Seeking legal help from the ACLU

The ACLU of the Nation’s Capital works to protect and extend the civil liberties guaranteed primarily by the Bill of Rights or the U.S. Constitution in our local community, Washington, DC--the Nation's Capital. We do this through filing lawsuits, educating the public, and lobbying in the DC Government. We take requests for legal help in writing.

Before you write to us, please read the information below. We can only take a limited number of cases, and with regret must turn down some requests even when serious injustice has occurred.

Note: If you think the government infringed upon your civil liberties outside of the District of Columbia, look up your local ACLU affiliate to request legal help where the problem occurred.

Types of cases we consider

• Freedom of Speech and Press: For example, a dean suspends a student for writing an article that criticizes the principal.
• Freedom of Religion: The right to be free from government interference with your decision to practice any religion, or no religion at all. We also work to limit government-sponsored religious activity.
• Freedom from unreasonable invasions of privacy: For example, reproductive rights.
• Equal protection: The right to be free from illegal discrimination by the government. For example, a government agency refuses to hire pregnant women.
• Due Process: The right to a fair procedure to challenge the government.
• Freedom from Police Misconduct

Types of cases we cannot accept

• Denial of government benefits, such as unemployment, welfare, etc.
• Criminal cases at any stage
• Complaints against lawyers
• Tax, immigration, asylum, or landlord-tenant problems
• Divorce, child custody or neglect matters

If you think your request falls within the parameters above, you may file a complaint with our office.

Please read our FAQ’s for more information about filing a claim with us.

Other sources of help:

Please see our resource guide for help with other legal problems in the DC area.