How do I actually find free or low-cost legal help if I can't afford a lawyer?

Have a legal issue (not criminal) but can't afford a private attorney's rates. What are the realistic options?

A few starting points that exist specifically for this: legal aid organizations (often searchable by state/county, and usually income-based) handle things like housing, family law, benefits, and consumer issues at no or low cost. Many local and state bar associations run free "lawyer referral" services or host periodic free legal clinics, sometimes organized around specific topics like tenant rights or small business issues. Law school legal clinics (if there's a law school nearby) often take on real cases supervised by licensed faculty, at no cost, as part of student training. For a quick, limited question rather than full representation, many attorneys offer a free or low-cost initial consultation specifically to help you understand your options, even if you can't afford to hire them for the whole matter. It's worth being specific when searching — "[your state] legal aid [your issue, e.g. eviction/tenant]" tends to surface the right organization faster than a generic search.