Vermont Legal Aid

Vermont Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income Vermonters, seniors, people with disabilities, and abuse victims since 1968. Operating from four offices with 73 attorneys across ten practice areas, the firm handles eviction defense, public benefits, bankruptcy, and civil rights matters while pursuing systemic advocacy to address underlying causes of legal inequality.

About

Vermont Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm founded in 1968 that provides free civil legal services to eligible Vermonters. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) and maintains a staff of 73 attorneys and advocates organized across ten legal practice areas, serving the state from four office locations.

The firm focuses on assisting low-income residents, people with disabilities, seniors over age 60, and anyone facing housing discrimination or abuse. Vermont Legal Aid handles a broad range of civil matters including eviction and foreclosure defense, landlord and creditor disputes, public benefits issues, bankruptcy, health care access and insurance problems, disability services, and civil rights violations. The firm also represents victims of crime and abuse, including those seeking relief from abuse orders. While Vermont Legal Aid does not handle criminal defense or traffic matters, it plays an important role in addressing the legal needs of vulnerable populations across the state.

Beyond direct client representation, Vermont Legal Aid engages in systemic advocacy work designed to address underlying causes of poverty, discrimination, and inequality. The organization believes that advancing fairness and justice requires not only helping individual clients but also confronting the institutional and systemic problems that create legal barriers for low-income Vermonters.

Vermont Legal Aid coordinates its services with Legal Services Vermont through a shared intake and referral system. Prospective clients can access help through VTLawHelp.org, a comprehensive legal information website that offers practical tools, detailed roadmaps for common legal situations, and short educational videos. The website includes a Legal Help Tool that guides users toward appropriate services and connects them with intake forms for the areas where the organization can provide assistance.

All services provided by Vermont Legal Aid are free to eligible clients. For those concerned about privacy or safety—particularly individuals whose safety may be threatened by someone with computer access—the firm provides a dedicated phone line at 1-800-889-2047. The organization's mission centers on working with low-income and marginalized Vermonters to achieve relief from civil legal problems while simultaneously advocating for fairer rules and laws that benefit all residents seeking justice in the civil legal system.

Overview compiled from the firm's website