Embedded Files
Discrimination and Civil Rights Violations
Discrimination and Civil Rights Violations
Have your civil rights or civil liberties been violated? The ACLU's legal department works on issues such as freedom of speech and press; privacy; freedom of religion and separation of church and state; immigration; police misconduct; criminal law reform; access to government documents and officials; discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, or disability, particularly by law enforcement and other government actors; and other issues of fair treatment by government.
The ACLU generally does not represent individuals unless an individual case creates an opportunity for law reform on an issue that is an ACLU of Massachusetts priority. However, they may be able to provide suggestions of alternative resources you may want to contact.
Website: https://www.aclum.org/en/seeking-legal-help-aclu
If you believe a company, business, organization has violated your rights, you can file a civil rights complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's Office.
Website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-civil-rights-complaint
Complaint Form: https://massago.hylandcloud.com/203appnet/UnityForm.aspx?key=UFKey
Phone: (617) 963-2917
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination protects your rights by investigating Complaints of Discrimination, and if they find that discrimination was likely to have happened, they prosecute the violators of the law. If you believe you experienced discriminatory treatment, you may file a Complaint at any of the four MCAD offices.
Website: https://www.mass.gov/file-a-complaint-of-discrimination
Phone: (617) 994-6000
E-mail: mcad@mass.gov
Find Legal Services
Find Legal Services
The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts maintains a helpline through which it provides legal assistance, resources and referrals to youth, parents, attorneys and helping professionals. Services are available in the area of Child Welfare, as well as Education, Immigration, Juvenile Justice, Civic Legal Aid for Victims of Crime, and other matters related to youth rights.
Website: http://www.clcm.org/
Helpline: 1-888-KIDLAW8
Email: info@CLCM.org
Office phone: (781) 581-1977
Greater Boston Legal Services provides free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to low income individuals and families in and around Boston. GBLS can answer your questions and help you understand your rights. If they determine that you need an attorney and that they can take your case, GBLS will provide you with high-quality representation every step of the way.
Website: https://www.gbls.org/what-we-do
Phone: (617) 603-1700
HLA provides high quality, free legal assistance to income-eligible Massachusetts residents having difficulty accessing health care or health insurance coverage. They also provide legal assistance to consumers with unaffordable medical debt. HLA represents individuals and litigates class-actions and impact cases. They have access to interpreters if English is not your preferred language. If HLA accepts your case, there will be no fee for our services.
You can also find resource guides about various issues pertaining to healthcare and medical debt.
Website: https://www.healthlawadvocates.org/get-legal-help/intake-procedure
Phone for help with health care, health coverage, and medical debt: 617-338-5241 or 855-218-2519 (toll-free)
Phone for specialized help with kids’ mental health and special education services: 617-275-2919 or 855-218-3965 (toll-free)
Directory of Massachusetts resources related to Immigration legal support. Maintained by Immigration Advocates Network.
Website: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/search?state=MA
GLAD can help you find an attorney in New England through our Lawyer Referral Service (LRS). GLAD wants to make sure you don’t have to face the challenges of the legal system alone. LRS lawyers are knowledgeable and experienced, and they are sensitive to the needs of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, and people with HIV.
Website: https://www.glad.org/know-your-rights/lawyer-referral/
Contact Form: Click Here
Email: GLADAnswers@glad.org
Phone: 800-455-GLAD
The Massachusetts Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service is here to assist you in finding the right lawyer for your legal issue. Online referrals are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, allowing you to get the name of a qualified MBA attorney instantly after completing a brief form. You can also contact the Lawyer Referral Service during the limited hours of Monday through Friday, from 10am to 3 pm by phone or email. This service offers referrals to regular, fee-charging attorneys located in your community. Please note that the LRS does not offer free/pro bono services.
Website: https://www.masslawhelp.com/
Online Referral Form: https://www.masslawhelp.com/lrs-find-lawyer-intellinx.html
Phone (Monday-Friday 10AM-3PM): (617) 654-0400 or (866) 627-7577
Email: LRS@massbar.org
Need help with a legal problem in Massachusetts? Answer a few questions – you will receive contact information for legal aid offices, government agencies and court programs that may be able to help you for free or at low cost. You will also receive links to free legal information and self-help materials.
Website: https://masslrf.org/en/home
For over forty years, Volunteer Lawyers Project has strived to give equal access to representation for the people of Greater Boston, standing up for those who are from lower income households and in need of legal aid. Even if a client does not qualify for Volunteer Lawyers Project's services, they do their very best to provide referrals to others who may help. Please understand that representation may be restricted due to the scope of funding. Volunteer Lawyers Project does not handle personal injury cases, criminal cases, or represent prisoners on any legal matters.
Website: https://vlpnet.org/what-we-do/
Phone: (617) 603-1700 or 1-800-342-LAWS (5297)
Online Application: Click Here
Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights
Knowledge is power. Download resources from the ACLU so you can have your rights at your fingertips. This page contains resources to know your rights relating to Health Care, Student Rights, Voting Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights, and Disability Rights among many other things.
Website: https://aclu.org/know-your-rights
A criminal record can make it harder to get a job or find housing. However, a CORI record may contain charges that can be “sealed” or expunged so that employers, housing providers, and others cannot see those charges. Greater Boston Legal Services has put together this set of resources on sealing and expungement for both juveline and adult criminal records. This page also contains information onobtaining your juvenile records, which is free.
Website: https://www.gbls.org/self-help/cori
Know your rights, and how to assert them. Search online resources for information about LGBTQ and HIV rights across New England and beyond.
Website: https://www.glad.org/know-your-rights/
Massachusetts legal aid programs put together this website to help you find practical information about your legal rights in Massachusetts. This page contains resources and information on a wide variety of topics related to legal rights and accessing legal knowledge and support.
Website: https://www.masslegalhelp.org/basic-legal-information
Page updated
Report abuse