Open Law Services Institute
Practical legal help for civil matters.
We help low-income individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits navigate civil legal matters — especially complex ones — with clear, reliable guides written by attorneys.
Who we help
Built for three communities
Our resources are organized around the people who need them most — each with guides tailored to the legal questions they actually face.
Self-Represented Litigants
Handle your own civil case with confidence — from filing and motions to hearings and orders.
Non-Profit Organizations
Form your nonprofit, earn 501(c)(3) status, and stay in good standing year after year.
Small Businesses
Lay sound legal foundations — entity choice, contracts, leases, and resolving disputes.
The justice gap
Why this work matters
The need for affordable civil legal help is well documented — and growing.
“Low-income individuals do not get any or enough legal help for 92% of the problems that have had a substantial impact on them.”
— Legal Services Corporation, 2022 Justice Gap Report
“Too often, when smaller nonprofits need legal services, they simply cannot afford them and are forced to do without.”
— American Bar Association, Pro Bono and Public Service: Pro Bono Legal Services for Nonprofits (Mar. 23, 2026)
“Most people and small businesses, however, struggle to find affordable legal help when they need it.”
— IAALS, Closing the Gap: Expanding the Legal Ecosystem for the Middle Class (Feb. 5, 2026)
Our mission
Expanding access to justice.
Open Law Services Institute is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to expanding access to civil legal help. We believe that not being able to afford a lawyer should never mean facing the legal system alone — so we put clear, attorney-written guidance directly in people's hands.
Where we work
Florida
Our guides currently focus on Florida state courts and Florida law, with federal topics where they apply.
New York
We're expanding to serve New York communities next.