Legal Aid in Atlanta, GA: How to Get Free or Low‑Cost Legal Help

Finding affordable legal help in Atlanta, GA can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with an eviction, debt, family issues, or a criminal charge and money is already tight. The good news: Atlanta has a strong network of legal aid organizations, pro bono programs, and court-based services designed to help people who cannot afford a private attorney.

This guide walks you through where to go, what they help with, and how to qualify—all focused specifically on Atlanta and the surrounding metro area.

What “Legal Aid” Means in Atlanta

In Atlanta, legal aid usually refers to nonprofit organizations and programs that provide:

• Free legal representation
• Advice and brief services
• Workshops and self-help resources

These services typically focus on civil legal issues, not criminal defense (except for certain specialized programs).

Examples of civil problems legal aid in Atlanta often handles:

• Housing: evictions, unsafe housing, subsidy issues
• Family law: divorce, custody, child support, protection orders
• Consumer & debt: collections, garnishment, repossessions
• Public benefits: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI issues
• Employment: wage theft, discrimination, unemployment benefits
• Elder law: powers of attorney, abuse, benefits for seniors
• Immigration (in limited situations): humanitarian and victim-based cases

Most legal aid programs screen by income and may prioritize people facing urgent problems, such as loss of housing, income, or safety.

Major Legal Aid Organizations in Atlanta

Here are some of the core legal aid resources that many Atlanta residents and visitors turn to when they need help.

Atlanta Legal Aid Society (ALAS)

Focus: Civil legal services for low‑income residents in metro Atlanta.

Typical issues handled:

• Evictions and housing disputes
• Family law (custody, divorce in some cases, domestic violence)
• Public benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, SSI/SSDI)
• Consumer and debt problems
• Elderly and disability-related issues

Main office (central administration):
54 Ellis Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-524-5811

ALAS also operates neighborhood offices serving Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties. When you call, you’re generally routed to the office that covers your county.

What to know:

• Services are usually free for those who qualify.
• You’ll be asked about income, household size, and the type of case.
• They may not handle criminal cases, traffic tickets, or fee-generating cases like personal injury.

Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP)

Focus: Civil legal services for low-income people outside metro Atlanta, but they’re still relevant if:

• You live in Atlanta but your legal issue is in another Georgia county, or
• You recently moved from another Georgia county to Atlanta.

Atlanta Regional Office:
104 Marietta Street NW, Suite 250
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-206-5175
Statewide intake line (often used): 1-833-457-7529

Typical legal issues:

• Housing and landlord‑tenant problems
• Family law (outside metro Atlanta)
• Public benefits
• Consumer, education, and other civil matters

Georgia Justice Project (GJP)

Focus: Criminal justice and record-related help for people in Georgia, including Atlanta.

Main areas:

• Criminal record restriction and expungement
• Reentry issues after incarceration
• Probation and parole issues in some circumstances
• Policy advocacy related to criminal justice

Location:
438 Edgewood Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: 404-827-0027

If you’re in Atlanta and your main concern is how a criminal record impacts housing, employment, or licensing, GJP is often a key contact.

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF)

Focus: Connecting Atlanta residents with volunteer (pro bono) attorneys, especially in housing, debt, and family safety.

Main programs include:

• Safe and Stable Homes: help with serious housing issues, unsafe conditions, or landlord harassment
• Standing with Our Neighbors: legal support tied to certain Atlanta schools and neighborhoods
• Safe Families Office: help obtaining protective orders for domestic violence survivors at the Fulton County courthouse

Office:
54 Ellis Street NE (in partnership with Atlanta Legal Aid)
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Phone: 404-521-0790

AVLF often partners with the Fulton County courts, so if your case is in Fulton County and you’re facing housing or intimate partner violence issues, they may be involved.

Georgia Law Center for the Homeless

Focus: Legal help for people in Atlanta who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Issues handled:

• Housing disputes and evictions
• Identification and documentation issues
• Some family and benefits-related matters contributing to homelessness

Location:
275 Pryor Street SW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-681-0680

This is especially relevant if you’re staying in Atlanta shelters or on the street and legal problems are blocking your ability to secure housing or benefits.

Atlanta Bar Association – Lawyer Referral & Pro Bono

Focus: Helping you find a private attorney or, in some cases, connect with pro bono (free) legal representation.

Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS):

• Pairs you with a screened attorney for a low‑cost initial consultation.
• Useful if your income is too high for legal aid, but you still need cost‑controlled help.

Office:
229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Phone: 404-521-0777

They also help coordinate volunteer attorney projects that support Atlanta Legal Aid and court-based clinics.

Quick Reference: Key Atlanta Legal Aid Contacts

Legal Aid for Housing & Evictions in Atlanta

Housing is one of the most common reasons Atlanta residents seek legal aid.

If You’re Facing Eviction in Atlanta

If you receive an eviction notice or dispossessory warrant from a Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, or Clayton County court:

1. Do not ignore court papers.
   Atlanta courts move relatively quickly on eviction cases.

2. Contact legal aid immediately:

   • Atlanta Legal Aid Society: 404-524-5811
   • AVLF (particularly for Fulton County cases): 404-521-0790

3. Check for court-based help:

   • In Fulton County, there are often tenant assistance tables or clinics at the courthouse where you can get same-day advice.
   • Other metro counties may have similar programs or referrals.

4. Gather your documents:

   • Lease, notices, payment records, photos of conditions, text messages with landlord, etc.

Legal aid can sometimes negotiate payment plans, challenge unlawful evictions, or help with housing conditions issues such as mold, broken utilities, or code problems.

Family Law & Domestic Violence Help in Atlanta

Atlanta legal aid organizations handle many family-related issues, especially when safety or children are involved.

Common Issues Covered

• Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) for domestic violence or stalking
• Custody and visitation disputes
• Child support during or after separation
• Divorce in certain limited, high-need cases (especially involving abuse)

Key Atlanta Resources

• Atlanta Legal Aid Society: Family law and protective orders for those who qualify.
• AVLF Safe Families Office (Fulton County):
  Located inside the Fulton County Courthouse
  136 Pryor Street SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

At the Safe Families Office, survivors can often meet with an advocate and sometimes an attorney the same day to get help completing TPO paperwork and preparing for hearings.

If your case is in DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, or Clayton, the local county courts may have victim witness offices or domestic violence advocates who can connect you with legal aid or pro bono attorneys.

Help with Debt, Consumer Problems, and Public Benefits

Many Atlanta residents turn to legal aid when debt collectors, garnishments, or benefit denials threaten their stability.

Debt & Consumer Issues

Legal aid organizations can often help with:

• Debt collection lawsuits
• Wage garnishment
• Harassing debt collection calls or improper practices
• Car repossession disputes (in some cases)
• Credit report errors tied to identity theft or fraud

If you’re served with a lawsuit in an Atlanta-area magistrate or state court, call legal aid quickly—there are strict deadlines to respond.

Public Benefits

Atlanta legal aid groups frequently help with:

• SNAP (food stamps) denials or terminations
• Medicaid and other health coverage issues
• SSI/SSDI appeals and overpayment questions
• TANF or other state-administered benefits

Atlanta Legal Aid and Georgia Legal Services Program both have units that focus on public benefits and can help you navigate state agencies.

Legal Aid for Immigrants in Atlanta

Atlanta has several immigration-focused nonprofits and legal aid groups. Common areas of help include:

• Humanitarian relief for victims of crime or violence
• Family-based immigration issues in limited cases
• Assistance for children and youth in immigration proceedings

Organizations change and grow over time, but some widely known Atlanta-based immigration legal aid providers include:

• Nonprofit immigration legal services (often faith-based or community-based) in Clarkston, Chamblee, and central Atlanta
• Legal clinics associated with local law schools (such as Georgia State University College of Law or Emory University School of Law)

If your issue is immigration-related, calling Atlanta Legal Aid or the Atlanta Bar Association is often a good starting point—they can direct you to the most appropriate immigration-specific providers in the area.

Criminal Cases vs. Civil Legal Aid in Atlanta

Most legal aid programs in Atlanta do not handle criminal defense. Instead, criminal defense is primarily handled through public defender offices if you cannot afford a lawyer.

If You’re Charged With a Crime in Atlanta

• City of Atlanta Municipal Court (traffic, certain city ordinance violations):
  You can ask the judge to appoint a public defender if you cannot afford an attorney.

• Fulton County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, and Clayton County all have their own public defender offices for felony and some misdemeanor cases.

To qualify, you usually need to:

• Fill out a financial affidavit in court, and
• Show you can’t reasonably afford a private lawyer.

For issues related to past criminal records, reentry, or clearing your record, Georgia Justice Project is a specialized resource in Atlanta.

Legal Help at Atlanta Courts & Law Schools

In addition to established legal aid organizations, Atlanta offers court-based services and law school clinics that can be helpful.

Court Help Centers and Self-Help Resources

Some Atlanta-area courts provide:

• Self-help centers with forms and basic instructions
• Staff who can explain procedures (though they cannot give legal advice)
• Clinics on specific topics like landlord-tenant or small claims

Common examples:

• Fulton County Superior Court: Self-help materials for family law and protective orders.
• Fulton County Magistrate Court: Information on small claims, garnishments, and landlord-tenant cases.

Always check with the clerk’s office in your specific court (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, etc.) to ask about any free legal clinics or workshops.

Law School Clinics

Atlanta-area law schools often run legal clinics where law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, provide free legal services in specific areas:

• Georgia State University College of Law (downtown Atlanta)
• Emory University School of Law (Druid Hills)
• John Marshall Law School (midtown/Atlanta)

Clinic topics vary (for example, health law, low-income taxpayer issues, landlord-tenant disputes, or veteran services). The law schools’ websites or main offices can direct you to current clinic offerings and eligibility.

Who Qualifies for Legal Aid in Atlanta?

Eligibility rules can differ by organization, but some common patterns include:

1. Income & Assets

• Most legal aid in Atlanta serves people with income around or below a set percentage of the federal poverty level.
• They may look at your household income, savings, and property.
• Even if you’re slightly above the guideline, it can be worth applying—some programs have flexibility or special grants.

2. Type of Case

• Legal aid often prioritizes cases that involve:
  • Loss of housing
  • Loss of income or benefits
  • Risk of harm or violence
  • Children’s well-being
• They may not take:
  • Criminal defense (except specialized programs)
  • Personal injury lawsuits where attorneys are typically paid from settlements
  • Business or commercial disputes

3. Location

• Where you live or where your case is filed matters.
• Atlanta Legal Aid primarily covers the core metro counties around Atlanta.
• Georgia Legal Services Program serves other Georgia counties outside the metro area.

If you’re unsure, call any of the major organizations and describe your location and problem; they can usually direct you to the right place.

How to Prepare Before You Call or Visit

To get the most out of legal aid in Atlanta:

1. Collect your paperwork:

   • Court papers, letters, notices
   • Lease, contracts, pay stubs, benefit letters
   • Photos, emails, texts, and any written agreements

2. Write down key dates:

   • Deadlines listed on court notices
   • Hearing dates and times
   • When the problem started (eviction notice date, job loss date, etc.)

3. Be ready to explain your situation clearly:

   • One or two sentences about your main problem
   • What you want to accomplish (keep your home, stop garnishment, get a protective order, etc.)

4. Have income information handy:

   • Recent pay stubs
   • Benefit statements (unemployment, Social Security, SNAP)
   • Basic info for others in your household

⏱️ Tip: If you have a court date in Atlanta within the next week, mention that immediately when you contact any legal aid office. Many will triage urgent cases first.

Options If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

If you live or are staying in Atlanta and do not qualify for traditional legal aid, you still have options:

• Atlanta Bar Association LRIS (404-521-0777):
  Can connect you with lawyers who offer a reduced-rate initial consultation.

• Limited scope or “unbundled” representation:
  Some Atlanta attorneys will help only with part of your case—for example, drafting documents or coaching you before a hearing—at a lower overall cost.

• Self-help resources at Atlanta courts:
  Forms, instructions, and sometimes video guides that explain the local process.

• Community legal workshops:
  Some nonprofits, churches, and neighborhood organizations in Atlanta host know-your-rights sessions or document preparation clinics.

When you call any of the main legal aid organizations, ask if they know of sliding-scale or low-cost attorneys in the Atlanta area for people who don’t meet income limits.

Using Legal Aid Effectively in Atlanta

To make legal aid work for you:

• Act early. The sooner you call in Atlanta—especially for housing or family issues—the more options you may have.
• Be honest about your finances and situation. Eligibility is based on accurate information.
• Stay in contact. If your address or phone number changes (common with moves or unstable housing), update your legal aid office immediately.
• Keep copies of everything you file or receive in court and share them with your lawyer or legal aid advocate.

Atlanta’s legal aid network is designed to give people without deep pockets a fair chance in the legal system. Whether you’re a long-time Atlanta resident, a new arrival, or someone dealing with a legal issue while visiting, these resources can be a critical lifeline when you need help navigating Georgia’s laws and Atlanta’s courts.