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State Law Library of Montana

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Local (406) 444-3660
In State: (800) 710-9827

    Montana Legal Resource Directory

    The following organizations and agencies provide legal representation, advice, or information to Montanans for free or for reduced costs. These organizations may have income limitations or geographic restrictions for their services. You are encouraged to contact the individual organization for more information on the services offered. If you do not see your topic listed in the chart below, try our list of organizations that provide general legal assistance.

    For more information on the legal topics listed below, visit our Find a Law by Topic page.

    Business Complaints – Consumer Complaints

    • Consumer Protection Office
      Investigates consumer complaints against businesses and enforces Montana consumer protection laws.

      Phone: 406-444-4500
      Web: www.doj.mt.gov/consumer/consumer/default.asp

    • Public Service Commission
      Assists with complaints regarding utility companies.

      Phone: 406-444-4077
      800-646-6150
      Web: www.psc.mt.gov

    Child Support

    Civil Liberties – Civil Rights – Discrimination

    • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
      Defends civil liberties and civil rights (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom of religion, privacy). This office does not typically assist individuals but instead focuses on cases affecting large groups of Montanans.

    Phone: 406-443-8590
    Web: www.aclumontana.org

    • Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors
      Monitors state and community institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. Provides legal representation at Montana State Hospital. Provides information about rights in mental health facilities.

      • Phone: 406-444-3955
                 406-693-7035
                 800-332-2272
      Web: boardofvisitors.mt.gov

    • Montana Advocacy Program
      Protects and advocates for the rights of Montanans with mental and physical disabilities; provides advocates and attorneys for disability-related issues.

      • Phone: 406-449-2344 (voice/TDD)
                 406-541-4357 (voice/TDD)
                 800-245-4743
      Web: www.mtadv.org

    • Montana Fair Housing
      Provides legal assistance to victims of housing discrimination and provides education about fair housing laws.

    Phone: 406-542-2611
    Web: www.fairhousing.montana.com

    • Montana Human Rights Bureau
      Investigates complains of discrimination, including housing and employment discrimination.

      • Phone: 406-444-2884
                 (800) 542-0807
      Web: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/humanright/hrhome.asp

    Crime Victim Services

    • Victim Services and Crime Victim Compensation Program
      Serves as a central reference point for victims of crime, offering information and referrals; provides financial assistance to help crime victims with crime related expenses, including lost wages and medical expenses.

    Phone: 406-444-3653
               (800) 498-6455
    Web: www.doj.mt.gov/victims/default.asp

    Disabled Citizen Issues

    • Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors
      Monitors state and community institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. Provides legal representation at Montana State Hospital. Provides information about rights in mental health facilities.

    Phone: 406-444-3955
               406-693-7035
               (800) 332-2272
    Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/legal_advocacy/links/bov.htm

    • Montana Advocacy Program
      Protects and advocates for the rights of Montanans with mental and physical disabilities; provides advocates and attorneys for disability-related issues.

    Phone: 406-449-2344 (voice/TDD)
               406-541-4357 (voice/TDD)
               (800) 245-4743
    Web: www.mtadv.org

    • Montana Fair Housing
      Provides legal assistance to victims of housing discrimination and provides education about fair housing laws.

    Phone: 406-542-2611
    Web: www.fairhousing.montana.com

    • Montana Human Rights Bureau
      Investigates complains of discrimination, including housing and employment discrimination.

    Phone: 406-444-2884
               (800) 542-0807
    Web: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/humanright/hrhome.asp

    Elder Law – Senior Citizen Issues

    • Senior and Long Term Care Division
      Provides information and legal assistance for seniors, operates an elder abuse hotline, and provides emergency intervention.

    Aging Hotline: 800-332-2272
    Elder Abuse Hotline 800-551-3191
    General Phone: 406-444-4077
    Web: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/

    General Legal Issues

    • Statewide
      • Montana Legal Services Association
        Provides legal advice and representation to low-income Montanans in civil matters (NOT criminal cases).
        Phone: 800-999-4941
                  800-666-6899
                  800-926-3144
        Web: www.mtlsa.org
                 www.MontanaLawHelp.org

      • State Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS)
        Provides free referrals to Montana attorneys and information regarding other resources in the State.
        Phone: 406-449-6577
        Web: http://www.montanabar.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=19

      • Senior and Long Term Care Division
        Provides information and legal assistance for seniors, operates an elder abuse hotline, and provides emergency intervention.
        Aging Hotline: 800-332-2272
        Elder Abuse Hotline 800-551-3191
        General Phone: 406-444-4077
        Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/

      • William J. Jameson Law Library, University of Montana School of Law
        Provides limited legal reference help to the public.
        Phone: 406-243-6808
        Web: www.umt.edu/law/library

    • Local
      • Butte-Silver Bow County Law Library
        Provides limited legal reference help to the public.

      • Cascade County Law Clinic
        Provides legal assistance in civil matters to low-income people in Cascade County, including family law, guardianships for the elderly, and orders of protection. Also provides information for parents involved with Child and Family Services.
        Phone: 406-452-6269

      • Community Dispute Resolution Center of Missoula County
        Provides mediation services to low-income residents of Missoula County.
        Phone: 406-543-1157

      • Community Mediation Center (Gallatin County)
        Provides mediation services to low-income residents of Gallatin County.
        Phone: 406-522-8442
        Web: www.cmcmontana.org

      • Eastern Montana Self-Help Law Project
        Operates self-help workstations in eastern Montana, providing the public with legal information, assistance, and referrals to help them make their own legal decisions and, in some cases, represent themselves in court.
        Glasgow Phone: 406-228-9446
        Sidney Phone: 406-489-1477

      • Youth Imperative Inc. (Gallatin, Madison, and Park)
        Provides legal services, preventive legal services, educational and special education advocacy for youth in Gallatin, Madison, and Park Counties.
        Phone: 406-522-8888

    Housing Issues – Renting Issues

    • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
      Defends civil liberties and civil rights (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom of religion, privacy). This office does not typically assist individuals but instead focuses on cases affecting large groups of Montanans.
      Phone: 406-443-8590
      Web: www.aclumontana.org

    • Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors
      Monitors state and community institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. Provides legal representation at Montana State Hospital. Provides information about rights in mental health facilities.
      Phone: 406-444-3955
                 406-693-7035
                 800-332-2272
      Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/legal_advocacy/links/bov.htm

    • Montana Advocacy Program
      Protects and advocates for the rights of Montanans with mental and physical disabilities; provides advocates and attorneys for disability-related issues.
      Phone: 406-449-2344 (voice/TDD)
                 406-541-4357 (voice/TDD)
                 800-245-4743
      Web: www.mtadv.org

    • Montana Fair Housing
      Provides legal assistance to victims of housing discrimination and provides education about fair housing laws.
      Phone: 406-542-2611
      Web: www.fairhousing.montana.com

    • Montana Human Rights Bureau
      Investigates complains of discrimination, including housing and employment discrimination.
      Phone: 406-444-2884
                 800-542-0807
      Web erd.dli.mt.gov/humanright/hrhome.asp

    • MontPIRG Tenant-Landlord Hotline
      Provides information about tenant-landlord law and renting in Montana.
      Phone: 888-345-7474
      Email: mthotline@pirg.org
      Web: www.montpirg.org/hotline/index.html

    • Public Service Commission
      Assists with complaints regarding utility companies.
      Phone: 406-444-4077
                 (800) 646-6150
      Web: www.psc.mt.gov

    Judge Complaints

    • Judicial Standards Commission
      Investigates complaints and makes recommendations regarding disciplinary actions against Montana judges.
      Phone: 406-444-2608
      Web:www.courts.mt.gov/Supreme/boards/jsc.asp

    Lawyer Complaints

    State Agency Complaints

    • Citizen Advocate Office
      Helps with problems or complaints related to state agencies.
      Phone: 800-332-2272
      Web: citizensadvocate.mt.gov

    • Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors
      Monitors state and community institutions for the mentally ill and disabled. Provides legal representation at Montana State Hospital. Provides information about rights in mental health facilities.
      Phone: 406-444-3955
                406-693-7035
                800-332-2272
      Web: www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/legal_advocacy/links/bov.htm

    Student Legal Assistance

    • Student Legal Services
      Provides legal assistance to college students at various Montana institutions.
      • Montana State University – Billings
        Phone: 406-657-2365
      • Montana State University – Bozeman
        Phone: 406-994-2933
      • University of Montana – Missoula
        Phone: 406-243-6213

    Taxes

    • Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
      Provides low-income taxpayers with free legal assistance on federal tax matters throughout the year. Cannot provide help with tax form preparation.
      Phone: 406-543-8343
      Web: www.montanalitc.org

    Youth Legal Issues

    • Youth Imperative, Inc.
      Provides legal services, preventive legal services, educational and special education advocacy for youth in Gallatin, Madison, and Park counties.
      Phone: 406-522-8888