Update
VPLC Launches VirginiaLawHelp.org: Free Legal Help Website for Virginians
VirginiaLawHelp.org is a new statewide website providing free legal information and self-help resources for Virginians facing common civil legal issues.
Published
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2026
Richmond, VA – Virginia Poverty Law Center today announced the launch of VirginiaLawHelp.org, a new statewide website providing free legal information and self-help resources for Virginians facing common civil legal issues.
Designed to improve access to justice in Virginia, VirginiaLawHelp.org offers easy-to-understand, plain language information on the legal problems that most frequently affect low-income residents.
At launch, the site focuses on four key areas:
- Housing – including eviction, rental repairs, tenant rights, and manufactured housing
- Family – including child custody, visitation, child support, divorce, domestic violence, and protective orders
- Debt and consumer protection – including medical debt, debt collection, lawsuits and judgments, bankruptcy, and avoiding scams
- Public benefits – including SNAP (food assistance), healthcare programs, and benefits eligibility for immigrants
These topics reflect the most common civil legal issues Virginians search for online, particularly among low-income individuals and families.
VirginiaLawHelp.org features step-by-step legal guides, FAQs, and practical resources that help users understand their rights, responsibilities, and available options. While the site provides legal information (not legal advice), it empowers users to make informed decisions and take next steps.
The website also includes a “Get Legal Help” tool for Virginia residents, allowing users to select their city or county to find local legal aid organizations, check service availability, and learn how to apply for free or low-cost legal assistance.
“Too often, Virginians turn to the internet for help with urgent legal problems and find outdated information, guidance that doesn’t apply to Virginia, or content so dense it’s nearly impossible to understand what to do next,” said VPLC’s Director of Legal Education and Technology, Ezra Halstead. “That can leave people overwhelmed and unsure how to move forward, often with little time to act. VirginiaLawHelp.org is designed to change that by providing clear, accurate, Virginia-specific legal information and connecting people to help when they need it.”
VirginiaLawHelp.org is designed to change that [issue] by providing clear, accurate, Virginia-specific legal information and connecting people to help when they need it.
Ezra Halstead, Director of Legal Education and Technology, VPLC
The launch of VirginiaLawHelp.org builds on VPLC’s broader efforts to expand civil legal aid in Virginia, including the Eviction Defense Center, which helps tenants facing housing instability. The new site continues this work by ensuring Virginians can access reliable legal information quickly – before problems escalate.
Development of the site was supported in part by a $1 million grant from Yield Giving, helping expand access to civil legal assistance for low-income Virginians. The launch of VirginiaLawHelp.org marks an important first step, with additional topics, tools, and resources planned in the coming months to expand access to clear, reliable legal information and strengthen a statewide hub for free legal help in Virginia.
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Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) is the state support center for all civil legal aid programs in Virginia. VPLC’s work breaks down systemic barriers that keep low-income Virginians in the cycle of poverty through advocacy, education, and litigation. Visit vplc.org for more information.
Contact: Ezra Halstead, Director of Legal Education and Technology, Cell: 804-624-7812, ezra@vplc.org
