Can I get a free lawyer for immigration court? Help for adults and children

This page answers one question: whether the court gives you a free lawyer, and where people with court cases find one. It is general information, not legal advice. For all kinds of free legal help, see Free or low cost immigration legal help in the Bay Area. For what happens in court, see What happens at your first immigration court hearing.

Will the court give me a free lawyer?

Usually, no. Federal law says you have the right to a lawyer in immigration court, but "at no expense to the Government" (8 U.S.C. 1362). That means you may bring any lawyer or accredited representative you choose, but in most cases you must find them yourself.

Here is what the judge must do at your hearing (8 CFR 1240.10):

• Tell you that you have the right to a lawyer, at no cost to the government
• Ask whether you want one
• Tell you that free legal services are available for that court, and make sure you got the list

Not having a lawyer is common. It is also risky. Immigration law is hard, and a government lawyer argues the other side. Having a lawyer can change what happens in your case. So start looking now.

Is anyone given a lawyer for free?

A few groups can be. These are the main ones.

Detained people with serious mental illness, in California. Under a court case called Franco-Gonzalez v. Holder, a person who is detained in California, has no lawyer, and is found by an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals to be mentally unable to represent themselves can get a Qualified Representative, usually a lawyer, paid through the government's National Qualified Representative Program. See Immigration court when someone has a serious mental illness.

Some children. Federal law tells the Department of Health and Human Services to make sure unaccompanied children who have been in its custody have lawyers "to the greatest extent practicable," using volunteer lawyers as much as possible (8 U.S.C. 1232(c)(5)). California also pays for some children's lawyers. That help has been shaken in 2025 and 2026. See Does my child get a free lawyer?

Everyone else has to find a lawyer on their own. Free lawyers from nonprofits, law school clinics and volunteer programs are the main way people without money get help.

Where can adults find a free lawyer?

Call more than one place on the same day. Openings change week to week.

1. Use the court's own list. The DOJ List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers names nonprofits and lawyers who promised to give at least 50 hours a year of free help at a given court. It comes out four times a year. The latest was posted September 24, 2026. The court does not endorse anyone on it, and being on it does not mean they can take you.
2. Call local groups that do court cases. San Mateo County lists these for removal defense: Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (650-326-6440), the Stanford Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic (650-724-9068), APILO (415-567-6255) and La Raza Centro Legal (415-575-3500).
3. Use the state's list. California funds nonprofits for removal defense and other help. Find them on the CDSS immigration page or call (916) 651-8017.
4. See our full list of Bay Area groups: Free or low cost immigration legal help.

What about county programs? San Mateo County approved about $1.75 million in agreements with the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County for immigration help, removal defense and rapid response, for July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The county's legal help page did not say on October 21, 2026 whether that money was renewed for July 2026 to June 2027. Call the groups above and ask what they can take now.

What if I or my family member is detained?

Detained cases move fast. Call today.

Santa Clara County lists these groups for help with someone held by immigration. Call them to ask for an appointment and see if they can help:

• Amigos de Guadalupe: (408) 341-6080
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: (650) 326-6440
• Pangea Legal Services: (415) 254-0475
• Santa Clara University Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center: (408) 288-7030
• Step Forward Foundation: (408) 915-8698
• SIREN: (408) 453-3003

To find where someone is held, see How to find a family member detained by ICE. For bond, see How to get someone out of immigration detention on bond. If agents are active near you in San Mateo County, the county's rapid response line is (203) 666-4472.

Does my child get a free lawyer?

Not always. We know this is hard to read. Here is what we found as of October 21, 2026.

Children who came alone (unaccompanied children). For years, the federal government paid nonprofits to give these children lawyers. In March 2025 it moved to end that funding. Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto and other groups sued in federal court in San Francisco (CLSEPA v. HHS). The court ordered the funding restored in April 2025, and the appeals court left that order in place in May 2025. In August 2026 the court ordered the government to pay money it had held back. But the main federal contract for children's legal services ended July 31, 2026, according to the group that ran it (Acacia Center for Justice). Many programs stopped taking new children. Do not wait for a lawyer to be assigned. Call for help yourself.

California's help for children. The state's Youth Legal Services program lists $6.7 million for 2026 to 2027. It pays nonprofits to represent unaccompanied children in or released from federal custody, and other immigrant youth in deportation cases. A 2025 state law, AB 1261, gives immigrant youth in California a lawyer, but only as far as the state funds it. That means help for many children, not a promise for every child.

A protection in court. If a child under 18 has no lawyer, the judge may not accept the child's admission that they can be deported unless a lawyer, relative, guardian or friend is there with them (8 CFR 1240.10(c)). Always go to court with your child.

What to do:

1. Call CLSEPA at 650-326-6440. It helps immigrant youth and does deportation defense for people with low income in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
2. Call the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County's LIBRE program at 650-517-8936 for an attorney appointment (main line 650-558-0915). LIBRE helps with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases.
3. Ask the state which groups it funds near you: (916) 651-8017.
4. Learn whether your child might qualify for protection: What is SIJS and can my child qualify? and What immigration help for children costs.

What if I cannot find a lawyer in time?

Keep going to court. Missing a hearing can lead to a deportation order without you there. See Do I have to go to immigration court?

• Ask the judge for more time to find a lawyer. Say it clearly at your hearing. The judge may move your case to a later date. See Can I ask for more time?
• Keep a call log. Write down every group you called, the date and what they said. The judge may ask what you did. Use the call log.
• Watch your deadlines. Some forms have hard deadlines, like the one year deadline for asylum. See The one year deadline to apply for asylum.
• Check the fees. Before you file anything, see New immigration court and asylum fees in 2026.

You can choose to speak for yourself in court. That is your right. But keep calling for help while your case goes on.

What should I have ready when I call?

• Your A number (on your court papers)
• Your court notice with your next hearing date and the court name
• Any papers from immigration, and any you got from ICE
• A short list of your family in the U.S. and how long you have lived here
• Any arrest or court records, if you have them

See What to bring to your first meeting with an immigration lawyer.

Questions people ask

Can I get a public defender like in criminal court? Not for most immigration cases. The right to a free lawyer in criminal court does not carry over to immigration court. California's AB 1261 lets public defender offices be funded to help immigrant youth, but only where the state pays for it.

The pro bono list says a group is free. Why did they say no? Groups on the list have limits on how many people they can take. Ask them, "Who else should I call?"

My hearing moved from San Francisco to Concord. Is that real? Yes. The San Francisco Immigration Court closed for good on September 4, 2026, and its cases moved to Concord, according to the court's own notice. The court said it would mail new notices. Some hearings are held at the Sansome Street location in San Francisco, which Concord now runs, or by video. Go where your newest notice says, and check Automated Case Information before you go.

Will a free lawyer take any case? No. Many groups check income, where you live, or the type of case. Some focus on detained people or children. Call several.

Who can help?

These are free or low cost nonprofits and public offices. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): deportation defense, including detained cases, and help for immigrant youth, for people with low income in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. 650-326-6440. clsepa.org
• Stanford Law School Immigrants' Rights Clinic: listed by San Mateo County for removal hearings and habeas. 650-724-9068.
• Pangea Legal Services: (415) 254-0475.
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: main line 650-558-0915; LIBRE attorney appointments 650-517-8936.
• California Department of Social Services, Immigration Services: list of state funded groups. (916) 651-8017. cdss.ca.gov
• Santa Clara County detention help list: desj.santaclaracounty.gov

You do not have to face this alone. Keep calling. The right help often takes more than one try.

Is there a call log I can print?