If you got an eviction notice or a court paper in San Antonio, do not ignore it and do not move out just because a notice is taped to your door. In Texas, only a court can order you out. And in San Antonio, you may be able to get a free lawyer to stand with you in that court.
The city runs a program called Right to Counsel. It is not a loan and it is not a sales pitch. It connects income-qualifying renters who are facing eviction or other housing problems that threaten their home with free legal help through Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, known as TRLA.
What Right to Counsel does
According to the City of San Antonio, the city proudly partners with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid to offer legal aid services to households with low incomes who are experiencing eviction or other housing issues that threaten their housing status.
That help can include advice about your notice or court date, help understanding what the papers mean, and attorney services on request for those in need. The city says: if you have received a notice to appear in Court or have a judgment against you, contact the Right to Counsel program immediately.
City program documents describe the service as being for renters at or below 100% of area median income who are facing landlord and tenant issues such as eviction. Final eligibility is decided by the program when you call — so call even if you are not sure you qualify.
How to reach Right to Counsel — do this first
- Call the Right to Counsel line at 210-212-3703 — the direct number TRLA lists for this program, also shown in city tenant materials.
- Or call TRLA’s intake line at 956-996-8752 — this is the number the City of San Antonio’s Legal Assistance page lists today for Right to Counsel. If one line is busy, try the other.
- Email righttocounsel@trla.org — the city lists this address for the program. The city also offers a Pre-Screen Intake Form (PDF) that you complete and email to that address.
- Call as soon as you get papers. Eviction cases in Justice of the Peace courts move fast. Waiting until the day before a hearing leaves a lawyer almost no time to help.
Keep every paper your landlord gives you, keep your lease and rent receipts, and write down dates — when you got the notice, when rent was paid, and any promises made in texts or emails. Bring that folder to any call or court date.
Two more free places San Antonio renters use
St. Mary’s University School of Law — Housing Hotline
St. Mary’s Law’s Consumer Protection Clinic runs a Housing Hotline at 210-570-6135. The law school says the hotline offers free legal information, advice, and referrals for people under threat of eviction or foreclosure. Call, leave your name, phone number, and a brief description of your issue if you are asked to leave a message, and watch for the return call.
SALSA — help after a judgment and with appeals
The San Antonio Legal Services Association, called SALSA, helps tenants at Justice of the Peace Court 1, at 3505 Pleasanton Rd. Its housing team is there on eviction days to help tenants who have received an eviction judgment understand their rights, including the right to appeal and how the appeal process works. If you already lost at the first hearing, ask about appeal help right away — appeal deadlines are short.
Need money help at the same time as legal help? Our guide to emergency rental assistance in San Antonio covers programs that may help with rent while your case is pending.
What to expect after you call
- The program will ask about your income, your household, and where you are in the process — notice, filed case, hearing date, or judgment.
- You may get advice over the phone, help preparing for court, or an attorney for your case if you qualify and the program can take it.
- A lawyer cannot guarantee you will stay in the home. What a lawyer can do is check whether the landlord followed the law, raise defenses you may not know about, and help negotiate more time or a payment plan in many cases.
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Only a lawyer who reviews your papers can advise you.
For other free legal help in the city, see our roundups of free wills and senior legal clinics in San Antonio and free immigration legal help in San Antonio.
Not sure whether eviction help, rental help, or another program fits your household? Fill out our free Apply for Me form and we will review your answers and point you to the programs you may qualify for and your potential matches. We do not submit government applications or complete government paperwork for you — we help you find the right programs and understand the next steps.
Helpful links & phone numbers
- City of San Antonio — Legal Assistance / Right to Counsel — official city page for the program: 956-996-8752 (TRLA intake line as listed by the city today) and Right to Counsel direct line 210-212-3703, email righttocounsel@trla.org — free legal aid for income-qualifying households facing eviction.
- Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) — the legal aid organization that runs Right to Counsel for the city.
- St. Mary’s University School of Law — Clinics / Housing Hotline — 210-570-6135 — free legal information, advice and referrals if you are under threat of eviction or foreclosure.
- San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA) — 210-678-8100 — free civil legal help, including eviction appeal help at JP Court 1.
- 2-1-1 Texas — dial 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905 — free, confidential help finding rental, utility and other local help, 24 hours a day.
- City of San Antonio customer service: dial 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 — for city housing services and referrals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Right to Counsel really free?
Yes. The City of San Antonio describes it as free legal aid for those experiencing housing issues who income qualify, provided through Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. There is no charge to call 210-212-3703 (or TRLA’s intake line at 956-996-8752) and ask whether you qualify.
Who qualifies for a free eviction lawyer in San Antonio?
The program is for households with low incomes who are experiencing eviction or other housing issues that threaten their housing status. City documents describe it as serving renters at or below 100% of area median income. The program makes the final eligibility decision, so call even if you are unsure.
I only got a notice to vacate — should I call now or wait for court papers?
Call now. The city tells renters who have received a notice to appear in Court or who have a judgment to contact the program immediately, and getting advice at the notice stage gives you more options than waiting until a hearing is set.
Can a landlord lock me out or shut off utilities to make me leave?
In Texas, a landlord generally must go through the court eviction process to remove a tenant. If you are locked out or threatened, tell the Right to Counsel lawyer or the St. Mary’s Housing Hotline about it when you call — that fact can matter in your case. This is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
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