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Assists individuals with civil legal problems related to a disaster. Services may include help with FEMA support, such as applications/appeals or identifying and gathering relevant documentation; help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.; drafting of new wills, powers of attorney and other legal papers lost in the disaster; assistance with home repair contracts and contractors; counseling and advice about landlord/tenant matters; and help with consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures.

Seeks to match individuals with volunteer (pro-bono) lawyers for low-income individuals who are unable to get help from the two legal services organizations in the state (East River Legal Services and / or Dakota Plains Legal Services).

Provides free civil legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and/or stalking. Civil legal services can include help with orders for protection, divorce, custody, employment issues, and housing issues.

The ACLU of South Dakota, a national chapter of the ACLU, is a non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. Believes that the freedoms of press, speech, assembly and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. Seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups that have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; women; and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit people. Carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at state and local level and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for people of South Dakota. Advocacy / Help Generally, the ACLU of South Dakota only takes on issues that can affect a large number of people directly or involving a small number of people or an individual that could set a precedent that would impact a significant number of people. The ACLU is especially interested in issues that may break new ground in interpreting constitutional rights. To request assistance, fill out the legal intake form.

• Completing this form does not mean will provide legal representation to anyone. Individuals will only be contacted by the organization if they decide to take the case.

Issues that the ACLU of South Dakota Generally Does NOT Accept: Individual criminal defense complaints about an individuals attorney in a criminal case claims of innocence by prisoners individual employment disputes disputes involving private companies landlord-tenant disputes obtaining green cards/visas for immigrants only monetary damages

East River Legal Services (ERLS) Veterans Hotline assists veterans who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The Hotline helps with legal questions that which impact housing, including family law, income support and many other issues. The Hotline can also help to complete an application for services over the phone.

To find an attorney or firm, visit the website. Select private lawyer, or information regarding a free/legal-aid lawyer. If searching for a private attorney: Filter the search by city or zip code and then search for a practice area such as family law, criminal law, or real estate. Keep in mind, there are fees charged by each attorney.

Free civil legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking is available to those in the eastern half of South Dakota. Civil legal services can include help with orders for protection, divorce, custody, employment issues, housing issues, etc. This project is paid through the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault. Funding is limited so the civil legal services are not guaranteed.

Assists individuals with civil legal problems related to a disaster. Services may include help with FEMA support, such as applications/appeals or identifying and gathering relevant documentation; help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.; drafting of new wills, powers of attorney and other legal papers lost in the disaster; assistance with home repair contracts and contractors; counseling and advice about landlord/tenant matters; and help with consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures.

​Dakota Plains Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization funded by Congress through the National Legal Services Corporation to provide free legal assistance to eligible persons residing in the service area. Also can help with wills (for possessions), living wills (for medical issues), power of attorney paperwork.

Assists individuals with civil legal problems related to a disaster. Services may include help with FEMA support, such as applications/appeals or identifying and gathering relevant documentation; help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.; drafting of new wills, powers of attorney and other legal papers lost in the disaster; assistance with home repair contracts and contractors; counseling and advice about landlord/tenant matters; and help with consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures.

​Dakota Plains Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization funded by Congress through the National Legal Services Corporation to provide free legal assistance to eligible persons residing in the service area. Also can help with wills (for possessions), living wills (for medical issues), power of attorney paperwork.

​Dakota Plains Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization funded by Congress through the National Legal Services Corporation to provide free legal assistance to eligible persons residing in the service area. Also can help with wills (for possessions), living wills (for medical issues), power of attorney paperwork.

Provides central government legal services to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe.

Assists individuals with civil legal problems only - no criminal matters. A criminal case is where the state has charged someone with a crime. A civil case is a dispute between parties. East River Legal Services (ERLS) provides the following services in civil cases: Advocacy Legal Counseling Self-Help Services (Clinics/Workshops/Informational Forms) In-Depth Legal Representation Community Education Housing Retention Specialist Case priorities include support for the family, preserving housing, maintaining economic stability, safety, health, and populations with special vulnerabilities. ERLS provides services to low-income residents with legal issues in the following areas of law: Domestic Violence Victims Elder Law Housing Public Entitlements (i.e. Medicaid, Food Stamps, TANF, WIC) Social Security/SSI Disability Veterans There is no guaranteed acceptance of any case. The above examples also do not necessarily disqualify cases outside of these parameters. Cases ERLS does NOT assist with include: criminal, business, or immigration. Services Disclaimer: ERLS's ability to provide legal assistance is subject to change based on availability of staff/volunteers. ERLS reserves the right to deny or limit services based on program resources and priorities.

​Dakota Plains Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization funded by Congress through the National Legal Services Corporation to provide free legal assistance to eligible persons residing in the service area. Also can help with wills (for possessions), living wills (for medical issues), power of attorney paperwork.

​Dakota Plains Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization funded by Congress through the National Legal Services Corporation to provide free legal assistance to eligible persons residing in the service area. Also can help with wills (for possessions), living wills (for medical issues), power of attorney paperwork.

A secure website where lower income South Dakota residents can ask an attorney for specific questions regarding their civil (non-criminal) legal issues. The website is a partnership between the State Bar of South Dakota, Access to Justice and the American Bar Association.

Family Assistance Centers (FAC) have been established to assist, support and connect Service Members, Veterans and their Families to all things related to Military Services. A holistic approach enhances the Military Force through resources, support and education. Provides a focal point of information through Eight Essential Services.

• Crisis intervention resources and referrals
• Legal resources and referrals
• Financial resources and referrals
• TRICARE resources and referrals
• ID Cards and DEERS
• Community information and outreach
• Exceptional Family Member Program
• Emergency Family Assistance Center

The Family Assistance Center is critical in providing help to all Military Families. This holds especially true for geographically dispersed Families who are unable to access services at a local bases, installations, or forts.

Resources for the public include court Information (SD Courts, Federal Courts, Tribal Courts, Additional Resources), Guardianship & Conservatorship, Licensing and Bar Exam, Lawyer complaints, Self Help Tools - contains informational documents on variety of topics, and Public Service Events. Resources for members include Project Rural Practice, CLE, Health and Wellness Resources, Career Center, Get Involved, and Lawyer Discipline.

A website geared toward self-represented litigants (people who are representing themselves in court). The website has several helpful categories including Online forms - Fill out legal forms online or obtain instruction on how to properly prepare documentation for court. Legal help - Find information on how to get legal help, including resources available for low or no cost legal aid. Protection orders - What to expect when petitioning the court for a protection order. Links to victim advocate organizations. Military and Veterans - Legal resources for past and present military members. Veterans Project information. Parenting - Help for parenting and other divorce/separation needs. Mediation - All you need to know about mediation. Links to various community agencies and resources. Guide and File - a process that permits self-represented litigants to create and complete forms for starting court actions. Involuntary Commitment information. Record Searches - how to obtain a record search report for the public court cases an individual has statewide.

Advocating for individuals attempting to obtain disability benefits through Social Security Administration programs.

Assists individuals with civil legal problems related to a disaster. Services may include help with FEMA support, such as applications/appeals or identifying and gathering relevant documentation; help with insurance claims for doctor and hospital bills, loss of property, loss of life, etc.; drafting of new wills, powers of attorney and other legal papers lost in the disaster; assistance with home repair contracts and contractors; counseling and advice about landlord/tenant matters; and help with consumer protection matters, remedies, and procedures.

Family Assistance Centers (FAC) have been established to assist, support and connect Service Members, Veterans and their Families to all things related to Military Services. A holistic approach enhances the Military Force through resources, support and education. Provides a focal point of information through Eight Essential Services.

• Crisis intervention resources and referrals
• Legal resources and referrals
• Financial resources and referrals
• TRICARE resources and referrals
• ID Cards and DEERS
• Community information and outreach
• Exceptional Family Member Program
• Emergency Family Assistance Center

The Family Assistance Center is critical in providing help to all Military Families. This holds especially true for geographically dispersed Families who are unable to access services at a local bases, installations, or forts.

​Dakota Plains Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization funded by Congress through the National Legal Services Corporation to provide free legal assistance to eligible persons residing in the service area. Also can help with wills (for possessions), living wills (for medical issues), power of attorney paperwork.

​South Dakotans can get free legal advice from experienced lawyers when the State Bar of South Dakota sponsors the annual Ask-A-Lawyer program Each call is handled anonymously by experienced attorney volunteers. Last year Ask-A-Lawyer answered 785 calls from East River to West River South Dakota, ranging from family issues to contracts, wills, real estate, and more. The calls are not intended to be an in-depth analysis of the caller's legal concerns, but to answer general legal questions and, if appropriate, refer the caller to specific lawyer referral services or a government agency.