THE 18-MONTH STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 1975 AND 1976 TO SURVEY BOSTON PROGRAMS FOR LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR, ASSESS NEEDS NOT CURRENTLY BEING MET, AND DETERMINE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MEET THESE NEEDS. QUESTIONNAIRES AND DOCUMENT REVIEW WERE USED. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE NEED FOR LEGAL HELP GREATLY EXCEEDS THE AVAILABLE SERVICES. MANY BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NO SOURCE OF DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, AND, OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS, LEGAL SERVICES HAVE DECLINED IN QUANTITY AND SCOPE FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. SEVERAL SPECIFIC POPULATION GROUPS (ELDERLY, YOUTH, HISPANICS, CHINESE, AND PERSONS IN MENTAL OR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS) ARE ESPECIALLY DEFICIENT IN LEGAL HELP. FURTHERMORE, THE GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS) IS SERIOUSLY UNDERFUNDED, AND CURRENT AND POTENTIAL RESOURCES LACK OVERALL COORDINATION. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT (1) GBLS RECEIVE GREATER FUNDING; (2) USE OF PARALEGALS AND LAW STUDENTS INCREASE; (3) COMMUNITY EDUCATION ABOUT LEGAL RIGHTS AND SERVICES BE ESTABLISHED; (4) THE PRIVATE BAR ESTABLISH A PRO BONO COORDINATOR AND INCREASE PRO BONO WORK; (5) A CENTRAL FUNDING CLEARINGHOUSE AND LEGAL REFERRAL SOURCE BE ESTABLISHED, (6) SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC TARGET GROUPS BE ESTABLISHED, AND (7) NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL OFFICES BE ESTABLISHED IN COMMUNITIES CURRENTLY LACKING THEM. FOOTNOTES, TABLES, FIGURES, AND EXTENSIVE APPENDIXES PRESENTING STUDY STAFF, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, RESULTS, AND SOURCE MATERIALS, ARE INCLUDED. A SECOND PART OF THIS REPORT WILL CONCERN SERVICES FOR CRIMINAL CASES. (CFW)