English
EspañolLegal Assistance
Included in this list are organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to victims and survivors of abuse, as well as to others who qualify. Even if the organization does not have a lawyer available to represent you in court, you may want to ask if there is a lawyer with whom you can consult to obtain advice. We list the organizations by the county where the office is located, but many offices serve multiple counties. We indicate the “counties served” whenever possible. You can click “View All” to look through the complete list of organizations.
Please note: WomensLaw does not have a relationship with or promote the organizations listed on these pages. Because we include thousands of resources, we cannot review them regularly or vouch for the information or services they provide. We share these resources to help all victims and survivors of abuse find essential direct services and support their needs and safety concerns.
Black Hawk
Iowa Legal Aid - Waterloo Regional Office
Fax: (319) 235-7070
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Waterloo Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Grundy, Hardin, and Howard counties.
Cerro Gordo
Iowa Legal Aid - North Central Iowa Regional Office
Fax: (641) 423-4657
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the North Central Iowa Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Calhoun, Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright counties.
Des Moines
Drake University Legal Clinic
Fax: (515) 271-4100
URL: https://www.drake.edu/law/clinics-centers/clinic/
Email: law-clinic@drake.edu
The Drake University Legal Clinic takes new cases by holding an intake twice a year including divorce, child custody, adult guardianship, small claims, unemployment, and landlord/tenant matters. For inquiries please call (515) 271-3851 and select the option for the civil clinic or send an email to law-clinic
drake.edu. The clinic cannot answer legal questions or give legal advice if you are not a current client.
Iowa Legal Aid - Central Iowa Regional Office
Fax: (515) 244-4618
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Central Iowa Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Adair, Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Jasper, Madison, Polk, Story, Union, Warren, and Webster counties.
Dubuque
Iowa Legal Aid – Northeast Iowa Regional Office
Fax: (563) 588-4656
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Northeast Iowa Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Allamakeee, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Jackson, Jones, and Winneshiek counties.
Johnson
Iowa Legal Aid - Iowa City Regional Office
Fax: (319) 351-0079
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Iowa City Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Cedar, Des Moines, Henry, Johnson, Louisa, Muscatine, and Washington counties.
Linn
Iowa Legal Aid - Cedar Rapids Regional Office
Fax: (319) 364-5871
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Cedar Rapids Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, pro se (self-representation) legal clinic, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Benton, Iowa, Linn, Marshall, Poweshiek, and Tama counties.
Muscatine
Muscatine Legal Services
URL: https://muscatinelegal.com/
Muscatine Legal Services (MLS) provides low-cost legal assistance to low-income residents. Areas of service include: domestic violence, divorce, custody, guardianship, child support, and more. MLS also has a Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program through which it offers free representation in obtaining restraining orders. It also provides no-cost assistance to victims in divorce and custody actions, provided that they are separated from the abuser for a period of six months. Serves Muscatine County.
Polk
Iowa Legal Aid – Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Fax: (515) 244-5525
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Email: hotline@iowalaw.org
Iowa Legal Aid Legal Hotline for Older Iowans provides free legal services to Iowans aged 60 and over. Areas of service include: family law services, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered include: brief advice and self-help materials. Services are available in English and Spanish for all counties of Iowa.
Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
URL: https://www.pcbaonline.org/about-us/volunteer-lawyers-project
Email: info@pcbaonline.org
The PCBA VLP is the primary conduit for thousands of pro bono clients in Polk County and provides volunteer attorneys to represent low-income individuals in civil legal matters. The PCBA VLP does not operate under statutory or policy-based limitations regarding citizenship, alienage, or divorce numbers. Areas of service include: family law, consumer, housing, and employment matters.
Pottawattamie
Iowa Legal Aid - Southwest Iowa Regional Office
Fax: (712) 328-3996
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Southwest Iowa Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Taylor counties.
Scott
Iowa Legal Aid – Davenport Regional Office
Fax: (563) 884-4461
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Davenport Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Clinton and Scott counties.
Story
Legal Aid Society of Story County
URL: https://www.legalaidstory.com/
Email: contact@legalaidstory.org
Legal Aid Society of Story County provides legal assistance in civil matters to eligible families who cannot afford to hire an attorney in private practice. Areas of service include: civil protective orders (for domestic, sexual or elder abuse), divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and more. Serves residents of Story County.
Wapello
Iowa Legal Aid - Southeast Iowa Regional Office
Fax: (641) 683-3168
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Southeast Iowa Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Appanoose, Davis, Decatur, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, and Wayne counties.
Woodbury
Iowa Legal Aid - Northwest Iowa Regional Office
Fax: (712) 277-2554
URL: https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income and vulnerable individuals. Areas of service include: domestic violence, custody, family law, housing, consumer and small claims court, public benefits, 60+ elder law, education, health, immigration, and more. Types of services offered by the Northwest Iowa Regional Office include: full legal representation, brief advice, and self-help materials. Iowans 60 and over may call the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at (800) 992-8161. Interpretation is available. This office serves Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sac, Sioux, and Woodbury counties.
