Legal Information Websites
- LawHelpNC
- A wealth of information on specific legal topics, including housing, government benefits, veterans, employment issues, education, farmworkers, criminal law, taxes, and more. Also offers various North Carolina legal forms.
- NC Free Legal Answers
- This website exists to help people with their civil matters (not criminal matters). Users who meet certain criteria ask a question through the site, and a volunteer attorney responds with an answer.
- NC Free Legal Help
- Another attorney network that answers questions at no charge.
- “This Is the Law” Pamphlets
- Published by the NC Bar Association, these pamphlets provide general information on a number of topics, including buying a home, divorce, child custody/support, bankruptcy, domestic violence, jury service, and more.
- Divorcenet
- Excellent source of information on divorce, child support (guidelines and worksheets are here), property distribution, and alimony. Links to divorce laws of all 50 states.
Legal Aid of North Carolina Clinics
- These clinics are offered by Legal Aid of North Carolina. They are free to attend, but you will need to register in advance.
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Criminal Record Expunction
- Divorce
- Employee Rights
- Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills
- Tenant Rights
Law School Clinics
- Several North Carolina law schools offer limited free or low-cost legal assistance to the public. Work is performed by law students under the supervision of faculty members.
- Campbell Senior Law Clinic
- Focuses on low-income senior citizens in the Raleigh area.
- Elon University
- Offers the Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic.
- Duke Legal Clinics
- Offers several clinics, including children’s law, environmental law, HIV/AIDS, and wrongful convictions.
- NC Central Family Law Clinic
- You must be referred to this clinic by Legal Aid of North Carolina-Durham (919-688-6396). Or you can visit the File It Yourself Clinic, which has several options for public assistance.
- Wake Forest Legal Clinics
- Offerings include child advocacy, community law and business, and elder law.
Lawyer Referrals
- These services will connect you to an attorney who specializes in the type of assistance you need. The service costs $50 for a 30-minute consultation. You may hire the attorney after the consultation, often at a discount rate.
- NC Lawyer Referral Service
- Statewide network. Contact by phone (800-662-7660) or online.
- Mecklenburg County Bar Lawyer Referral Service
- Focuses on the Charlotte area.
Free or Low-Cost Legal Help
- These organizations offer free or low-cost legal representation to low-income clients in certain matters, usually non-criminal ones.
- Legal Aid of North Carolina
- A statewide agency. This page explains the services that are offered.
- Pisgah Legal Services
- Provides legal help in Buncombe, Madison, Transylvania, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Yancey Counties.
- Justice Matters
- Focuses on immigration, human trafficking victims, family law, and other civil matters. Located in Durham.
- Disability Rights NC
- North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services
- Provides North Carolina inmates with “meaningful access to the courts.”
- North Carolina Equal Justice Alliance
Public Law Libraries
- These are free law libraries open to the public. These libraries provide limited legal research assistance.
- Buncombe County Law Library
- Katherine R. Everett Law Library (UNC Chapel Hill)
- North Carolina Central Law Library
- Elon Law Library
- Public hours are 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.
- Law Library of Congress
- The largest law library in the United States. Public help is available by phone (202-707-5079) or online form.