About HLRS

What is the Houston Lawyer Referral Service?

If you need an attorney or think you have a legal problem, The Houston Lawyer Referral Service (HLRS) is here to help.

When you call the HLRS office, a trained staff member will help you determine the nature of your problem. Many times people think they need a lawyer, when all they really need is a referral to a community service program or governmental agency. If your problem does require the services of an attorney, the HLRS staff member can make a referral to an attorney who is in private practice. The referral will be based on your legal problem and your preference for an attorney located in a specific geographic area. You can also handle your own referral by using the "Get a Referral to an HLRS Attorney" button on the home page of the HLRS web site.

Established in 1958, the HLRS is a non-profit, community service program of the legal profession. The HLRS is sponsored by ten local bar associations, is certified by the State Bar of Texas, and is one of a select few programs nationwide that meets the standards of the American Bar Association.

The HLRS has over 400 attorney members that can accept cases from 38 different legal categories. All HLRS attorneys provide an initial 30-minute office consultation for a reduced fee of $20. Attorneys participating on the HLRS service are in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and must meet strict guidelines and criteria.

Additional services provided by the HLRS are Spanish-speaking staff and attorneys, reduced-fee attorneys for income-eligible individuals, and a 24-hour attorney on call.

The HLRS serves over 125,000 individuals each year in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston counties. Individuals can call the HLRS office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (713) 237-9429 or out of the 713, 281 and 832 area codes (800) 289-4577.

The Web referral system was created to provide an alternative to calling the HLRS office. You may take advantage of our 24/7 access to a referral by clicking the Referral Arrow on the Home Page of our site. The system will require that you enter your contact information and may provide you with up to three referrals. The system will look for an attorney based on the criteria in which you submit. If you have any difficulty using the Web site or have a question, please contact our office during normal business hours and our staff will assist you personally.