New York Legal Assistance Group: Free Legal Help in NY (2026)
Short answerYes. A New York legal assistance group, such as a legal aid nonprofit listed on LawHelpNY, can often give free help if your income is low, and the state also offers free court help centers, an online legal Q&A and court-appointed lawyers under County Law Article 18-B.
Last verified: November 9, 2026 against the New York State Unified Court System, LawHelpNY and New York State Bar Association pages
A New York legal assistance group is a nonprofit or court program that gives free or low-cost legal help to New Yorkers who cannot afford a private lawyer. Each program sets its own rules about who it serves and which problems it takes, so the fastest route is knowing where to look first.
Key facts
- LawHelpNY lists more than 600 free and low-cost legal service organizations across New York State.
- NY Free Legal Answers lets you post a civil (non-criminal) question for a volunteer New York lawyer to answer online.
- County Law Article 18-B requires each county to assign a lawyer to a person charged with a crime who cannot afford one.
- In New York City, tenants facing eviction in housing court with household income below 200% of the federal poverty level are entitled to a free lawyer under Local Law 136 of 2017 (recodified as Local Law 54 of 2021).
- Court Help Centers, forms and guides are free at nycourts.gov/courthelp.
What is a New York legal assistance group and who can use one?
A legal assistance group is usually a nonprofit that employs lawyers or runs a volunteer lawyer program for people with low incomes. The New York Legal Assistance Group (often shortened to NYLAG) is one well-known nonprofit of this kind, and it appears in the LawHelpNY directory. The New York Legal Assistance Group and similar nonprofits set services, locations and eligibility by program, so read the group’s own intake information before you call.
LawHelpNY says free and low-cost services are meant for people whose work does not pay enough to afford a lawyer. It does not publish one statewide income cutoff, because each organization sets its own. Many ask about household size, income and the type of case.
How do you find a New York legal assistance group near you?
Start with LawHelpNY, because it lists many providers at once, including each New York legal assistance group that takes your kind of case. You enter your ZIP code, city or county and pick a topic such as eviction, tenant rights or small claims. The site also offers a LiveHelp chat, Know Your Rights guides on 11 areas of law (not criminal law) and a Spanish version called AyudaLegalNY.
- LawHelpNY: a directory of free and low-cost providers sorted by place and topic.
- NY Free Legal Answers: an online advice clinic run with the New York State Bar Association, where volunteer lawyers answer civil questions.
- CourtHelp: the court system’s page for forms, court addresses, Help Centers and guides on many case types.
- Lawyer Referral Service: the State Bar’s referral program for people who can pay a reduced or regular fee.
How does New York Free Legal Answers work?
You register, answer screening questions about your income and post a civil question. A volunteer lawyer licensed in New York answers online. The lawyers cannot call you or represent you in court, and the State Bar says they cannot promise an answer before a court date or other deadline.
When the service launched in 2016, users had to be 18 or older and could ask three questions a year. Check the site for the current limits before you rely on those numbers.
What free court services work alongside a New York legal assistance group?
Courthouses offer several free services. The court system lists Court Help Centers, an E-Filing Resource Center for NYSCEF filings, Ask a Law Librarian, do-it-yourself forms and interpreters through its language help program. These services explain the process and the paperwork and do not replace a New York legal assistance group, because court staff cannot give you legal advice about what to argue.
The court system also runs a free Look Up a Lawyer tool for checking whether an attorney is licensed in New York, a Fee Dispute Resolution Program for disagreements over a lawyer’s bill and a process for complaints about a lawyer.
Can you get a free lawyer in New York court?
Yes, in some cases. County Law Article 18-B requires each county to provide a lawyer to a person charged with a crime who cannot afford one, starting at the first court appearance for arraignment. County Law § 722-a defines a crime broadly, covering felonies, misdemeanors and other offenses that carry jail time, but not traffic infractions.
Article 18-B is also the way adults get assigned lawyers in many Family Court cases. Under Family Court Act § 262, eligible adults can have a lawyer in matters such as abuse and neglect, family offense and custody cases. Children get an attorney for the child under Article 2, Part 4 of the Family Court Act. To learn more about criminal cases, see our Crime & Courts guides.
Civil cases are different. Outside the situations above, New York does not guarantee a free lawyer in civil cases such as most debt, consumer or contract disputes. That gap is why legal aid nonprofits and pro bono programs are so busy.
New York legal assistance group help in New York City: the tenant right to counsel
New York City has a right to counsel for tenants. Local Law 136 of 2017, recodified as Local Law 54 of 2021, provides full legal representation to households facing eviction in housing court with income below 200% of the federal poverty level, and brief legal assistance to households above that line. A city brief on the program is dated December 2021, so confirm current details with the city or the housing court.
Tenants outside New York City do not have this same citywide right, so people who need a New York legal assistance group in Rochester, Buffalo, Long Island or the Hudson Valley should search LawHelpNY by county for the local provider. For related housing questions, see our Housing & Property guides and our article on New York squatters’ rights.
Does a New York legal assistance group serve Rochester, Buffalo or Flushing?
LawHelpNY lets you search by ZIP code, city or county, so you can look for providers near Rochester, Buffalo or Flushing in Queens. Pick the topic that matches your problem, such as foreclosure, family law or tenant rights, and compare the intake rules of each result. Franchise or business problems are often outside a legal aid group’s focus, so a State Bar referral may fit better.
Myths and facts about a New York legal assistance group
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Free legal help is only for people on public benefits. | LawHelpNY says services are for people whose work does not pay enough to afford a lawyer. Each provider sets its own income rules. |
| The court will give you a lawyer in every case. | Assigned lawyers cover criminal charges and certain Family Court matters. Most civil cases have no guaranteed lawyer. |
| An online Q&A lawyer will take your case. | Free Legal Answers volunteers cannot call you or represent you in court. |
| A court clerk can tell you how to win. | Court staff and Help Centers explain procedures and forms, not legal strategy. |
Real New York examples
- A Queens tenant gets a petition. A household in New York City below 200% of the federal poverty level may qualify through a New York legal assistance group or city provider for a free lawyer in housing court. A household above that line may still get brief legal assistance.
- A Buffalo parent has a custody hearing. An eligible adult can ask the Family Court for an assigned lawyer under
Family Court Act § 262. - A Rochester resident has a debt letter. This is a civil matter, so the better fit is usually a legal aid provider found on LawHelpNY or an online question on NY Free Legal Answers.
What should you prepare before you call?
- Write a short timeline of what happened and the dates of any court notices.
- Keep every paper you received, including petitions, summonses and letters.
- Know your household size and income, since most programs ask.
- Note any hearing date, because deadlines can limit which programs can help.
- Ask each provider what they can and cannot do before you share long details.
FAQ about the New York legal assistance group and free legal help
Is NYLAG the same as legal aid?
NYLAG is one nonprofit among many legal service providers in New York. The Legal Aid Society and other groups are separate organizations with their own rules. LawHelpNY lists many of them so you can compare.
Who qualifies for free legal help in New York?
It depends on the provider. LawHelpNY describes free help as meant for people whose work does not pay enough to afford a lawyer. Most groups ask about income, household size and the type of problem before accepting a case.
Can I get free legal advice online in New York?
Yes. NY Free Legal Answers lets income-eligible users post civil questions for volunteer New York lawyers to answer, and LawHelpNY offers a LiveHelp chat. These services give information, and the lawyers do not represent you in court.
Does New York give me a lawyer if I am charged with a crime?
Yes, if you cannot afford one. County Law Article 18-B requires each county to assign counsel to people charged with a crime who are unable to pay, beginning at arraignment.
Do tenants outside New York City get a free lawyer?
The city right to counsel under Local Law 136 of 2017 applies in New York City. Tenants elsewhere should search LawHelpNY by county for local legal aid or pro bono programs.
How do I check that a lawyer is licensed?
Use the court system’s free Look Up a Lawyer service. It shows whether an attorney is licensed in New York State.
What changed on this page
- November 9, 2026: Page published. Details were checked against the New York State Unified Court System, LawHelpNY and State Bar pages. See our corrections policy and editorial policy for how we update pages.
If this affects you
Contact a New York legal assistance group listed on LawHelpNY, your county’s assigned counsel office or the Court Help Center at your courthouse. If you can pay a fee, the New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a New York-licensed attorney, and its pro bono office can be reached at 518-463-3200. This page is general legal information, not legal advice.
