I Need Legal Assistance
Application for Court Appointed Council
If you feel that you are financially unable to afford a lawyer, you may complete the application (linked below), which asks the Court to appoint counsel to represent you.
NOTICE: You must be charged with a crime to use this application; the Court will not appoint council to represent you in a civil trial.
SD Law Help
Individuals seeking legal assistance in South Dakota may apply online through South Dakota’s statewide online intake portal at:
SD Law Help
To apply online on the sdlawhelp.org website, click on the “Apply for Services” button under the menu or scroll down until you see the "Apply for services" button. Once you submit your online application, the sdlawhelp.org website will automatically forward your application to the most appropriate legal services program based upon the information you provide on the online application.
Your online application will be automatically forwarded to one of the following legal services programs:
East River Legal Services
335 N. Main Ave. #300
Sioux Falls, SD 57102
(605) 336-9230
Toll Free: 800-952-3015
Dakota Plains Legal Services
Main Office: 160 2nd St.
Mission, SD 57555
(605) 856-4444
Access to Justice
111 W. Capitol Ave. #1
Pierre, SD 57501
(855) 287-3510