“I thought I was out of luck because I got paid in cash. They built my hours back from my text messages and a calendar on my fridge.”
Rosa M.Kitchen prep, Mexicantown
Free legal help for Detroit-area workers
Something went wrong at work. Tell us what happened.
We’re a nonprofit law office on Detroit’s east side for people who work in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. If you qualify, a lawyer looks at your situation for free, and you decide what happens next.
Start with what happened
Free
for every worker who qualifiesPrivate
your employer hears nothing unless you say soYours
you make each decision about your case
Free means no fee for our time. If a case goes to court, filing costs can often be waived, and we tell you about any cost before it comes up.
The eligibility check
Three questions decide whether we can take it
We’re funded to help a certain group of workers, so we ask the same three things of everyone. It takes about two minutes, online or on the phone.
- 01
Where did you work?
The job was in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb County. You can live anywhere; it’s where the work happened that counts.
- 02
What does your household earn?
Our income line comes from the grants that fund us and grows with the size of your family. We ask about it in plain numbers, and nothing is checked against your employer.
- 03
When did it happen?
Some deadlines for work claims are short. If it’s been more than a year, check anyway: we’ll look at the dates with you before anything else.
Who we are
A law office on Mack Avenue, open after your shift
Three lawyers, a paralegal and a front desk that picks up the phone.
Most people who call us are still working, or looking for work, and can’t sit in an office at two in the afternoon. So we keep evening hours four nights a week and open on Saturday mornings. We only ever represent the worker. If we can’t take your matter, we tell you why and who else to call.
Evenings until 7pm, Monday to Thursday
Saturday mornings, no appointment needed
Interpreters for Arabic, Bengali and Spanish
Workers who sat in our waiting room
“I came in on a Saturday with my severance papers. Masaki read every page with me and told me which part I’d regret signing.”
Terrence H.Parts inspector, Warren
“After I reported the broken guard on my press, my shift got moved twice in a month. They explained my options and let me choose.”
Amal S.Machine operator, Dearborn
Every worker’s situation is different, and what happened in one case doesn’t predict another.
Asked at the front desk most weeks
Is it really free?
Yes, for workers who qualify. We’re paid for by grants and donations, not by our clients. If a case needs court filings, we ask the court to waive the fees where we can and tell you about any cost first.
Will my boss find out I called?
No. Talking to us is private. We contact your employer only after you’ve agreed to it.
I still work there. Can I still get help?
Yes. Many of the people we help are still on the job. We’ll talk through what you can do now, quietly, and what to keep a record of.
What if I don’t qualify?
We’ll tell you on the first call and give you the names of other places to try, including lawyers who take work cases for a share of what they recover.
Do I need papers to talk to you?
No. Bring what you have, like pay stubs, a schedule or texts from a manager. If you have nothing, that’s a normal place to start.
Not sure it counts? Take the two-minute check.
Answer three questions about the job, your household and the dates. We’ll call or email to talk it through.