The LSNJLAW^SM Hotline provides free legal advice, information, and referrals over the telephone to low-income New Jersey residents in civil legal matters. 

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY—Please note – LSNJLAW Hotline will close at 12:30 PM on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 in observance of the Christmas holiday. The LSNJ Hotline will reopen on Thursday, December 26, 2024 with our regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Online applications for legal assistance can be submitted anytime (24 hours/7 days per week) and will be reviewed by the next business day when the LSNJLAW Hotline is open.

This service is provided at no charge, but applicants must be financially eligible to qualify. Legal help is available in all languages and to the hearing-impaired. All calls are strictly confidential.

The LSNJLAW^SM Hotline is open for phone calls Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please understand that high call volume may mean you will have to wait to talk to an intake worker. If you have an emergency matter that requires immediate advice, our intake worker will arrange for you to talk to someone that day. Otherwise, we will schedule you for a later call back appointment with one of our advocates.

If your matter is not an emergency, you can avoid the wait by applying through the online intake. The Hotline Web Application will take about 5 to 7 minutes to complete. Once you complete and submit the application, an advocate will contact you within two business days.

Be prepared to answer questions about:

• Yourself and your finances. This information is necessary for us to make sure you are eligible for our services.
• The type of legal problem you are having.
• The names of parties.
• Court name and location.
• Dates you received court papers.
• Type of court papers and docket number.
• Dates you may be scheduled for court.

Have a paper and pencil ready to take notes. Be prepared to read the documents to the intake person if asked.

If you are calling about another person and the legal problem is not yours, we may not be able to help you. We will assist you if the person who is having the problem is unable to call us due to a disability or if you are the legal representative for that person (e.g., he or she is a minor or legally incompetent, or you have a power of attorney for that person). If the person with the legal problem is unable to call, please inform the intake paralegal when you call. In all other situations, please have the person with the legal problem contact us.

LSNJLAW^SM Hotline staff do not go to court to represent you. Wherever free legal assistance is available, from Legal Services or some other source, we will do our best to refer you to such help.