Resources
***As of July 11, 2025, our legal intake is closed***
Lawyers for Civil Rights provides free legal representation, advice, and referrals for qualifying Massachusetts residents who face discrimination or harassment in our six core areas: education, employment, housing, immigration, police accountability, and voting. We also offer legal support to qualifying entrepreneurs and small businesses.
We only handle cases with clear civil rights implications. We do not take criminal matters, divorce or custody disputes, personal injury claims, medical malpractice, individual evictions, or other family law cases.
Due to overwhelming demand and limited resources, our legal intake is currently closed.
Please note that even when intake is open, we receive dozens of requests for free legal assistance every day, and we are only able to take on one or two new cases per month. Those few cases are selected based on the strength of the case and our capacity to assist.
Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to inquiries that we cannot pursue.
We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to check back periodically for updates.
Legal Resources:
The Boston Bar Association
“The Boston Bar Association (BBA), the oldest bar association in the United States, is the hub of the legal profession in Boston, Massachusetts. The Association’s mission is to advance the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession, facilitate access to justice, and serve the community at large.”
http://www.bostonbar.org/
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
“The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is the state’s chief civil rights agency. The Commission works to eliminate discrimination on a variety of bases and areas, and strives to advance the civil rights of the people of the Commonwealth through law enforcement, outreach and training.”
http://www.mass.gov/mcad/
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The EEOC is a federal agency that enforces a variety of federal laws that prohibit discrimination.
http://www.eeoc.gov/
Boston Area Office
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
475 Government Center, Room 601
Boston, MA 02203
1-800-669-4000
Find Law for the Public
FindLaw is a free online legal resource that provides a detailed overview of discrimination in housing, education, employment, accommodations, and voting.
http://public.findlaw.com/civil-rights/race-discrimination/
Massachusetts State Courts
This site provides helpful information about the Massachusetts court system. If you cannot find the information that you are looking for, go to the “Contact Us” section to find the telephone number of the appropriate department.http://www.mass.gov/courts/index.html
Massachusetts Federal Courts
This site provides information related to Massachusetts’ three federal courts, which are located in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. If you need information that you cannot find on the site, click on the “How to Contact Us” link and contact the Clerk’s office at the appropriate court.
http://www.mad.uscourts.gov/