Finding Legal Help
· Updated

How to Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help in Utah: Legal Aid, Clinics, Self-Help, and Limited Help

General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.

Short answer: You have more options than "hire a lawyer or go alone." Utah's courts list these routes on their Finding Legal Help page: the Self-Help Center (free legal information by phone, text or email — staff can't give legal advice or represent you), legal clinics (free brief advice from volunteer lawyers), legal aid organizations (some will represent you for free if you qualify), lawyers who charge a flat fee for a specific job ("unbundled" or limited-scope services), lawyers who use a sliding scale, and Licensed Paralegal Practitioners for certain family, eviction and small debt matters. If you can't afford court fees, you can ask the court to waive them. Phone numbers, hours and programs change, so confirm before you go — and be wary of text messages claiming to be from the courts: the courts say they don't ask for payment by link or QR code.

Who this guide is for

Utahns with a legal problem and little money — a divorce, an eviction, a debt lawsuit, a protective order, an immigration question, a benefits denial — who don't know where to start.

Step 1: Try the Self-Help Center

The Utah State Courts Self-Help Center "provides free legal information to people who do not have a lawyer." It cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. It's best for understanding court process and finding the right form. The courts' site also has step-by-step guides and forms for common case types. Look at the court's Finding Legal Help page for current contact options.

Step 2: Free legal clinics (brief advice)

According to the courts' clinic list, there are statewide and local clinics. Examples listed there (confirm times and eligibility before relying on them):

  • Utah State Bar Virtual Legal Clinic — weekday appointments by phone or email for general civil and criminal matters; a volunteer attorney contacts you within three business days for a 30-minute appointment (801-297-7049; www.utahlegalhelp.org/vlc).
  • Utah Free Legal Answers — online volunteer attorneys answer non-criminal questions for low-income users (utah.freelegalanswers.org).
  • BYU Community Legal Clinic — Thursday evenings by Zoom for general civil matters (not family law); appointments required.
  • Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake Virtual Family Law Clinic — family law (801-869-2895).
  • Timpanogos Legal Center clinics — document help for divorce and custody; family and immigration help in Provo; an Ogden clinic for domestic violence, protective orders, landlord-tenant and family law.
  • Southern Utah Bar Association "Talk to a Lawyer" clinic — by phone for residents of Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington counties with income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
  • University of Utah Pro Bono Initiative clinics in Salt Lake County for immigration, expungement, family law and LGBT issues.

Clinics give quick advice, not representation, and most won't help with criminal cases.

Step 3: Legal aid organizations

The courts' organization list includes groups that may represent you free if you qualify:

  • Utah Legal Services — family law, housing, public assistance, senior issues and health benefits for low-income Utahns, migrant farm workers and Native Americans; intake in English and Spanish (1-800-662-4245; 801-328-8891 in the Salt Lake City area).
  • Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake — protective orders, civil stalking injunctions, divorce, custody, guardianship of minors and a limited-scope "Assisted Pro Se" program in Salt Lake County (801-238-7102 to schedule advice appointments).
  • Disability Law Center — disability rights statewide, free (800-662-9080).
  • Immigration help — Holy Cross Ministries, Catholic Community Services and the International Rescue Committee (for family-based green cards and citizenship; not for undocumented clients). See Free and Low-Cost Immigration Legal Help in Utah.
  • Utah Dispute Resolution — free or low-cost mediation (801-532-4841).
  • Veterans and service members — Utah@Ease through the Attorney General's office.
  • Crime victims, domestic violence survivors and others have specialized programs listed on the courts' page.

Many programs limit help by income and case type, and capacity is limited — call early and ask what documents to bring.

Step 4: Hire a lawyer for part of the case

Utah lets a lawyer file a limited appearance — for one pleading, a specific motion, a specific discovery step or a specific hearing — and you remain responsible for everything not listed in the notice (Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 75). The courts also suggest unbundled lawyers who do only specific jobs for a set fee (search the Utah State Bar's Licensed Lawyer site and filter for "Unbundled Services"), and lawyers who charge a sliding scale based on income. See Limited-Scope and Unbundled Legal Help in Utah.

The Utah State Bar's Modest Means program (discounted lawyer referrals) was paused and not accepting new applications when we checked its page, with reopening described as anticipated in fall 2025 — check its page for current status.

Step 5: Licensed Paralegal Practitioners

Utah licenses Licensed Paralegal Practitioners (LPPs) to help with certain family law, eviction and small debt matters. See Licensed Paralegal Practitioners in Utah.

Step 6: Reduce what the case costs

If you can't pay court filing fees, you can ask the court to waive them. See How to Ask a Utah Court to Waive Fees. You may also be entitled to a free interpreter or disability accommodations. See Free Court Interpreters in Utah and Disability Accommodations in Utah Courts.

If you are charged with a crime

You may be entitled to a public defender. See Public Defender Eligibility in Utah.

Topic shortcuts

Divorce · Eviction · Debt collection · Protective orders · Small claims · Expungement · Public benefits

Frequently asked questions

Can the court recommend a lawyer?

Court staff can't recommend specific lawyers; use the Bar's directory, a clinic or a legal aid group.

Is there a free lawyer in a civil case?

Not as a right in most civil cases; legal aid and clinics help some people who qualify.

What if I make too much for legal aid?

Try clinics, sliding-scale lawyers, limited-scope help or an LPP.

Is this site a law firm?

No. Open Legal Access provides general information, not legal advice.