Open Law Services Institute · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity
Free legal help for civil matters, from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Open Law Services Institute (OLSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, EIN 42-2351258. Our mission is to expand access to civil justice. We publish free, plain-English legal guides — written and reviewed by licensed attorneys — for low-income individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits facing civil legal matters in Florida. Everything we publish is free, with no account and no paywall.
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)
OLSI was built to answer this gap. Since launching in early 2026, we have published 15 free, plain-English civil legal guides — each written and reviewed by licensed attorneys and released under an open Creative Commons license. In our first two months of operation, these resources drew roughly 68,000 requests from nearly 20,000 people, small businesses, and nonprofits seeking legal help.
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.
Get in touchWhere we work
Florida
Our guides currently focus on Florida state courts and Florida law, with federal topics where they apply.