Local Help Center: 8th District of New York
Help Centers provide free information about the law and court procedure to people who do not have an attorney. Our local Help Center is located in Buffalo. The 8th Judicial District includes Erie County and the surrounding counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.
8th Judicial District Court Help Center
Supreme Court Law Library
77 W. Eagle Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Email: 8jdcourthelp@nycourts.gov (Visit or Email to make an appointment with the Staff Attorney)
This Help Center can help you with: Housing Court; Divorce/Matrimonial; Name Change; Supreme Court - Civil; Foreclosure
This Help Center has: Internet Access Terminal (with limitations); DIY Form Access; Free Wifi; Court Forms; Sample Forms; Informational hand-outs; Referrals to other organizations (governmental & non-governmental).
Help Center staff do not provide legal advice and are unable to represent you.
This list is courtesy of the Bar Association of Erie County. Additional information provided by UB Law Reference Librarians.
Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo
290 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 853-9555
Online Application for Legal Services
Legal Aid may assist with:
CRIMINAL CASES Legal Aid (information available here; referrals are from the court system only)
Neighborhood Legal Services
237 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 847-0650
Online Application for Legal Services
Do not use this application if you have an immediate need, such as being locked out of your home. If you have a legal emergency, please call our office at (716) 847-0650 between the hours of 9 AM–5 PM. NLS provides legal help with the following issues:
• Housing: Evictions, Tenant/Landlord & Unsafe Housing Conditions
• Public Benefits: SNAP, CASH & Homelessness
• Emergency Assistance: Utility Arrears/Shut-offs & Rent Arrears
• Problems with the Department of Social Services
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Benefits
• Health Insurance: Medicaid, Medicare & Private Insurance
• Work Incentives Planning & Assistance
• Family Law: Divorce, Child Support, Child Custody & Spousal Support
• Domestic Violence & Orders of Protection
• Victims of Crime
Volunteer Lawyers Project
438 Main Street, 7th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 847-0662
Online Application for Legal Services
The staff and volunteers at VLP provide free civil legal services for low-income people. They can help with:
Western New York Law Center
37 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 855-0203
Online Application for Eviction Protection Help
Online Application for Foreclosure Help
Online Application for Bankruptcy Help
WNY Law Center also works in the areas of:
Center for Elder Law & Justice
438 Main Street, Suite 1200
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 853-3087
Have a legal question? Call us! Any New Yorker age 55+ can call our Free Legal Advice Helpline to speak with an attorney at 1-844-481-0973. The Helpline is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 11:00am EST. You can also call and leave a message outside of those hours, and e-mail us at any time at helpline@elderjusticeny.org. A licensed attorney will respond to you within 3 business days.
Center for Resolution and Justice
Tri-Main Center
2495 Main St., Suite 357
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 362-2323
The Center for Resolution and Justice (CR+J) supports Western New York with free and sliding-scale Conflict Resolution Services. CR+J offers mediation, conflict coaching, and restorative justice to promote dialogue and understanding between parties facing conflict. CR+J’s community mediation program is free for residents of Western New York and our professional services are offered at reduced rates to community organizations.
Child & Family Services
330 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 842-2750
With a wide range of programs, Child and Family Services is ready to assist anyone in need.
Family Justice Center
438 Main St., Suite 201
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 558-7233
The Family Justice Center helps victims of Domestic Violence by providing free services for domestic violence victims and their children through an extensive collaboration with 13 partner agencies, located at one secure, comfortable location. Victims can visit any of the three locations to take advantage of these free services to help them safely escape abuse.
International Institute of Buffalo
864 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
(716) 883-1900
Provides Interpreting & Translation Services
Journey’s End Refugee Service - Immigration Legal Services
2495 Main Street, Suite 530
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 882-4963
The Immigration Legal Services Program at Journey’s End Refugee Services offers immigration legal representation to low-income refugees, asylees, and other immigrants.
Mental Health Advocates of WNY
1021 Broadway Street, 5th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14212
(716) 886-1242
Individuals and families living with the challenges of mental illness often sustain economic and social hardships. Legal Services of Mental Health Advocates of WNY offers pro bono (free) civil legal services to help those get the representation they need. Our legal services team may be reached at: p (716) 886-1242 | f (716) 881-6428.
New York Civil Liberties Union
Western Regional Office
661 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 852-4033 | westernregion@nyclu.org
Prisoners’ Legal Services of NY
14 Lafayette Square, Suite 510
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 854-1007
Services for incarcerated New Yorkers.
Surrogate’s Court Help Center
schc@elderjusticeny.org
(716) 878-9296
For advice on a Surrogate's Court matter, you may contact the Center for Elder Law & Justice via telephone, 716-878-9296 or via email SCHC@elderjusticeny.org. For all other matters, call the Center for Elder Law & Justice's free legal Helpline at 1-844-481-0973 or e-mail helpline@elderjusticeny.org.
Lawyer Referral & Information Service
If you can afford a lawyer: Call or fill out an online form on the website.
The service is meant to assist people "who are able to pay normal attorney fees but whose ability to locate appropriate legal representation is frustrated by a lack of experience with the legal system, a lack of information about the type of service needed, or a fear of the potential costs of seeing a lawyer." A full description is on the website.
New York State Courts: COURTHelp
This is a website hosted by the court system in New York state. There is a lot of information on the page! Use the lists or the "QUICK LINKS" (bottom right-hand corner box). We've listed a few helpful links here as well.
Find definitions of legal words.
Forms you can use for issues like guardianship or name change; many forms available in English & Spanish.
Find information about legal topics such as Default Judgments, Problems with Money, and Starting an Appeal.
Help Centers provide free information about the law and court procedure to people who do not have an attorney. Help Center staff do not provide legal advice and are unable to represent you. Help Centers are located across New York.
Information about finding free legal help and paid help. Includes information for veterans.
This helpful website provides background information on many legal topics and offers a directory of organizations providing free or low-cost legal services available in New York State.
There are also links to court/legal forms that you may need.
The entire website is NY focused.
The UB Law Library is available for use by the general public. UB's Law Reference Librarians are here to assist with legal research resources or suggestions about how to start your research. Please remember that we cannot, however, offer legal advice or conduct your research.
Hours we are open change, so check here:
https://law.lib.buffalo.edu/hours/
Or, you can send us an email or call!
The images and figures on this page are from the websites referenced and nycourts.gov.
