Apply For Services

Need Free Legal Help?

All individuals seeking help from the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia must first be screened to see if they financially qualify for our help.  We only assist low-income Virginians within 125% of the Federal Poverty level, although we can, in some cases, take deductions.

If you are found to be financially eligible for our services, your case will then be evaluated by the Executive Director and one of three things will happen:

  1. We may find that we do not have the staffing resources to assist you;
  2. We may find that we can provide limited assistance such as advice and your case will be assigned to an attorney in the Expanded Access Unit;
  3. Your case will be assigned to a service office for possible representation and a further evaluation on the merits.

Service Area

  • Accomack County

  • Chesapeake 

  • Gloucester County

  • Hampton

  • Mathews County

  • Middlesex County

  • Newport News 

  • Norfolk

  • Northampton County

  • Poquoson 

  • Portsmouth 

  • Virginia Beach 

  • York County

  • Williamsburg

If you are an applicant who lives outside of the LASEV service area but does live within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and your legal matter is within our service area, you may apply for services directly as outlined below. If you live outside of Virginia, please visit the I Need Legal Help website to find your local legal aid. They can assist you in applying for services and, if necessary, provide a referral to our office.

Before applying, please note that LASEV is unable to assist with criminal matters, personal injury, medical malpractice, delinquent tax matters and matters related to slander and/or defamation, or traffic matters. We assist in civil legal matters only. Legal Aid does not provide financial assistance for the payment of rent. 

How To Apply

FOR DECEMBER 2025, PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO OUR INTAKE PROCEDURES:

LASEV is transitioning to a new case management software.  As a result, web applications for services will not be available after November 30.  Our Central Intake Line will be closed from Dec. 5 – Dec. 26.  If you have a protective order, a 72-hour writ of eviction, an unlawful detainer with a court date or if your landlord has locked you out of your home, you can complete a walk-in application at one of our locations.  We will not be taking applications for any other matters between Dec. 5 and Dec. 26.

 

To apply for services at LASEV, please reach out to the Community Support Team in one of the following ways:

  1. Complete a web application online. To utilize the web application, you must have an email address and working phone number. You may complete a web application here and a member of our community support staff will call you back within five to seven business days. If you have a court date within 7 business days, have been served with a notice from the Sheriff’s office, are locked out of your unit or if your water or electricity are turned off, please DO NOT complete a web application.  Instead, either call our centralized intake line or walk into one of our offices.   
  2. Call our centralized intake line at 757-827-5078 if you have a court date within 7 business days, or otherwise prefer to use a telephone. Our intake line is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00AM-1:00PM. Wednesdays the line is closed. The average wait time is 15 minutes.
  3. Walk-in to our offices and make an application in person, see walk-in hours below. Completing a walk-in application does not guarantee same-day service or a same-day meeting with an attorney.
  4. Meet us out in the community at one of our outreach events. View upcoming events here. 

If you have a court date within seven business days, have been served with a Sheriff’s Notice of Eviction, are locked out of your unit OR if your water or electricity are turned off, please do NOT complete a web application. We suggest that you come into our office to complete a walk-in application or call our intake line.

Information Needed for Eligibility Screening

  • If you are opening an application for another person, you must have Power of Attorney or a guardianship over them. Please have these documents ready when calling.
  • If you are a permanent resident, you will need to provide a front and back photo of your residency card. Please have these documents ready when calling
  • In order to assess your household for eligibility for our program, we will need the income information for all adults residing in your home.
  • Please have the full name of the person that is opposed to you in your legal matter. Ex: your child’s other parent, your landlord, the person you are trying to divorce.

Are you ready to apply?

Once you have your information ready, click the button below to be directed to our online application.

WEB APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED

Walk-In Hours

Norfolk Office

Monday through Friday from 9:00AM – 4:00PM

Hampton Office

Mondays & Wednesdays from 9:00AM – 5:00PM,

on Fridays 9:00AM – 12:00PM and by appointment.

Please, call to ensure the office is staffed before visiting: (757) 275-0080.

Williamsburg Office

Monday through Thursday 9:00AM – 5:00PM,

on Fridays 9:00AM – 12:00PM

Eastern Shore Office

Monday through Thursday, 9:00AM- 5:00PM,

but closed daily from 12:00 – 1:00PM for lunch.

Referral by Other Legal Services Organizations

Other Legal Services Organizations outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia should email

Melissa Bonfiglio (melissab@laseva.org) or Megan Marmottin (meganm@laseva.org).

Referrals may also be faxed to (757) 622-8102. 

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