Law and Legal Research
Pro Se Litigants
A pro se litigant is someone who represents themselves in court without the help of a lawyer.
- Social Law Library
The Social Law Library provides research materials, training, continuing legal education and other services. Non-members of Social Law will not be granted access to the Library’s premises or use of its collection and resources. However, pro se litigants who demonstrate a showing of need for specific resources that are contained in the Library’s collection and that are unavailable at any Massachusetts public library will be issued Courtesy Passes.
Represent Yourself in CourtThis book breaks the pretrial and trial process down into easy-to-understand steps. Whether you're a plaintiff or a defendant, this book will help you handle a bankruptcy, divorce, landlord-tenant dispute, breach of contract case, small business dispute--or any other civil lawsuit.
Meister Manual: for Prisoners' Lawsuits by Formerly called Battling the Administration: An Inmate's Guide to a Successful Lawsuit, this new edition has been renamed, revised, and updated. It provides all the significant legal theory that pertains to prisoners" litigations, over a thousand case citations, sample pleadings and forms, and detailed directions for pursuing a lawsuit from beginning to end.
- Massachusetts Law about Self-represented Litigants
A webpage from the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries. Laws, cases, and web sources with information about and for self-represented litigants in Massachusetts.
Upcoming BPL Legal Events
Local Lawyer Referral Services
What is a Lawyer Referral?
A "lawyer referral service" is any person, group of persons, association, organization or entity that receives a fee or charge for referring or causing the direct or indirect referral of a potential client to a lawyer drawn from a specific group or panel of lawyers. (Wex)
For information on lawyer referrals for specific subjects, see the subject pages under "Resources by Topic" in the menu on the left.
Lawyer referrals tend to be free. Attorney services may or may not be free.
The Massachusetts Trial Court Law Library has an entire guide on finding a lawyer. View the Find a Lawyer guide here.
¿Qué es un servicio de referencia de abogados?
El Servicio de referencia de abogados conecta a los clientes potenciales con abogados. Usted se comunica con ellos y les da información sobre su problema legal. El Servicio de referencia de abogados le dará la información de contacto de uno o más abogados que puedan ayudarle. Por lo general, usted tiene que pagar si quiere contratar al abogado, aunque la primera reunión suele ser gratuita o de bajo costo. (LRF)
Massachusetts Legal Resource FinderA list of lawyer referral services in Massachusetts. Toggle between tabs to see Legal Service Providers. En Español y Ingles.
Boston Bar Association Lawyer Referral ServiceBoston Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can refer you to lawyers or other resources that specialize in the area of law related to your specific situation.
LegalFormsThousands of legal forms available with more forms being added daily. An Attorney Directory is also included. Attorney services are not free. Attorneys participating in the Directory are independent practitioners and are not employed by Gale, USlegal, Inc. or its affiliates.
Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral ServiceReceive an instant referral to a lawyers for your legal issue, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for any legal need. The site also includes concise information on criminal law, juvenile court, and tips on choosing a lawyer.
Free & Local Legal Assistance Programs
For legal assistance on a specific subject, please see the "Resources by Topic" tab in the menu on the left.
Massachusetts Access to Justice
The goal of the Mass A2J is to achieve equal justice for all persons in the Commonwealth. It strives to accomplish this goal by providing leadership and vision to, and coordination with, the many organizations and interested persons involved in providing and improving access to justice for those unable to afford counsel.
A2J Library Initiative
For court users that are unable to access virtual court services at home for any reason, or who face challenges getting to the court in-person, their local library can provide virtual access to the courts. Find a MA Library near you that participates in this initiative. Grove Hall and Roxbury branches of Boston Public Library participate in this program.
Dial-A-Lawyer: Free Legal Advice by PhoneThe Massachusetts Bar Association sponsors a monthly Dial-A-Lawyer program and encourages members of the public to call our hotline for free legal advice. Dial-A-Lawyer attorney volunteers are in good standing and have a wide variety of legal experience. Attorneys are available to answer questions on a variety of topics, including family law, bankruptcy, real estate, labor and consumer rights and more.
Find a LawyerAre you looking for a lawyer to represent you in a case or give you legal advice? Or do you want to talk to a legal professional to get information or help filling out forms? These resources from Mass Legal Help can help you find someone.
Finding Legal Help from Mass.govContact the organizations on this Mass.gov generated list to find a lawyer in your area or to see if you qualify for free legal services for low-income individuals.
Greater Boston Legal ServicesGet Legal Help | Recibe Ayuda Legal | Tôi Cần GIÚP VỀ PHÁP LÝ | 獲取法律援助 | Jwenn èd Legal | ASL
At Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), our team of 70+ attorneys and 20+ paralegals provide free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in and around Boston.
Lawyer for the Day ProgramsA government funded legal assistance program including volunteer lawyers at some courthouses.
Lawyer for the Day programs across various courts provide basic legal advice, help you understand relevant laws and your rights, and assist you in filling out court forms. They do not go with you into the courtroom, but can equip you to better represent yourself in court.
Regional Legal Aid ServicesYou may be eligible for free legal help in Massachusetts through civil legal aid organizations if your annual income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. That is currently $37,500 per year for a family of four and $18,255 for an individual. There are different criteria for older adults and crime victims.
Volunteer Lawyers ProjectServices have been established by clearly identifying unmet legal needs in the community. They provide a range of crucial civil legal assistance; from information and advice, to referrals and court clinics, to full representation in trials and appeals. Programs & Services: Bankruptcy, Civil Appeals, Consumer, DotHouse, Unemployment, Family Law & Guardianship, Housing, Wage and Hour, and Wills.
Massachusetts Free Legal AnswersMFLA is a virtual legal advice clinic in which qualifying users post civil legal questions at no cost to be answered by pro bono attorneys licensed in their state. Question topics include: Family, Divorce, Custody, Housing, Eviction, Homelessness, Consumer Rights, Financial, Work, Employment, Unemployment, Health and Disability, Civil Rights, Income Maintenance, Juvenile and Education Law. MFLA is a project from the American Bar Association.