How to apply for help at Legal Aid

Legal Aid’s services are free. 

If you contact us, we will keep your application information confidential, following the legal ethics rules for lawyers in DC.

Online: You can apply for help with a legal matter in any of Legal Aid's practice areas at any time by using our online form.

Phone Legal Aid: Or you can apply for help by phone at 202-628-1161 (on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm).

Walk-In to Legal Aid Offices: You can also visit one of our offices at the locations, days and times listed below. 

  • Anacostia Professional Building (the Big Chair) at 2041 Martin Luther King Jr . Ave. SE Suite 201 on Mondays and Thursdays between 10:00 and 2:30. 

  • NW Office at 1331 H St. NW, Suite 250 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12:30 and 4:00. 

Phone a Legal Hotline (staffed by Legal Aid DC and other DC legal services organizations) or Courthouse Office: 

  • For a debt collection matters, you can call the Debt Collection Defense hotline at 202-851-3387.
  • For a rental housing matter, you can call the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network at 202-780-2575.
  • For a family law matter, you can call:

    • The Family Law Assistance Network at 202-844-5428.

    • The Child Support Resource Center at 202-791-3996

    • For a domestic violence matter, you can go to D.C. Superior Court or call:

      • The Domestic Violence Intake Center (NW) at 202-879-0152

      • The Domestic Violence Intake Center (SE) at 202-879-1500

We cannot guarantee that Legal Aid will be able to represent you.

Legal Aid helps people with low household income.

Legal Aid generally helps people with income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for some cases and up to 300% of poverty for other cases.  

See if you might qualify for our services based on your monthly income and household/family size (the number of adults plus children in the household)

  • Household/Family Size of 1 

    • 200% of Poverty -- $2,430

    • 300% of Poverty -- $3,645 

  • Household/Family Size of 2 

    • 200% of Poverty -- $3,287 

    • 300% of Poverty -- $4,930 

  • Household/Family Size of 4 

    • 200% of Poverty -- $5,000 

    • 300% of Poverty -- $7,500  

Legal Aid helps with legal problems or cases in the District of Columbia.  

If you do not live in DC, but your legal problem or case is in DC, we may be able to help you.  

If your legal problem or case is in another city or state, go to LawHelp.org to find help in that city or state.

Legal Aid only helps with some types of legal problems.  

Click here to find out more about what types of legal problems we handle. 

For information about other places to look for legal help in the DC, go to Legal Aid’s Referral List or LawHelp.org. 

Legal Aid cannot help everyone who might be eligible for our services. If we cannot help you, we may be able to give you referral information for other legal organizations.

 

What happens when I apply for help online?

Submit an online intake application through our website

Legal Aid reviews your application and tries to get back to you within 2 weeks

Step 1: 

  • Fill out an intake application online here. You do not need to call the intake line if you are filling out an online application.
  • Upload documents related to your legal problem if you have any.  If you don’t have documents to upload, you can still submit the online application.

Step 2: 

  • Legal Aid will review your online application.
  • If we might be able to help you, someone will contact you by phone or email to follow up with you.
  • If we are not able to help you, we will send you an email to let you know.

What happens when I call Legal Aid’s intake line for help?

Provide basic info about your issue

Schedule an intake interview if Legal Aid may be able to help

Complete an in-depth intake interview

Step 1: 

  • An intake specialist will gather basic information about you and your legal problem.
  • If no one answers when you call, please leave a message with your name, phone number, and a brief description of your legal problem.  An intake specialist will call you back if it is a problem we can help you resolve.

Step 2: 

  • If you have a problem that Legal Aid might be able to help you with, a Legal Aid staff member will call you back to complete a full intake interview at that time or at a later time when you are available.

We’re here to help you