Free Legal Help for Eligible Clients in Lakewood Ranch

Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income Tampa Bay area residents.

Our service area includes Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

Lakewood Ranch residents are served by our various offices.

NOTE: All office locations are by appointment only. No walk-ins.

Apply by phone Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or apply online anytime for non-emergency legal matters.

Language interpreters are available to you at no cost.

Bay Area Legal Services

Our service area includes Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

To apply for services, call our Legal Aid Line, (800) 625-2257, Monday-Friday, 9.a.m.-4:30 p.m. If your matter is not an emergency, you can also apply online anytime.

Statewide Legal Helplines

Florida Senior Legal Helpline

The Senior Legal Helpline is available to eligible applicants aged 60 and older who are Florida residents or have a legal issue pending in Florida. To apply for services, call (888) 895-7873, Monday-Friday, 9.a.m.-4:30 p.m. If your matter is not an emergency, you can also apply online anytime.

Florida Veterans Legal Helpline

The Veterans Legal Helpline is available to eligible veterans living in Florida or who have a legal issue pending in Florida. To apply for services, call (866) 486-6161, Monday-Friday, 9.a.m.-4:30 p.m. If your matter is not an emergency, you can also apply online anytime.

Florida Disaster Legal Aid Helpline

The Disaster Legal Aid Helpline is available to eligible residents living in Florida or who have a legal issue pending in Florida. To apply for services, call (833) 514-2940, available 24 hours a day. If your matter is not an emergency, you can also apply online anytime.


Attorneys in court.
Client family sitting around kitchen table.

We Can Help with Many Legal Problems

  • Problems with your home and eviction
  • Family issues (divorce, guardianship, custody, adoption, abuse protection)
  • Money problems and bankruptcy
  • Special help for seniors and veterans
  • Support for nonprofit businesses
  • Disaster events

Our Legal Help May Include

  • Giving legal information and advice
  • Providing simple assistance and ways to help yourself
  • Helping you find a free attorney
  • Representing you in court
  • Providing referrals to other agencies that can help

Eligibility for Help

Not everyone is eligible for services. Those who are eligible will receive services based on our available resources.

We cannot help with criminal, traffic matters, or some other areas of law such as personal injury.

Areas We Serve

Hillsborough County

Serving all of Hillsborough County, including (but not limited to):

Pasco County

Serving all of Pasco County, including (but not limited to):

Pinellas County

Serving all of Pinellas County, including (but not limited to):

Manatee County

Serving all of Manatee County, including (but not limited to):

Sarasota County

Serving all of Sarasota County, including (but not limited to):

Apply for Services

Apply by phone Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or apply online anytime for non-emergency legal matters. Language interpreters are available to you at no cost.

How do I apply? Am I eligible?

Bay Area Legal Services

If you live or have a case in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, or Sarasota counties, we may be able to help.

Statewide Legal Helplines

If you live or have a case in Florida, we may be able to help.