Legal Resources in Western MA

Free Legal Services

Find legal support in Massachusetts:


The Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder can help low income residents find a lawyer and get help with a variety of legal issues.

Key resources in Western MA:


Community Legal Aid and their Central West Justice Center serve low income households, immigrant families, older adults (60 and over), victims of crime and survivors of homicide victims, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people who have experienced housing discrimination


Western New England School of Law for Social Justice provides free legal support on: consumer debt collections, small claims, financial literacy, criminal offender record information (CORI) sealing and expungement, and gender affirming name changes and government identification changes. They serve marginalized, underserved, BIPOC, low income, women, LGBTQ+, and immigrants communities


Hampden County Bar Legal Clinic serves low income residents of western Mass.


Berkshire Center for Justice serves low income residents of Berkshire county residents


Dial-A-Lawyer program by Massachusetts Bar Associations offers a hotline for free legal advice on the first Wednesday of the month between 5:30-7:30 pm. There is no limit to the number of calls you can make.


Court Service Centers helps people navigate the court system. They can answer basic questions, help with court forms, give information about court rules, procedures and practices, and connect people with community resources. 


Legal Kiosks allow people to find free civil legal provider nearby, access legal resources, print documents, and attend online/remote court hearings in privacy. Kiosks are set up throughout Springfield with more coming to Western MA.


Mass Free Legal Answers offers a virtual advice clinic for qualifying users where legal questions can be answered by pro bono attorneys at no cost.


Mass Legal Help offers free information about your legal rights in Massachusetts on a variety of topics. 

Record Sealing

Find local Legal Support & Advocacy programs that help with finding a lawyer, getting legal advice, obtaining a copy of your CORI, CORI sealing, and record expungement.


Visit Mass Legal Help for information on CORIs and knowing your rights.

Housing

Visit our Legal Section on the housing resource page.

Immigration

Know Your Rights


Whether you’re a U.S. citizen, a green card holder, a student on a visa, or undocumented, you have legal rights. Learn more from the MIRA Coalition.


Get more information to be prepared for any interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

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Free and Low-Cost Legal Services for Immigrants and Detainees




  • City of Boston Immigration Clinic offers free immigration clinics where constituents meet privately over the phone with volunteer immigration attorneys to discuss the immigration process. Consultations are limited to 15 minutes. Interpretation and disability accommodations are available.
  • Open on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 12 pm to 3 pm.
  • To schedule an appointment with a volunteer lawyer, call 617-635-2980 or email immigrantadvancement@boston.gov.



  • Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice provides expert pro bono legal services to asylum-seeking families that have been separated, detained in family detention centers, and/ or subjected to expedited removal through the dedicated docket.
  • Call 617-417-4325





To find someone who is already detained by ICE, use the Online Detainee Locator System.

LGBTQ+

Western New England School of Law offers free legal advice, information and representation to people regarding gender affirming name changes and government identification changes.


GLAD's Lawyer Referrals service can help find an attorney in New England.


Lambda Legal's Help desk provides general legal information and resources relating to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and HIV status.

Family Law

The Family Law Unit at Community Legal Aid's Central West Justice Center provides legal assistance to domestic violence victims and other vulnerable clients on a variety of family matters. They serve low-income western MA residents and immigrant families.


The Probate and Family Court Self Help Center is a hub of information related to family matters. You can find necessary forms and note where and how to file these forms.


The Children's Law Center of MA Helpline provides legal information, resources, and referrals to youth, parents, attorneys, and helping professionals relating to the rights of children and youth in the following areas: Education, Immigration, Child Welfare/Custody, Juvenile Justice, and other legal issues. Bilingual assistance is subject to staff availability.


Visit Mass Legal Help for information related to children and families.

Consumer Debt

Western New England School of Law offers free legal advice, information and representation to people regarding consumer debt collections, small claims and financial literacy.


MA Attorney General's Office Consumer Hotline provides information about consumer concerns.


Visit Mass Legal Help for information related to consumer & debt.

Health

Health Law Advocates helps low income residents get health care and health coverage. They also help with medical debt.


Health Care for All Helpline helps Mass residents at all income levels enroll into health insurance coverage and troubleshoot issues with state programs.


Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee provides information and advice to individuals involved with the Massachusetts mental health system. They accept intake request for these legal areas: access to education, family law, group home evictions and access to mental health treatment.

Other

Disability



Disability Law Center of Massachusetts (DLC) provides information, referral, technical assistance and representation regarding legal rights and services for people with disabilities. Individuals who experience discrimination, abuse, neglect or denial of services because of their disability should call DLC.

Education


Community Legal Aid's Central West Justice Center provides legal assistance to students from low-income families who are having issues related to special education, school discipline, bullying, language access, and protections for students experiencing homelessness. 


The Children's Law Center of MA (CLCM) provides comprehensive services to students with disabilities in restraint and seclusion, school discipline (suspension/expulsion), special education and related matters. The CLCM also advocates for non-disabled students in school discipline cases, and in education matters, including homelessness, residency, and school records.

Labor


Community Legal Aid's Central West Justice Center offers legal representation for low income residents and immigrants in Western MA who have wage or employment discrimination claims.   


MA Office of Attorney General's Fair Labor Hotline provides information about wage and hour laws, and other laws protecting workers in Massachusetts. If you think that an employer did not follow workplace laws, you may file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office.

Older Adults


The Elder Law Unit at Community Legal Aid's Central West Justice Center provides legal services older adults involving housing, SSI and Social Security disability and other Social Security issues, access to healthcare benefits including Medicare, nursing home rights, SNAP (food stamps) and other benefits, family law, including physical abuse, and financial exploitation. Their Central West Justice Center serves western MA residents and immigrant families.


MA Office of Attorney General's Elder Hotline helps older adults with a range of issues such as abuse and exploitation, debt, health insurance, long-term care and identity theft.

Sexual Assault


MA Victim Rights Law Center offers legal advocacy and aid for sexual assault survivors.

Veterans


The Veterans Unit at Community Legal Aid's Central West Justice Center provides legal assistance to veterans and their families on cases involving housing, veteran-specific benefits, family law, character of service determinations, and discharge status issues. Their Central West Justice Center serves western MA residents and immigrant families. 


Veterans Legal Services provides free legal assistance to military veterans throughout Mass. They provide services for a variety of legal issues.

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