If you have a new legal problem, please call 1-800-998-9454, Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

What is the HelpLine?

The HelpLine is how people with civil legal problems connect with Legal Aid. It is a simple, toll-free telephone intake system for low-income and elderly residents in Columbiana, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne counties.

Who should call the HelpLine?

Anyone who has a civil (non-criminal) legal problem and lives in one of our eight counties should call our Helpline. You can also call if you do not live here, but your legal problem needs to be resolved in one of the counties we serve.

How does the HelpLine work?

After a brief recording, callers will talk to an eligibility screener. We ask questions about income, assets and the type of legal problems the caller may have in order to qualify them under one of our grants or contracts. Once you are found to be eligible, you may be scheduled to speak with a HelpLine attorney or you may be directed to another one of our programs.

What if my problem is an emergency?

Tell the screener immediately! They are trained to deal with emergencies. If needed, you may be able to speak to someone that day. Everyone who calls should have their legal documents with them.

Wouldn’t it be faster to talk to a person face-to-face?

No. The HelpLine is designed to help a large number of callers (more than 100 each day) as quickly as possible. The HelpLine exists to help new clients over the phone. The staff located in our local offices focus their work on current clients.

What if I don’t have a phone?

You can call the HelpLine from any phone, including those in one of our local offices. The calls are answered as they come in, so it does not matter from where you call.

When can I call the HelpLine?

The HelpLine is open Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.