JustLegal
A useful first step

Start with a lawyer who knows your state.

For any legal issue, start by seeking a consultation with a licensed attorney. Choose your state to find the state bar’s lawyer-referral service, local legal-aid offices and other recognized starting points. Those organizations decide eligibility and representation; JustLegal helps you prepare and reach them.

Bring your free JustLegal summary. It gives the person you speak with the dates, people, documents and questions in one place.

Choose a state to see local contacts and referral options.Make a consultation summary →

Ways to get legal help

Compare the kind of help before choosing a topic

You may need one answer, a document review, help with one filing, or a lawyer for the whole matter. These listings show what each option says it offers; confirm current scope, eligibility and price directly.

ABA Free Legal Answers

$0 (Free)

Confidential civil legal advice for income-qualifying individuals

Attorney involvement listed · No court appearance included
Scope, costs & limitations

Service: Pro Bono Virtual Clinic

Private online legal consultation. A licensed volunteer attorney in your state reviews your question and replies securely.

May be useful for

  • Low-income individuals who cannot afford an attorney
  • Specific civil questions about eviction notices, debts, or divorce
  • Confidential questions where public posting is unsafe

Not included

  • Criminal law issues (civil matters only)
  • Fee disputes or business commercial disputes
  • Court appearances

Directory-listed price: $0 (Free) · Billing: one-time. Confirm the current price, eligibility and scope directly.

You must pass state financial eligibility screening (generally income under 250% of federal poverty guidelines).

When another kind of help may be needed

  • income-exceeds-threshold
  • criminal-charge
  • immediate-court-deadline
Directory check recorded: 2026-09-13. This is not a live quote or an endorsement.
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Avvo Legal

$0 (Free)

Post a legal question to licensed attorneys in your state

Attorney involvement listed · No court appearance included
Scope, costs & limitations

Service: Free Public Q&A

Public question posted to Avvo's attorney board. Multiple local lawyers typically provide short written answers within 24–48 hours.

May be useful for

  • Checking whether a situation is actually a legal issue
  • Understanding general state statutory guidelines
  • Getting initial issue-spotting from multiple perspectives

Not included

  • Confidential attorney-client privilege
  • Document or contract review
  • Direct court representation or filing

Directory-listed price: $0 (Free) · Billing: one-time. Confirm the current price, eligibility and scope directly.

Your question is public and indexed by search engines. Never include real names, phone numbers, or confidential case admissions.

When another kind of help may be needed

  • contested-litigation
  • confidential-sensitive-facts
  • hearing-within-7-days
Directory check recorded: 2026-09-13. This is not a live quote or an endorsement.
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UpCounsel

$150–$350 / hr (or fixed task quotes)

Post your document to receive competitive bids from vetted attorneys

Attorney involvement listed · No court appearance included
Scope, costs & limitations

Service: Attorney Project Marketplace

Post your specific document (e.g. lease, settlement offer, severance agreement, complaint). Independent attorneys review the scope and submit fixed or hourly bids.

May be useful for

  • Having an actual attorney redline a 10-to-25-page document
  • Getting custom revisions tailored to your state law
  • Comparing attorney backgrounds and quotes before hiring

Not included

  • Immediate free answers (this is a paid attorney marketplace)
  • Trial representation unless agreed in the project scope

Directory-listed price: $150–$350 / hr (or fixed task quotes). Confirm the current price, eligibility and scope directly.

You agree directly on the price with the attorney you choose. Funds are held in escrow until work is delivered.

When another kind of help may be needed

  • court-deadline-under-24-hours
Directory check recorded: 2026-09-13. This is not a live quote or an endorsement.
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Access Legal

No public consumer price listed

Explore an attorney network for a defined legal task

Not a substitute for attorney advice · No court appearance included
Scope, costs & limitations

Service: Attorney network / limited-scope inquiry

Access Legal presents an attorney-network and client-generation model. Ask whether a participating lawyer can help with a defined task in your jurisdiction; that lawyer sets eligibility, scope and fees.

May be useful for

  • Starting a conversation about one defined legal task
  • Asking a participating attorney about document review or a hearing
  • Comparing a limited task with full representation

Not included

  • A public fixed price or guaranteed attorney match
  • A promise of court appearance or an attorney-client relationship
  • Ongoing case management unless a lawyer separately agrees to it

Directory-listed price: No public consumer price listed · Billing: one-time. Confirm the current price, eligibility and scope directly.

This link goes to Access Legal's attorney-network site. It is not a checkout for a guaranteed unbundled service. Confirm who will contact you, conflicts screening, scope, fees and what information is safe to share before agreeing to anything.

When another kind of help may be needed

  • urgent-hearing
  • need-guaranteed-representation
Directory check recorded: 2026-09-23. This is not a live quote or an endorsement.
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LegalShield

$39.95 / month

Dedicated state law firm on call for advice, letters, and reviews

Attorney involvement listed · No court appearance included
Scope, costs & limitations

Service: Prepaid Law Firm Access

Unlimited phone consultations on new personal legal matters, document review up to 15 pages per document, and attorney-written demand letters or phone calls to third parties.

May be useful for

  • Sending a formal attorney demand letter to a stubborn landlord or contractor
  • Reviewing a lease, severance agreement, or loan contract before signing
  • Having an actual law firm to call when legal questions arise

Not included

  • Pre-existing lawsuits filed before joining
  • Courtroom representation in the base plan (offered at 25% discount off hourly rates)
  • Business or commercial litigation

Directory-listed price: $39.95 / month · Billing: month. Confirm the current price, eligibility and scope directly.

Cancel anytime before your next monthly renewal date. Demand letters require the assigned attorney's professional judgment.

When another kind of help may be needed

  • lawsuit-already-filed-against-you
  • contested-trial-next-week
Directory check recorded: 2026-09-13. This is not a live quote or an endorsement.
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Rocket Lawyer

$39.99 / mo (or $149–$349/yr)

Unlimited customizable documents plus written attorney questions

Attorney involvement listed · No court appearance included
Scope, costs & limitations

Service: Documents + Legal Advice

Full document template library with electronic signature, 12 to 36 written attorney answers per year, and 30-minute consultations on new legal matters.

May be useful for

  • Users who need to generate multiple contracts, leases, or business agreements
  • Small landlords, freelancers, or independent contractors
  • Getting occasional attorney questions answered in writing

Not included

  • Court filing or representation of record
  • Ongoing litigation defense on a single matter
  • Complex custom contract drafting from scratch

Directory-listed price: $39.99 / mo (or $149–$349/yr) · Billing: month. Confirm the current price, eligibility and scope directly.

7-day free trial auto-renews at $39.99/mo unless cancelled. Consultations cover NEW legal matters only.

When another kind of help may be needed

  • ongoing-court-trial
  • multi-party-litigation
Directory check recorded: 2026-09-13. This is not a live quote or an endorsement.
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Understand ask a lawyer: q&a & quick consultations →Understand document & contract review →Understand prepaid legal plans & memberships →Understand legal document templates & form libraries →Understand wills, trusts & estate planning →Understand business formation: llcs & incorporations →Understand demand letters & small claims court →

Help for the problem in front of you

Choose a topic to see your options
EvictionNotice, hearing, keeping your home
Rental problemsRepairs, deposits, landlord disputes
Divorce & separationProperty, support, ending a marriage
Children & custodyParenting time, custody, support
Abuse & safetyProtection orders, confidential support
Debt & collectionsCollection letters, debt lawsuits
Small claimsMoney disputes, preparing for court
Job loss & discriminationFired, retaliation, severance
Unpaid wagesMissing pay, overtime, wage claims
Criminal chargesDefense counsel, arrest, court dates
Benefits decision or appealSNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, unemployment
Civil rightsDiscrimination, government conduct
Not sure where to begin?

If you have a notice or court paper, note who sent it, what it asks you to do, and any dates. Choose that topic above. If you need a person to assess your situation, start with your state’s legal aid office or bar referral service.

A question service may answer one question; document review concerns a particular document. Neither automatically provides someone to represent you in court. If a deadline is close, contact the court or a qualified lawyer promptly—do not wait for an online answer.

See the differences, costs and limitations →

JustLegal provides free educational information and organization tools. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or representation. Providers decide eligibility, availability, fees, and whether to accept a matter.