Free and low-cost legal help in DFW: You don't need to be rich to access justice

Legal representation shouldn't be only for people who can afford $300/hour. Here's every free and low-cost legal resource in DFW.

Free legal aid organizations:

1. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (lanwt.org)

   • Serves Dallas, Tarrant, and surrounding counties
   • Civil matters: housing, family law, consumer protection, public benefits
   • Income qualification: generally 125-200% of federal poverty level
   • Phone: 888-529-5277

2. Lone Star Legal Aid (lonestarlegal.org)

   • Covers East and Southeast Texas including parts of DFW
   • Similar practice areas
   • Phone: 800-733-8394

3. Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) (dallasbar.org/dvap)

   • Free legal clinics throughout Dallas County
   • Walk-in clinics at multiple locations
   • No income requirement for initial consultation

4. Tarrant County Lawyer Referral Service

   • $20 initial consultation
   • 817-336-4101

Law school clinics (free):

• SMU Dedman School of Law — civil and criminal clinics
• UNT Dallas College of Law — community lawyering clinic
• Texas A&M School of Law (Fort Worth) — multiple clinics

Self-help resources:

• TexasLawHelp.org — Free legal information, forms, and guides for all civil legal issues in Texas
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid — self-help packets for common legal issues

For specific issues:

• Domestic violence: Genesis Women's Shelter (free legal representation)
• Immigration: Catholic Charities Dallas (ccdallas.org)
• Tenant rights: Texas Tenant Advisor (texastenant.org)
• Workers' rights: Workers Defense Project (workersdefense.org)

Sources:

• Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (lanwt.org)
• Lone Star Legal Aid (lonestarlegal.org)
• Dallas Bar Association — DVAP
• TexasLawHelp.org

Access to justice is a right, not a privilege. These resources exist. Use them.