Free Websites for Legal Research: Advice & Forms

getfreelegalforms.com

Online Legal Documents, Forms and Contracts

ABA Journal 6/11/24

Law 360 2/9/20

Reuters, 11/17/23

Also helps you file state and local public records requests

NPR 1/25/23 DoNotPay was threatened with prosecution for the unauthorized practice of law when it tried to appear in court over audio stream.

Free service that helps you write letters to your landlord

LawSites 7/31/24

Guide for people living in Ohio to easily find out how to file for bankruptcy for free if they cannot afford a lawyer.

2022 case lets Upsolve help debtors fill out forms without danger of being prosecuted for unauthorized practice of law for the time being. The New York attorney general has appealed the case to the 2nd Cir. Ct. of Appeals.

The ACLU handles cases that involve serious violations of civil liberties by the government. They do not have a large staff of lawyers. They are funded through donations, and do not receive any government money. Because of this, they cannot take every worthy case that comes their way. In most circumstances we do not take divorce, child custody, landlord/tenant or private employment cases.

Assistance with SNAP, HEAP and Medicaid benefits.

You can search the Columbus Bar Directory for an attorney

The Intake Section serves the citizens of the community by handling criminal misdemeanor complaints. Intake officers process the complaints and then make appropriate referrals. If you wish to file a complaint, you must appear in person at the Intake Section – 375 South High Street, 7th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.

Get free legal advice from an attorney about eviction/foreclosure, expungement/record sealing, disability, custody and visitation rights, divorce and more. No registration is required. Meets at various times. Check the Columbus Metropolitan Library events page from their website.

CRIS has three full-time attorneys who assist clients with immigration legal services, providing assistance on virtually all immigration matters. At this time, we do not offer legal assistance for court cases.

If a person with a disability needs help from Disability Rights Ohio, the person with the disability, or the parents of a child with a disability, can contact Disability Rights Ohio. Other people can submit a request for help on behalf of a person with a disability. For those requests, Disability Rights Ohio will contact the person with a disability for direction.

The legal clinic offers many free legal services, like consumer law (such as fraud and identity theft), family law, civil rights, administrative help (such as SSI or disability) and more. In order to access the legal clinic, your income must be within 300% of the federal poverty level.

for serious federal crimes.

If you are indigent, you may qualify for assistance form Self-Represented Resource Center. The phone number is (614) 525- 7531. They operate on an appointment basis, over Zoom.

Provides appointed counsel in custody cases to parties who meet certain eligibility requirements. Mostly applies when for cases where Children's Services is involved. Call 614-525-3248.

Volunteer attorneys provide counsel and advice to low income individuals in a community setting.

Help, for those who qualify financially, with landlord-tenant, small claims, some debt collection, sealing of the records, and other civil cases in Franklin County Municipal Court. Also, providing general information about how to present yourself in court. Located on the 16th Floor of 375 S. High Street, in downtown Columbus, OH.

You may call 614-525-7251 and leave a message for a Resource Center attorney. You will receive a return call within three business days. All consultations are completed by phone. Resource center hours may vary.

Intake personnel will assist anyone who desire to file a complain charging a child with a criminal offense which is referred to as a delinquency. Some restrictions apply so it is recommended that a phone call is placed to this unit before coming to the office. The phone number for the Intake Unit is 614-525-7388.

for current Service Members, not Veterans.

The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 allowed businesses and certain tax-exempt organizations to qualify for an expanded Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for hiring qualified unemployed veterans for the first time. Military Veterans Resource Center will help employers file Form 8850 to ensure they receive the tax credit.

Legal help for Hispanic women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

From the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Section. Free help in resolving consumer issues.

Map of the public defender's offices in each county, provides help in serious criminal cases.

Pro Seniors is a non-profit organization that provides free legal and long-term care help to older adults. Pro Seniors offers Ohio residents age 60 and older the advice they need to solve their legal and nursing home, adult care facility, and home health care problems.In Greater Cincinnati, the number to call is (513) 345-4160. In other parts of Ohio, call (800) 488-6070. If you have a legal problem that cannot be resolved over the telephone, the Legal Hotline may refer you to a Pro Seniors staff attorney if you live in Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton or Warren County.

If you are lucky enough to be an Ohio State University student, please take advantage of their services.

United Way of Central Ohio helps low income individuals prepare their taxes

Website to help veterans appeal denials of Veterans Affairs benefits. Through the site, veterans can either appeal their cases on their own or request a free attorney to help with the appeal.

Through the Ohio Public Defender's Office. The mission of the project is to identify potential wrongful convictions from Ohio courts, where other appellate remedies have failed and testable biological evidence is not available.

Lots of free advice for representing yourself, plus for a fee, options for more help.

Advisory Opinions of the Board of Professional Conduct are nonbinding opinions in response to prospective or hypothetical questions regarding the application of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary, the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, and the Attorney’s Oath of Office

issued June 3, 2016 Lawyer Participation in Referral Services.
A lawyer should ensure that a referral service in which the lawyer participates meets all of the elements of a service under Supreme Court of Ohio rules and complies with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

A crucial issue that often arises with referral services is the fee arrangement between the lawyer and the service. The Board advises that a fee arrangement that is tied specifically to individual client representations that a lawyer completes or to the percentage of a fee is not permissible, unless the referral service is registered with the Supreme Court. Additionally, a lawyer’s participation in an online, nonlawyer-owned referral service, where the lawyer is required to pay a “marketing fee” to a nonlawyer for each legal service completed for a client, is unethical.