Our Services

Every year Greater Boston Legal Services helps more than 10,000 low-income families and individuals solve their civil (non-criminal) legal problems. We represent our clients in court, at appeals, in hearings before administrative law judges, and with advice and paperwork, both as individuals and through partnerships with community organizations. We have a special focus on "impact litigation" and our attorneys have frequently submitted appellate briefs and appeared before the state's highest court.

GBLS staff provide trainings across the state and at national conferences to low-income families, social services agencies, and legal aid organizations. In addition to direct client services, GBLS engages in legislative and systemic law reform advocacy in an effort to help all residents of the Commonwealth.

Abuse Prevention Orders for Elders, DV Survivors, and Disabled

  • 209A protective orders for survivors of domestic violence, elders, and the disabled
  • Defense against guardianships and conservatorships
  • Domestic violence support

Consumer Rights

  • Predatory lending
  • Loan modifications

Criminal Vacatur

  • Vacating convictions and continuances without findings for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence
  • Outreach to survivor community on eligibility for vacatur and other criminal record services

Employment Law: Workers' Rights and Unemployment Benefits

  • Unemployment benefits denials
  • Wage theft (minimum wage, overtime pay, nonpayment of wage)
  • Paid family & medical leave
  • Sick leave
  • U and T visas for immigrant survivors of labor trafficking and workplace crimes

Family

  • Divorce
  • Custody and Child Support
  • Domestic violence, abuse prevention and assistance with emergency orders of protection

Government Benefits

  • TAFDC / EAEDC
  • Food Stamps / SNAP
  • Child Care benefits
  • Enforcing the rights of the disabled, immigrants, and people with limited English proficiency

Healthcare Benefits, Nursing Home Rights

  • Medicare, Masshealth, and Affordable Care Act Advocacy
  • Advocacy with the Department of Mental Health and children with psychiatric needs
  • Protecting nursing home residents

Housing

stars Self-help forms available!

  • Eviction defense
  • Foreclosure prevention and defense of tenants and homeowners after foreclosure
  • Subsidy preservation
  • Tenant rights

Immigration

  • Asylum and refugee status
  • Citizenship
  • Unaccompanied minors

    Shelter

    • Access to Emergency Assistance (EA) Shelter for families and pregnant women
    • Homebase

    Social Security, SSI, and State Supplementary Benefits

    • Social Security Disability Benefits and Retirement Benefits
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • Emergency Assistance to the Elderly and Disabled (EAEDC)

    Taxes

    • Tax preparation
    • Earned Income Tax Credit
    • Assistance with IRS appeals and audits

    Victims of Crime

    • Family Law: Divorce, Paternity, Child and Spousal Support, Chapter 209A Abuse Prevention Complaints
    • Immigration: U-Visa and VAWA petitions, Asylum cases, Removal of Conditions
    • Generalist: Eviction defense, public housing transfers, consumer law (identity theft; small claims; credit fraud), wage theft