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Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER AND CANNOT AFFORD ONE

You may be able to qualify for an attorney who will take your case at a reduced rate through the Houston Lawyers Referral Service ("HLRS").  For more information on this program, call 713/237-9429.  If you need subsidized legal assistance, you should try HLRS first- this is your best chance of finding help quickly.

If you are unemployed, or otherwise do not qualify for a reduced rate attorney, you may seek assistance from a volunteer attorney who will provide free legal help as a public service.  To qualify for free legal assistance, you must fall within strict verifiable income guidelines.  These services will try to find an attorney willing to take your case for free.  These services are available whether you are a debtor or a creditor. 

To find out if you qualify for free legal assistance, call:

Within the Greater Houston area:

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program ("HVLP")
712 Main Street, 27th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
713/228-0732

OR

Outside of Houston:

Lone Star Legal Aid ("LSLA")
1415 Fannin
Houston, TX 77002
713/652-0077

Please reference the "Bankruptcy clinic" when you call.  Walk in service is not available.

You must submit proof of your eligibility and you will be required to cooperate fully with the service organization and with your assigned attorney.

THIS IS A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO TRULY CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER. IT IS UP TO YOU:

  1. TO CONTACT THE HVLP OR LSLA AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION, and
  2. TO COOPERATE WITH THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS IN THE HANDLING OF THIS MATTER.

If you wait too long to ask for this help, it may be too late for anyone to help you. If you are assigned a volunteer attorney, you must cooperate quickly and fully with your assigned attorney. If you do not do so, they have the right to refuse to help you and they have the right to quit at any time (if the Court allows them to). These lawyers are willing to help you if you need their help. But you can lose this benefit if you do not do your part!  Please understand this is a program made available using volunteers.  The program cannot guarantee you an attorney even if you qualify, though effort will be made to assist you with information that may help.