Free & Low-Cost Legal Help
Find free and low-cost legal help in Minnesota. Legal aid organizations, volunteer lawyers, law school clinics, and bar referral services by county and issue.
Not sure where to start?
If you have a legal problem and can't afford a lawyer, start by calling your area's legal aid office. They can help you figure out your options even if they can't take your case. If your issue involves housing, call HOME Line at 866-866-3546 for free tenant advice.
You do not have to face a legal problem alone. Minnesota has legal aid organizations that provide free help to people who qualify based on income. Many also offer free legal clinics, hotlines, and self-help resources regardless of income. Not sure if you need a lawyer? Try our Do I Need a Lawyer? tool.
How to Get Help
- Need help now? Check the free legal clinics below — many are walk-in, no appointment needed.
- Start with your issue. Look at the organizations below and find one that covers your type of legal problem (housing, family, criminal, etc.) and your geographic area.
- Call the intake line. Most organizations have a phone intake process. Call during business hours and be ready to describe your situation.
- Check income eligibility. Most legal aid organizations serve people at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. If you receive public benefits (SNAP, MFIP, SSI, Medical Assistance), you likely qualify automatically.
- If you do not qualify for free legal aid, the Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral service can connect you with a private attorney for a low-cost initial consultation.
Types of Help Available
- Full representation — A lawyer handles your case from start to finish
- Limited scope (unbundled) — A lawyer helps with a specific part of your case (such as reviewing documents or appearing at one hearing)
- Legal advice hotlines — Quick answers to legal questions by phone
- Self-help clinics — Walk-in help completing forms and understanding procedures
- Online resources — Self-help guides, forms, and legal information
Cannot Afford a Lawyer?
Do not give up on your legal rights because you think you cannot afford a lawyer. Free legal help is available. Even if you do not qualify for full representation, many organizations offer free advice, self-help clinics, and online resources that can help you handle your own case.
Free Legal Clinics
These clinics offer free legal help at locations across Minnesota. Most are walk-in — no appointment needed. Schedules change, so call before visiting.
Church-Hosted Clinics
Park Avenue Legal Clinic
At: Park Avenue United Methodist Church, 3400 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: Every Thursday, 2:30–5:00 PM (walk-in); 2nd Friday of the month, 9:30–11:30 AM (Feb–Dec)
Help with: Immigration, family law (1st and 3rd Thursdays), general civil matters
Phone: 612-752-6677
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Cost: Free
Languages: English, Spanish; interpretation available
Eligibility: Income at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines; residents of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties
Doors open at 2:30 PM; limited slots assigned first-come, first-served. Closed holiday weeks, 5th Thursdays, and January. Contact VLN, not the church, for clinic questions.
Brooklyn United Methodist Legal Clinic
At: Brooklyn United Methodist Church, 7200 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Center, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: 2nd Friday of the month, 2:30–4:30 PM (Feb–Dec)
Help with: Immigration, family preparedness, general legal issues
Phone: 612-752-6677
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Income at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines
Walk-in, based on capacity.
Tapestry Church Legal Clinic
At: Oak Grove Lutheran Church, 7045 Lyndale Avenue South, Richfield, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: 2nd Friday of the month, 2:30–4:30 PM (Feb–Dec)
Help with: Immigration, general legal issues
Phone: 612-752-6677
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Income at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines
Walk-in, based on capacity.
Fridley United Methodist Legal Clinic
At: Fridley United Methodist Church, 680 Mississippi Street NE, Fridley, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: 2nd Friday of the month, 1:00–2:30 PM (May–Dec)
Help with: Immigration
Phone: 612-752-6677
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Income at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines
Walk-in, based on capacity. Seasonal: May through December only.
Immigrant Connection at Waite Park Church
At: Waite Park Church, 3258 Johnson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Immigrant Connection — Waite Park (DOJ-accredited)
Schedule: By appointment
Help with: Immigration — family petitions, naturalization, employment authorization, adjustment of status
Phone: 612-699-2529
Appointment required — call ahead
Cost: Free
DOJ-accredited representatives provide immigration legal services.
Minnesota Council of Churches Immigration Legal Services
At: Minnesota Council of Churches, 122 Franklin Avenue West, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Minnesota Council of Churches (DOJ-accredited)
Schedule: Walk-in hours temporarily suspended as of March 2026 during office relocation. Call for current status.
Help with: Immigration — adjustment of status, citizenship, work permits, family reunification
Phone: 612-874-8605
Appointment required — call ahead
Cost: Free
Previously offered Thursday walk-ins 9 AM–noon. Transitioning to new St. Paul location. Call to confirm current services.
Courthouse and Law Library Clinics
Hennepin County Legal Access Point
At: Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South 6th Street, skyway level, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00–11:00 AM; 3rd Tuesday, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Help with: Civil law (not criminal)
Phone: 612-478-8757
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Eligibility: Income at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines
First come, first served. Sign up at 8:00 AM.
Hennepin County Family Justice Center
At: Hennepin County Family Justice Center, 110 South 4th Street, 1st Floor, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: Monday and Thursday, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Help with: Family law
Phone: 612-478-8757
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Sign up at 8:00 AM.
Ramsey County Law Library Clinics
At: Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, 18th Floor, St. Paul, MN
Run by: MN Justice Foundation / Ramsey County District Court
Schedule: General civil: Tuesdays 1:00–4:00 PM (phone). Family law: Mon and Wed, noon–2:00 PM. Criminal defense: 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 1:00–3:00 PM. Expungement: 4th Thursday, 1:00 PM.
Help with: General civil, family law, criminal defense, expungement
Phone: 651-266-8391
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Criminal defense and expungement clinics are walk-in. General civil requires sign-up at 10:00 AM by calling (651) 266-5125.
Washington County Legal Advice Clinics
At: Washington County Law Library, Stillwater, MN
Schedule: Family law: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 1:00–3:30 PM. Civil law: 2nd and 4th Mondays, 1:00–3:30 PM. Criminal law: every Wednesday, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM.
Help with: Family law, civil law, criminal law
Phone: 651-430-6330
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Intake form required. 30-minute free consultations.
Minnesota State Law Library Clinics
At: Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Room G25, St. Paul, MN
Run by: Minnesota State Law Library
Schedule: Probate: 1st Thursday of month (phone, statewide). Appeals and unemployment appeals: by appointment (phone).
Help with: Probate, appeals, unemployment appeals
Phone: 651-297-7651
Appointment required — call ahead
Phone clinics — available statewide.
Justice North — Clay County Clinic
At: Clay County Courthouse, Courthouse basement, Moorhead, MN
Run by: Justice North
Schedule: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 1:00–3:00 PM; every Thursday, 10:00 AM–noon
Help with: Civil legal issues
Phone: 877-696-6529
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Eligibility: No income restrictions
No appointment needed. No income restrictions.
Justice North — Becker County Clinic
At: Becker County Courthouse, Courthouse basement, Detroit Lakes, MN
Run by: Justice North
Schedule: Thursdays, 1:00–3:00 PM
Help with: Civil legal issues
Phone: 877-696-6529
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Eligibility: No income restrictions
No appointment needed. No income restrictions.
Justice North — Otter Tail County Clinic
At: Otter Tail County Courthouse, Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Fergus Falls, MN
Run by: Justice North
Schedule: Wednesdays, noon–2:00 PM
Help with: Civil legal issues
Phone: 877-696-6529
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Eligibility: No income restrictions
No appointment needed. No income restrictions.
Community Clinics
Second Chance Saturday
At: Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th Street, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: 2nd Saturday of every month, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM (closed June and July)
Help with: Criminal record expungement
Phone: 612-752-6677
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
First come, first served.
Brian Coyle Center Legal Clinic
At: Brian Coyle Center (Cedar-Riverside), 420 South 15th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Schedule: Thursdays, 10:00 AM–3:30 PM (immigration); Mon–Thu, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (general intake)
Help with: Immigration, housing, debt collection
Phone: 612-338-5282
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Languages: English, Somali, Spanish
Appointments preferred; walk-ins welcome.
Waite House Legal Clinic
At: Waite House (Phillips neighborhood), 2323 11th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Run by: Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Schedule: Every Monday, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM (immigration); 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 2:00–4:00 PM (general civil)
Help with: Immigration, general civil matters
Phone: 612-721-1681
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Languages: English, Spanish
Appointments preferred; walk-ins welcome.
Legal Rights Center
At: Legal Rights Center, 1611 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (call for intake appointment)
Help with: Criminal defense, juvenile delinquency, criminal expungement, restorative justice
Phone: 612-337-0030
Appointment required — call ahead
Call for intake appointment.
Mitchell Hamline Self-Help Clinic
At: Mitchell Hamline School of Law, 875 Summit Avenue, 2nd Floor, St. Paul, MN
Schedule: Every Saturday during fall and spring semesters; select Saturdays in summer. Virtual drop-ins until 11:00 AM via Zoom.
Help with: Family law (divorce, custody, child support), criminal expungement, eviction expungement
Phone: 651-695-7609
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Virtual drop-in first come, first served. Appointments preferred for in-person.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
At: Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, 450 North Syndicate Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN
Schedule: Mon 10 AM–1 PM; Tue 1–4 PM; Wed 10 AM–1 PM; Thu 3–6 PM
Help with: Immigration — full legal representation for low-income immigrants and refugees
Phone: 800-223-1368
Appointment required — call ahead
Eligibility: Low-income immigrants and refugees
Appointment only. Detention line: (651) 641-1011, Mon–Thu 1–3 PM.
The Advocates for Human Rights
At: The Advocates for Human Rights, 330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN
Schedule: Intake hours: Tuesdays 10:00 AM–12:00 PM; Thursdays 12:00–2:00 PM
Help with: Asylum seekers, immigrant detainees, human rights abuse survivors
Phone: 612-341-9845
Appointment required — call ahead
Eligibility: Asylum seekers and survivors of human rights abuse
Call during intake hours.
Faribault Education Center Legal Clinic
At: Faribault Education Center, 340 9th Avenue SW, Door #22, Faribault, MN
Run by: Volunteer Lawyers Network
Schedule: 4th Friday of the month, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM (Mar–Oct)
Help with: Immigration, general legal issues
Phone: 612-752-6677
Walk-in: Yes — no appointment needed
Walk-in, based on capacity. Seasonal: March through October.
Legal Aid Organizations
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
Toll-free: 888-354-5522
Serves: Hennepin County and surrounding metro area
Issues: Housing, family, public benefits, immigration, disability, consumer
Provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals in the Minneapolis area.
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
Toll-free: 888-575-2954
Serves: Ramsey County and 33 counties in southern Minnesota
Issues: Housing, family, public benefits, immigration, consumer, employment
Provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals in the St. Paul area and southern Minnesota.
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota
Toll-free: 800-622-7266
Serves: Northeastern Minnesota (St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca, Koochiching, and surrounding counties)
Issues: Housing, family, public benefits, consumer, Native American law
Provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals in northeastern Minnesota.
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota
Toll-free: 800-450-8585
Serves: Northwestern Minnesota (Clay, Becker, Polk, Norman, and surrounding counties)
Issues: Housing, family, public benefits, consumer, farm/rural issues
Provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals in northwestern Minnesota.
Anishinabe Legal Services
Toll-free: 800-422-1335
Serves: Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake reservations and surrounding areas
Issues: Tribal law, housing, family, public benefits, civil rights
Provides free legal services to Native Americans in northern Minnesota.
Volunteer Lawyers Network
Serves: Hennepin County
Issues: Family, housing, expungement, immigration, estate planning, bankruptcy
Connects low-income individuals with volunteer attorneys for free legal help.
Christian Legal Society of Minnesota
Serves: Twin Cities metro area and statewide
Issues: Pro bono legal clinics, attorney referral directory, legal aid
Fellowship of Christian lawyers, judges, and law students providing pro bono legal clinics, attorney referrals, and advocacy for justice and service to the poor.
Specialized Services
LawHelpMN
Issues: All civil legal issues — self-help guides, forms, legal aid finder
Statewide online resource for finding legal help, self-help information, and court forms.
HOME Line
Toll-free: 866-866-3546
Issues: Tenant rights, eviction defense, security deposits, repairs, lease issues
Statewide tenant hotline providing free legal advice on housing issues.
Tubman
Toll-free: 866-223-1111
Issues: Domestic violence, sexual abuse, orders for protection, safety planning
Provides legal advocacy, shelter, and support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Minnesota Disability Law Center
Toll-free: 800-292-4150
Issues: Disability rights, special education, public benefits, housing, employment discrimination
Provides free legal services to Minnesotans with disabilities on disability-related issues.
Children's Law Center of Minnesota
Issues: Child welfare, foster care, juvenile justice, education, immigration for children
Provides free legal representation for children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
University of Minnesota Law School Clinics
Issues: Immigration, housing, criminal defense, civil litigation, Indian law, family law, tax
Law students supervised by licensed attorneys provide free legal services through multiple clinics.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law Clinics
Issues: Criminal defense, immigration, mediation, elder law, civil advocacy
Law students supervised by licensed attorneys provide free legal services through clinical programs.
University of St. Thomas School of Law Clinics
Issues: Immigration, entrepreneurship, elder law, appellate practice
Law students supervised by licensed attorneys provide free legal services in specialized areas.
Minnesota Homeownership Center
Toll-free: 866-462-6466
Issues: Foreclosure prevention counseling, homebuyer education, financial coaching
Connects homeowners facing foreclosure with free HUD-approved housing counselors across Minnesota.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Issues: Immigration, deportation defense, asylum, DACA, TPS, naturalization, family petitions, know-your-rights trainings
Provides free immigration legal services, community education, and know-your-rights trainings for immigrants across Minnesota.
The Advocates for Human Rights
Issues: Asylum representation, human rights, immigration
Provides free legal representation for asylum seekers through volunteer attorneys and law students.
CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha)
Issues: Workers' rights, know-your-rights trainings, wage theft, workplace safety, community organizing
Workers' center providing know-your-rights trainings, workplace advocacy, and community organizing for immigrant workers.
Lawyer Referral
Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral
Toll-free: 800-292-4152
Referral service connecting people with private attorneys. Initial consultation typically $50 for 30 minutes.