Guide from our Librarians: Local Legal Help Resources

Research Guide

Guide from our Librarians: Local Legal Help Resources

Free or Low- Cost Civil Legal Help Resources for the Kansas City Area.

Free or Low- Cost Civil Legal Help Resources for the Kansas City Area

  • Law help - Will link you to state-specific sites, you can find fact sheets, interactive forms, legal aid directory, resources in other languages, and much more. 

  • Kansas Legal Services - Statewide non-profit corporation devoted to helping low-income Kansans (various legal topics). Must apply online or by phone to receive legal help, the main number is 1-800-723-6953. There is a live chat for filling out forms (but not for legal advice). Currently offering free legal advice every 2nd Thursday of the month via telephone from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST. The number to call is 1-800-928-3111. 

    La solicitud de asistencia legal está disponible en español, el número para llamar es el 316-267-3975 de lunes a viernes de 7:30 de la mañana a 5:00 de la tarde. 

  • Military Matters - For Kansas City area military members and Veterans. Military Matters works to provide pro bono legal services to military service members and Veterans, who reside in or have a home of record and legal issues in the Kansas City Metropolitan nine-county service territory, in any practice area. See their website for more information on referral partners and local services. 

  • Johnson County District Court  - Forms, self-help center and much more. The court is operating virtually and in person. For more information, call (913) 715-3300.  

  • Kansas Judicial Branch - Various forms and resources, lawyer referral service, links to free or low-cost legal aid. Access to justice advice line, Kansas elder law hotline, and more. 

  • KU School of Law - Law students from the University of Kansas provide free federal and state tax preparation services to those who qualify through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, if you have any questions, contact the VITA office at vita@ku.edu or 785-864-9227. They offer free legal help for low-income clients in Lawrence Municipal Court and Douglas County, for more information call 785-864- 5564. They offer free medical-legal assistance from interns, please call 913-588-3731. for low-income clients, licensed attorneys offer clinics for post-conviction appeals for the Kansas area, you must write for an application to: Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies 
    1535 W. 15th Street 
    Lawrence, KS 66045-7608 

  • Kansas Bar Association - low cost quick legal advice. The Kansas Bar Association (KBA) has a service called "Kan Ask-A-Lawyer" that will connect you to a lawyer to answer your legal questions for $2.00/minute. Here are the steps to follow:  

  • Call the KBA Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) at 1-800-928-3111. The KBA LRS Representatives can refer you to a lawyer who can answer your question for $2 per minute. KBA also provides free legal advice via phone through the Kansas Legal Services Corporation. See Kansas Legal Services information at the top. 
    KBA Lawyer Referral Services  

  • Johnson County Law Library: The Law Library is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday. Online you can find court forms, court rules, court fees, online catalog search, FAQ, and links to other resources. Call (913)715-4145, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday- Friday for more information.  

  • Washburn University School of Law: The library is open to Public Patrons 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday.  Reference librarians are available for research consultation Mon. - Fri., 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please email libraryref@washburnlaw.edu, call 785-670-1088, also available: curbside pick-up and online catalog use. For more information, check their website. 

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