Legal Resources
Housing
Community Legal Aid gives free civil (non-criminal) legal help to low-income and elderly people, and victims of crime, in central and western Massachusetts. Issue areas include housing, family law, unemployment, SNAP, government benefits, SSI, elder law, bankruptcy, education law and more.
MFHC serves Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester Counties. MFHC provides free legal services and accepts housing discrimination complaints based on race, national origin, color, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, presence of minor children, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, receipt of public assistance, including Section 8 housing assistance, receipt of housing subsidies or rental assistance, and genetic information. MFHC does not represent tenants in cases involving general landlord-tenant disputes.
Springfield No One Leaves is a grassroots member-led organization in Springfield, Massachusetts. We organize residents most directly impacted by the housing crisis and economic inequality to build collective power, defend against displacement, and win long-term community ownership and control over land and housing.
FAMILY
This program represents victims of domestic violence for free in restraining order hearings and family law cases. Additionally, the program gives legal information, advice, and referrals through their Legal Helpline.
Lawyers in CPCS’s Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) represent children and parents in cases in which the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removes children from their homes because of claims of neglect or abuse. These cases are called care and protection (C&P) cases or termination of parental rights cases. CAFL also provides lawyers to children and parents in child requiring assistance (CRA) cases. Some CRA cases involve parents asking the Juvenile Court for help with challenges at home; others involve children who are truant from school or who run away from home. We also represent children and parents in contested guardianship cases.
Community Legal Aid gives free civil (non-criminal) legal help to low-income and elderly people, and victims of crime, in central and western Massachusetts. Issue areas include housing, family law, unemployment, SNAP, government benefits, SSI, elder law, bankruptcy, education law and more.
Civil Matters
Attorney General's
Office Consumer Hotline
617-727-8400
The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office Consumer Hotline provides information about consumer concerns such as: (1) Defective products; (2) Car sales and financing; (3) Auto repossession issues; (4) Debt collection; (5) Mortgage servicing and loan modification; (6) Home improvement contracts; (7) Business closures; (8) Utility bill disputes;(9) Shut off unregulated utilities; and (10) Issues specific to immigrants, veterans, homeless, and elderly residents. You can also file a complaint to report anti-competitive mergers, price-fixing agreements, and other illegal practices.
Attorney General's
Fair Labor Division
413-784-1240
The Attorney General's Fair Labor Division ensures workers are paid the wages they are owed and that businesses that play by the rules don't get undercut by competitors who save costs at the expense of their workers. We ensure employers follow prevailing wage and public construction bid laws, so that tax dollars are spent on responsible employers who provide good jobs in Massachusetts. We also ensure employers follow child labor laws that protect young workers. We accomplish this work through robust enforcement, strong partnerships, and community education.
Attorney General's
Student Loan Ombudsman
888-830-6277
The Attorney General’s Student Loan Ombudsman is tasked with assisting Massachusetts student loan borrowers. The Ombudsman can help you obtain information about your loans, resolve disputes, get mistakes corrected, and explore your repayment options.
Community Legal Aid gives free civil (non-criminal) legal help to low-income and elderly people, and victims of crime, in central and western Massachusetts. Issue areas include housing, family law, unemployment, SNAP, government benefits, SSI, elder law, bankruptcy, education law and more.
Massachusetts Commission
Against Discrimination
413-739-2145
The MCAD is the independent state agency that enforces the Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws by investigating Discrimination Complaints to determine if the case may proceed to conciliation or a public hearing at the Commission. The MCAD also offers remedial and preventative training, and publishes resources online such as model policies, posters, and guides.
Mayor's Office of
Consumer Protection
The Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information (“MOCI”) is a Local Consumer Program (LCP) funded by and working in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General to help consumers resolve complaints who otherwise have to seek legal recourse through the court system. It serves residents of the City of Springfield and its surrounding cities and towns throughout Hampden County, as well as parts of Worcester County. The MOCI cannot guarantee the outcome of a complaint but ensures that it will, with the cooperation of both parties, aim to effectively provide consumer advocacy assistance in hopes of reaching an amicable resolution.
The Victim Rights Law Center gives free, comprehensive legal services to sexual assault victims in Massachusetts with legal issues, including education (K-12 and campus sexual assault), restraining orders (258E and 209A), immigration, housing, privacy (online consultations and Dwyer hearings in a criminal case to protect victims’ records), employment, public benefits, and criminal justice advocacy.
Immigration
This program provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants in New England. Representation includes: (1) asylum seekers; (2) unaccompanied minors; (3) victims of violent crimes; (4) Sexual and Domestic Violence; and (4) Human trafficking. Additionally, the program assists individuals in completing various forms including immigration applications and petitions.
Project Citizenship provides free assistance to eligible permanent residents who seek to become U.S. citizens. Project Citizenship and its partner organizations offer regular citizenship workshops in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. In addition, Project Citizenship partner organizations civics and English instruction.
PAIR provides free immigration legal services to asylum-seekers and immigrants unjustly detained in Massachusetts. We offer asylum intake, legal orientation and one-on-one consultation to immigrants detained by ICE, full legal representation for asylum seekers and survivors of violence (including matters such as bond, custody, asylum, and other forms of removal defense, stays of removal).
The Rian Immigrant Center is a vibrant, multi-service center that provides legal, wellness and education services to immigrants in Massachusetts, advocates for systemic change, and facilitates cross-cultural community building. Rian gives free or low-cost representation in a range of immigration cases. including family and humanitarian immigration application status adjustments, DACA, refugee cases, Temporary Protected Status cases and removal proceedings.
Disability
The Disability Law Center provides free legal advocacy on disability issues that promote the fundamental rights of all people with disabilities to participate fully and equally in the social and economic life of Massachusetts. DLC is the Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts, responsible for providing protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities.
Project Citizenship provides free assistance to eligible permanent residents who seek to become U.S. citizens. Project Citizenship and its partner organizations offer regular citizenship workshops in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. In addition, Project Citizenship partner organizations civics and English instruction.
Veterans
Veterans Legal Services helps homeless and low-income veterans in Massachusetts through free comprehensive legal services, including help with family law, housing, consumer debt/bankruptcy, CORI sealing, benefits (state, federal and veterans' benefits), discharge upgrades and basic estate planning.