.makejusticehappen.org/legal-education/pro-bono-resources/ 

• Houston Bar Association (HBA) LegalLine: Offers free legal advice over the phone from volunteer attorneys on certain evenings.

   

  • What they offer: General legal advice and referrals.
  • How it works: Users typically need to register online or call on specific dates. Check the HBA website for the schedule.
  • Website/Contact: https://www.hba.org/?pg=LegalLine 

• Houston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: If someone doesn’t qualify for free services but needs a lawyer, this service can help them find a qualified attorney (usually with an initial consultation fee).
  • Website/Contact: https://hlrs.org/

Immigration Law Resources:

• YMCA International Services Houston: Provides comprehensive immigration legal services, often at low cost or free for eligible individuals. They are well-regarded.
  • What they offer: Assistance with visas, green cards, citizenship, DACA, asylum, etc.
  • Website/Contact: https://ymcahouston.org/locations/ymca-international-services 

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance: A major provider of immigration legal services.

   

  • What they offer: Similar to YMCA, covering a broad range of immigration cases.
  • Website/Contact: https://catholiccharities.org/cabrini/ 

• Justice For Our Neighbors – Houston/East Texas (JFON): Provides free and low-cost, high-quality immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
  • What they offer: Direct representation, education, and advocacy.
  • Website/Contact: https://iljnetwork.org/welcome-to-the-jfon-family/ 

• American Gateways (Offices in Austin, San Antonio, Waco, but may have resources/partnerships relevant to Houston or statewide): Provides legal services, education, and advocacy to low-income immigrants and refugees.

   

  • Website/Contact: https://www.americangateways.org/get-help 

Specific Issue Areas:

• Family Law:
  • Many of the general legal aid providers (Lone Star Legal Aid, HVL) handle family law cases (divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence).
  • Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA): Provides legal representation and support services to victims of domestic abuse.

     

    • Website/Contact: https://avda.org/get-help/legal-aid/ 

• Houston Area Women’s Center: Offers shelter, counseling, and advocacy, which may include legal advocacy or referrals for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

   

  • Website/Contact: https://hawc.org/ 

• Housing & Tenant Rights:

• Lone Star Legal Aid and Houston Volunteer Lawyers often assist with eviction defense and other housing issues.

• City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department: May offer resources or information for tenants and landlords.

   

  • Website/Contact: https://www.houstontx.gov/housing/ 

Local University Legal Clinics:

• University of Houston Law Center Legal Clinics: Often have clinics covering various areas like consumer law, family law, and sometimes housing or immigration. https://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/contacts.asp 

• South Texas College of Law Houston Legal Clinics: Similar to U of H, they run various clinics. https://www.stcl.edu/academics/legal-clinics/request-legal-assistance/ 

• Thurgood Marshall School of Law (Texas Southern University) Legal Clinics: Also provide community legal services. https://www.tsulaw.edu/legal_clinic/clinical_offerings.html