How to consult a lawyer free of charge?

Verified 03 April 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

You have a problem and need legal advice? You can consult a lawyer free of charge at the conferences organized by certain organizations.

The term "Point-justice" brings together public bodies and private associations that organize free legal clinics to inform the public about their rights and guide them in their efforts.

The "Point-Justice" offices are held in places belonging to the various partner organizations (communal social action centers, France Services, prisons, etc.). The organization of Justice Points varies according to the territory.

Some offices are open to everyone and others are sometimes reserved for a certain type of public (young people, hospitalized persons, inmates, etc.).

You can consult lawyers free of charge in the offices.

You can also consult other legal professionals (notary, Commissioner of Justice), as well as community workers, justice conciliators, representatives of the Defender of Rights, etc.

To find the "Point-Justice" closest to your home, enter your postal code, or the name of your city, department, or region:

Who shall I contact

Some cities organize free consultations with lawyers.

To find out if these consultations are taking place in your city, and to find out the practical details, go to your city hall's website. You can find your city's website via the following online service:

Who shall I contact

Lawyers' law societies organize free consultations of lawyers.

These consultations take place in different locations: Bar Headquarters, City Hall, Court, etc.

Access to these free consultations is sometimes restricted to low-income people.

Find out more about your local bar before traveling.

You can find your local bar's website via the following online service:

Who shall I contact

FYI  

some law societies offer consultations in sign language or english.

Outside the bar, there are also free legal consultations organized by lawyers' associations.

Thus, the association Avocats sans frontières France offers free consultations with lawyers.

Who shall I contact

The association Barreau Paris Solidarité offers free consultations with lawyers, especially in Paris.

Who shall I contact

Free legal consultations are organized by the Network of Francophone Legal Clinics :

Who shall I contact

Some consumer associations offer their members free consultations with a lawyer.

To find out if your consumer association offers this type of service, you can consult its website via the following online service:

Who shall I contact

If you have a labor law problem, you can ask the unions for help.

Some unions offer their members free consultations with lawyers.

You should ask your union if it offers this type of service.

Many insurance contracts provide for free consultation of lawyers via the guarantee legal protection.

If the dispute requires the use of a lawyer, the contracts may provide for the reimbursement of the lawyer's fees, via the guarantee defense and appeal.

But reimbursement is limited to disputes that are related to the field covered by the insurance and the amount of reimbursement is capped.

This is particularly the case for home, car and car insurance contracts accidents of life.

Example :

Reimbursement of legal fees for a dispute related to a fire or water damage by the home insurance contract.

Reimbursement of attorney's fees for a dispute related to a traffic accident by the car insurance contract.

Reimbursement of legal fees for a dispute related to the coverage of an incapacity for work by the insurance life accident guarantee.

In the event of a dispute, check whether your insurance policies provide for the reimbursement of legal advice and the amount to which this reimbursement is capped.