South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS) provides free legal assistance to eligible individuals in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands. Their team advocates for economically and/or socially vulnerable individuals who need help protecting their homes, families, health, and livelihoods. Offices are located in Hyannis, Brockton, Fall River, and New Bedford, with outreach and pop-up events throughout Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes County. Areas of practice include: Elder Law, Housing, Family Law, Consumer Debt, Public Benefits, Employment, and Education. More information about each of these practice areas can be found at www.sccls.org.
SCCLS’s Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) program aims to expand the reach of their services even further, by engaging a dedicated private attorney volunteer panel. These volunteers provide legal support to PAI project staff at workshops and clinics held in various locations. When appropriate, these volunteers take on cases referred to them by SCCLS staff. Scroll down to learn about upcoming clinics.
Estate Planning Clinic
DATE & TIME: Quarterly clinics, dates announced about 6 months ahead of time.
Upcoming dates: Provincetown Estate Planning Clinic, on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at the Provincetown Council on Aging.
Our Estate Planning Clinic provides Elders with peace of mind that their wishes will be carried out upon their passing, by preparing valuable, end-of-life documents. Volunteer Attorneys will draft a Simple Will (or amend an existing will), Durable Power of Attorney, and a Massachusetts Healthcare Proxy. This is a hybrid clinic, meaning that most preparation work can be done remotely, but clients will need to be present on the clinic date to execute and notarize their documents with the volunteer.
Most estate planning needs can be met in a single session, as clients will complete a questionnaire prior to the clinic. The PAI program will review the questionnaire to determine which Clinic date would be most appropriate for the client, usually based on where the client lives. If a case involves a more complex facts, or requires additional Attorney involvement, such as for specializes drafting needs, the PAI program will attempt to place eligible cases directly with a volunteer Estate Planning Attorney.
Other Clinics:
Pro Se Family Law Workshop
DATE & TIME: Every other Tuesday from 2:00 – 4:00pm. This clinic is comprised of 30 minute sessions with a volunteer, held virtually over Zoom, or via phone if Zoom is not accessible.
Upcoming dates: September 9, September 23, October 7, October 21, November 4, November 18, December 2, and December 16, 2025.
At the Workshop, Clients meet with a volunteer attorney to discuss their Divorce, Custody, Visitation, or Guardianship cases.
Eviction Sealing Clinic
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, once per month, from 1:00 – 4:00pm. This clinic is comprised of 30-minute sessions with a volunteer, held virtually over Zoom, or via phone if Zoom is not accessible.
Upcoming dates: August 20, 2025. September – December 2025 dates forthcoming.
A new law allowing tenants to seal certain eviction records went into effect in May 2025. Having the ability to seal eviction records will allow tenants to access more housing opportunities, by preventing indefinite denials based on an unfavorable eviction history. Clients will leave the workshop with knowledge of how to file the petition for sealing and what the process looks like.
COMING SOON: Bankruptcy Clinic
Our upcoming Bankruptcy clinic will assist eligible clients with drafting and filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petitions. The Clinic is anticipated to host its first session in early 2026. Clients will be required to undertake a pre-bankruptcy course, which must be completed before filing a petition. Applicants interested in being notified about this clinic, receiving more information, or being placed on the waitlist should contact the PAI Coordinator, Emily Flaherty, at eflaherty@sccls.org, or (774) 488-5957.
If you have a legal issue you think SCCLS might be able to help with, please call their intake line at (800) 244-9023. Intake staff are available Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to conduct confidential interviews and to screen for eligibility. You can also request assistance online at www.sccls.org/get-help. If you are eligible for services, you will meet with an advocate to assess what level of assistance is appropriate for your case. If you are not eligible, our intake team will let you know and attempt to provide helpful legal information.