Self Help

General Covid-19 Information: Resources to stay advised of the current situation and protect oneself and others and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abuse & Harassment: Unwanted contact or harm by another person. Courts can grant restraining orders to protect against domestic violence, workplace violence, elder abuse, and other harms.

Child Abuse - Any type of cruelty towards a child, such as physical attacks, mental abuse, or neglect.

Domestic Violence - Abuse or threat of abuse toward an “intimate partner” such as a current or former romantic partner or spouse.

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders - Court order that can help protect those who have been abused or threatened with abuse.

Elder Abuse - Mistreatment that results in harm or loss to an older person. Can take many forms: physical, financial, neglect, psychological or sexual.

Workplace Violence - Act or threat of violence, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults, directed toward people at work or on duty.

Accessing Court Records: Find information on how and where to access court records.

Alternatives for Going to Court for a Court Hearing: If you cannot or do not wish to go to court in person, there are options available to attend some types of court hearings remotely or push back the date.

Continuance - Where to find information on how to ask the court for a continuance of your case or a hearing (change a date to a date in the future)

Courtcall - Find out how to request a telephone appearance so you don't have to go to court in person.

Appeals: The process for asking a higher court to overrule or modify a lower court’s decision.

Bankruptcy: A legal process to protect a person or business who cannot pay their debts, and ensure that creditors are treated fairly.

Census 2020: Every ten years, the federal government collects basic information about every person in the country to determine where resources should be allocated.

Child Welfare & Benefits: Services designed to ensure that children are safe and families have the necessary tools for the child’s well-being.

Civil Rights: Fundamental legal rights of every person, like equality before the law, due process, free speech and petition, among many others.

Conservatorship: The legal authority to make decisions for an adult who is unable to make their own decisions.

Contracts Law (Formation and Breach): How to make an agreement legally binding (through formation of a contract), and what happens when one side doesn’t perform as agreed (breach of contract).

Courthouse & Government Closures: During Covid-19, there will be updates on courthouse and government buildings operation hours.

Credit and Debt: Money that is owed such as credit card bills, loan payments, etc., and the rights of the person who owes the money (debtor) and the person to whom it is owed (creditor).

Auto Loan Payments - Payments relating to the purchase of an automobile or other vehicle.

Student Loans - Money borrowed by students to pay for or support their education. Federal student loan borrowers may be entitled to COVID-19 related relief.

Criminal Law: Laws that are punishable by imprisonment and the procedures for enforcing them.

Cleaning Criminal Records - Certain misdemeanors can be changed to "expunged" on your record showing the case was effectively dismissed.

Disability Benefits: Benefits designed to assist people with a physical or mental impairment.

Disaster Relief: Financial and other assistance to help rebuild and recover after a disaster, including COVID-19.

Driving Laws: Laws that regulate vehicles and traffic.

Traffic Laws

Traffic Tickets - Notices issued by law enforcement to motorists or other road users, indicating that the user has violated traffic laws.

Employers: Responsibilities of employers under the new coronavirus legislation, including federal and state wage and hour implications, paid sick leave and expanded family leave.

Employees: Benefits for workers impacted by COVID-19. Includes unemployment, workers’ compensation, job-protected leave and the rights of agricultural workers.

Agricultural Workers - An agricultural worker maintains crops such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, or looks after livestock and may include agricultural inspectors, graders and sorters, and farmworkers.

General Guidance - Employer and employee responsibilities for health and safety, paid sick leave and expanded family leave.

Hourly Workers - Rights and protections for employees paid by the hour.

Paid Family Leave - Wage benefits to workers who need to take time off to take care a family member.

Paid Sick Leave - Wage benefits to workers who are unable to work due to illness or medical reasons.

Unemployment Benefits - Cash benefits available to eligible workers who become unemployed or partially unemployed through no fault of their own.

Workers’ Compensation - Benefits for those unable to do their usual job because of job-related illness or injury.

Workers’ Rights - Rights guaranteed to workers by law.

Family Law: Divorce, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, guardianship and adoption, and other issues affecting families.

Child Custody - Rights and responsibilities between parents and their child or children.

Child Support - Money paid by one parent to help support their child or children.

Child Visitation - Plan for how parents will spend time with their child or children.

Divorce - Marriage that is legally ended by a judge’s order—also known as “dissolution.”

Food and Nutrition Assistance: Public benefit programs that provide meal or food assistance to eligible participants.

Food Safety: Proper handling, preparation, and storage of food to prevent food-borne illnesses.

Foster Youth: Information relating to minor children placed in the foster care.

Guardianship: The legal authority to make decisions for a minor whose parents cannot or will not properly care for them.

Healthcare: Laws relating to medical services and providers.

Advance Healthcare Directives - Legal document that states written wishes for medical care and/or names a specific person to carry out those wishes.

Homeless Assistance: Programs and services to help unhoused persons or those at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Shelters - Service agencies that provide temporary residence, food, healthcare, or other support service for people experiencing homelessness.

Housing & Landlord/Tenant: The rights and obligations of those who own property occupied by others and those who rent or lease property; can be residential or for business.

Tenant Protections (Eviction Moratorium) - Tenants’ rent payment is temporarily delayed; courts’ temporarily suspension of eviction proceedings due to non-payment of rent.

Immigration: Laws and procedures relating to individuals entering the United States, including detention, court hearings, and citizenship.

Asylum - Protection for people who have suffered or have been threatened based on their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or membership in particular social groups.

Citizenship - Status of being or process of becoming a citizen of a specific country.

Custodians of Unaccompanied Minors - Adults who are responsible for unaccompanied minors’ care and safety during immigration proceedings.

Detained Adults - Persons held in immigration detention centers pending their case processing, release, or removal.

Healthcare - Laws relating to medical services and providers.

U-Visa - A type of visa that can protect victims of certain crimes by making it safer to report crime to or help law enforcement.

Undocumented - Immigrants who are non-U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents, do not have current visas, or have not been approved for legal residency in the U.S.

Insurance Claims: How and where to file claims for unemployment, workers compensation, disability, health and other types of insurance.

Legal Information by Phone: Telephone assistance with questions about eviction/housing, domestic violence, immigration, employment or other legal issues.

LA Law Library - Reference assistance and free e-delivery up to 25 pages available remotely by email, chat or telephonically.

Lawyers in the Library at LA Law Library - Volunteer lawyers provide free consultations with people who have legal problems to discuss. To schedule a free telephonic consultation with a lawyer, please click the link below.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Toll-free hotlines in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Filipino (Tagalog), Korean, and Thai. Topics covered include: landlord/tenant, immigration, domestic violence and more, please see website for further information.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services - Assistance available by phone or email for conservatorship, employment rights, small business, healthcare, elder abuse, small claims and more. Please see website for further information about topics covered.

Christian Legal Aid - Free telephonic consultations available to speak with an attorney. Areas covered include: family law, small claims, probate and more, please see website for more information about topics covered.

Esperanza Immigrants Rights Project - Information on Immigration Court and Self-Help services for immigrants facing deportation. Please see website for further information.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) - Assistance available by phone or email for domestic violence, eviction, government benefits, student loans and more. Please see website for complete list of topics covered.

LA Superior Court - Self-help services from the courts available to litigants seeking assistance with Restraining Order form packets over the phone and referrals for additional self-help. Call (213) 830-0845.

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) - Telephonic help line available for legal assistance with housing, social security, family law, health advocacy, personal debt, bankruptcy and others. Please see website for complete list of topics.

Public Counsel - Telephonic assistance available for legal issues concerning children and youth, immigration, bankruptcy, veteran benefit claims and discharge upgrades, and more. Please see website for complete list.

Legal Deadlines and Extensions: Information about changes to deadlines that have been affected by court closures.

Continuance - Where to find information on how to ask the court for a continuance of your case or a hearing (change a date to a date in the future).

Courtcall - Find out how to request a telephone appearance so you don't have to go to court in person.

Court Closures - Find information about what courts are closed and for how long.

Filing Court Documents - How do I file my court documents while the court clerks offices are closed due to COVID-19.

Services available at LA Superior Court - Find out what types of hearings and matters are still happening at LA Superior Court.

Legal Research: Finding answers or solutions to a legal question by looking into published sources of law such as cases and statutes or summaries and treatises.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, LGBT+ Legal Resources: Resources on the rights of and services available to persons of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender orientation.

Mental Health Services: Availability of and options for accessing mental health support and counseling services.

Notarizing Legal Documents: Information on affixing seal and signature of a public notary to legalize a document.

Price Gouging/Scams: Scams, fraudulent overcharging, or dishonestly raising prices (on goods or services) beyond market value in a time of crisis.

Prisoners' Rights and Prison Release Protocols: Prison inmates' civil rights and procedures for obtaining release from incarceration.

Probate of Wills & Estates: How the property of someone who has died gets distributed.

Real Estate: Rights of those who own homes, land, buildings, natural resources, etc.

Foreclosure: Lender legally imposing sale of mortgaged property to recover real estate loan balance from borrower unable to pay.

Mortgage Payments: Borrower’s regularly scheduled payments of a real property loan’s principal and interest amounts to a lender.

Restraining Order for Protection: How to stop a person or entity from taking actions harmful to another

Small Claims: Legal dispute over money or other property, valued less than $10,000 for individuals, and under $5,000 for corporations.

Social Security Assistance: Federal financial support for nutritional, medical, and/or housing needs of qualifying low-income, disabled, and/or elderly individuals.

State/Federal Orders: Government directives about COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus

Emergency Declarations: Government proclamation authorizing access to levels of human and material resources needed to address extreme states of emergency.

Safer at Home: Government public safety measure directing people to stay home (in groups under ten persons, six feet apart,) and to go out only for essential services.

Tax Filings/Tax Breaks: COVID-19 extensions to file and pay California and federal income taxes.

Trademarks/Copyrights: Legal ways to protect your creative efforts and products

Utilities: COVID-19 resources for changes in bills including electricity, gas, water, cable, and telephone.

Veterans' Assistance: Remote services including financial, housing, healthcare, benefits and claims available to veterans and their families.

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Need Legal Help?

Written by Published in Self Help

This section gives you information about the various types of legal help available to people in Los Angeles County who do not have a lawyer, whether you are representing yourself, looking for low cost legal help or trying to hire a lawyer. Below you will find information about services available at the Law Library, court-based self-help centers, legal aid and non-profit agencies, lawyer referral services, limited scope representation, and dispute resolution programs.

 

LA Law Library Services

LA Law Library Reference librarians assist with legal research questions and locating legal resources (including samples, court forms and instructions) in person, by phone or email. At LA Law Library, you can do research, take how-to classes, attend workshops and clinics or even get a free consultation with an attorney at Lawyers in the Library or Talk to a Lawyer Online. Click here to see our calendar for more information about classes, services and drop-in assistance at LA Law Library.

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Self Help Resource Centers

Self-Help Resource Centers are available in many court locations to provide free legal help to litigants who do not have lawyers. For specific case types, they give you legal information, provide instructions about how to complete court forms, make referrals to other legal resources, and explain the court rules and process. Self-Help Resource Centers do not cover all areas of law. For hours and locations of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s self-help centers and to find information on which centers have clinics and drop-in assistance for divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence, civil harassment, elder abuse, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes and evictions, click here.

 

Legal Aid and Non-Profit Agencies

Legal aid agencies are non-profit organizations that provide free legal services to people below a certain income level. Before you can get help from a legal aid agency, you usually have to qualify for their help based on your income. Many legal services focus on problems that affect basic needs such as housing, government benefits and family safety. Find legal aid and non-profit agencies at LawHelpCA.org (You will need to provide your location and the legal topic and question. Feel free to ask a reference librarian at the Law Library for assistance identifying the topic and question.) For a list of legal aid and non-profit agencies by legal topic, click here.

 

Lawyer Referral Services

Lawyer referral services help people find lawyers. Most lawyers practice in distinct areas of law, such as personal injury, family law, or criminal law. Finding the right lawyer for your specific legal issue is important. Many of the local bar associations throughout Los Angeles County have lawyer referral services which help you connect with lawyers knowledgeable in particular areas of law. For a list of Los Angeles County lawyer referral services certified by the State Bar of California, click here.

 

Reduced Fee Lawyers

Some lawyer referral services have "modest means panels" which are designed for people who have some ability to pay for a lawyer, but who cannot afford the standard cost of a private lawyer's services. Lawyers on modest means panels have agreed to perform services at a reduced cost to moderate income clients. You must meet specific income and asset guidelines in order to be eligible for these programs. For a list of Los Angeles County lawyer referral services with modest means panels, click here.

 

Community Lawyers

LA Law Library is a participant in the Los Angeles Incubator Consortium (LAIC), which is a program that supports and assists lawyers in starting their own solo practice so they can serve the community’s legal needs at an affordable cost. Lawyers in LAIC represent clients of modest means in a wide variety of practice areas such as immigration, family, criminal, housing, small business, employment, civil rights, consumer, and probate. LAIC is a collaboration between various law schools and legal aid organizations. For more information about LAIC or to get assistance, click here.

 

Limited-Scope Representation

Limited scope representation is when you and a lawyer agree that the lawyer will handle some parts of your case and you will handle others. This is different from more traditional arrangements between lawyers and clients in which a lawyer is hired to provide legal services on all aspects of a case, from start to finish. You can contact your local lawyer referral service to find out where you can find a lawyer who will provide unbundled services. For a list of Los Angeles County lawyer referral services certified by the State Bar of California, click here.

 

Online Lawyer Directories

Online lawyer directories provide attorney listings. Check out Martindale.com, FindLaw.com, Avvo.com, Justia.com and Nolo.com to identify attorneys who specialize in your area of law.

 

Dispute Resolution Programs

Many communities have "dispute resolution" programs. These programs try to help "mediate" or work out problems instead of going to court, so you may not need a lawyer. For more information about resolving your dispute out of court, click here. The Los Angeles Superior Court provides settlement programs for civil cases (http://www.lacourt.org/division/civil/CI0109.aspx) and a Pro Bono Probate Settlement Program (http://www.lacourt.org/division/probate/PR0104.aspx) for cases involving probate, trusts, estates, guardianship and conservatorships.

 

Read more...

Get Legal Help

Written by Published in Self Help

This section gives you information about the various types of legal help available to people in Los Angeles County who do not have a lawyer, whether you are representing yourself, looking for low cost legal help or trying to hire a lawyer. Below you will find information about services available at the Law Library, court-based self-help centers, legal aid and non-profit agencies, lawyer referral services, limited scope representation, and dispute resolution programs.

 

LA Law Library Services

LA Law Library Reference librarians assist with legal research questions and locating legal resources (including samples, court forms and instructions) in person, by phone or email. At LA Law Library, you can do research, take how-to classes, attend workshops and clinics or even get a free consultation with an attorney at Lawyers in the Library or Talk to a Lawyer Online. Click here to see our calendar for more information about classes, services and drop-in assistance at LA Law Library.

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Self Help Resource Centers

Self-Help Resource Centers are available in many court locations to provide free legal help to litigants who do not have lawyers. For specific case types, they give you legal information, provide instructions about how to complete court forms, make referrals to other legal resources, and explain the court rules and process. Self-Help Resource Centers do not cover all areas of law. For hours and locations of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s self-help centers and to find information on which centers have clinics and drop-in assistance for divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence, civil harassment, elder abuse, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes and evictions, click here.

 

Legal Aid and Non-Profit Agencies

Legal aid agencies are non-profit organizations that provide free legal services to people below a certain income level. Before you can get help from a legal aid agency, you usually have to qualify for their help based on your income. Many legal services focus on problems that affect basic needs such as housing, government benefits and family safety. Find legal aid and non-profit agencies at LawHelpCA.org. (You will need to provide your location and the legal topic and question. Feel free to ask a reference librarian at the Law Library for assistance identifying the topic and question.) For a list of legal aid and non-profit agencies by legal topic, click here.

 

Lawyer Referral Services

Lawyer referral services help people find lawyers. Most lawyers practice in distinct areas of law, such as personal injury, family law, or criminal law. Finding the right lawyer for your specific legal issue is important. Many of the local bar associations throughout Los Angeles County have lawyer referral services which help you connect with lawyers knowledgeable in particular areas of law. For a list of Los Angeles County lawyer referral services certified by the State Bar of California, click here.

 

Reduced Fee Lawyers

Some lawyer referral services have "modest means panels" which are designed for people who have some ability to pay for a lawyer, but who cannot afford the standard cost of a private lawyer's services. Lawyers on modest means panels have agreed to perform services at a reduced cost to moderate income clients. You must meet specific income and asset guidelines in order to be eligible for these programs. For a list of Los Angeles County lawyer referral services with modest means panels, click here.

 

Community Lawyers

LA Law Library is a participant in the Los Angeles Incubator Consortium (LAIC), which is a program that supports and assists lawyers in starting their own solo practice so they can serve the community’s legal needs at an affordable cost. Lawyers in LAIC represent clients of modest means in a wide variety of practice areas such as immigration, family, criminal, housing, small business, employment, civil rights, consumer, and probate. LAIC is a collaboration between various law schools and legal aid organizations. For more information about LAIC or to get assistance, click here.

 

Limited-Scope Representation

Limited scope representation is when you and a lawyer agree that the lawyer will handle some parts of your case and you will handle others. This is different from more traditional arrangements between lawyers and clients in which a lawyer is hired to provide legal services on all aspects of a case, from start to finish. You can contact your local lawyer referral service to find out where you can find a lawyer who will provide unbundled services. For a list of Los Angeles County lawyer referral services certified by the State Bar of California, click here.

 

Online Lawyer Directories

Online lawyer directories provide attorney listings. Check out Martindale.com, FindLaw.com, Avvo.com, Justia.com and Nolo.com to identify attorneys who specialize in your area of law.

 

Dispute Resolution Programs

Many communities have "dispute resolution" programs. These programs try to help "mediate" or work out problems instead of going to court, so you may not need a lawyer. For more information about resolving your dispute out of court, click here. The Los Angeles Superior Court provides settlement programs for civil cases and a Pro Bono Probate Settlement Program for cases involving probate, trusts, estates, guardianship and conservatorships.

 

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Get Legal Help - Topics

Written by Published in Self Help

Adoption

Appeal Your Case

Bankruptcy

Car Crashes / Accidents

California Food Stamps

Cancer Legal Services

Child Abuse & Neglect

Child Custody

Children's Rights

Child Support

Civil Rights

Clearing Criminal Records

Conservatorship

Consumer Complaints

Consumer Debt Help

Criminal Law

Disability Rights

Disaster Legal Services

Divorce and Families

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence - Batterers' Treatment Programs

Domestic Violence - Hotlines

Domestic Violence - Legal Clinic

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Domestic Violence - Shelters

Education Law

Elder Abuse

Emergency & Social Services

Emergency Shelters

Employment Discrimination

Employment Rights

Entertainment Law

Environment Law

Evictions (Unlawful Detainer)

Foreclosure

Foster Care

Free Legal Clinics

Free Legal Clinics (Law Schools)

Gender Change

Government Benefits

Guardianship

HIV / AIDS Legal Services

Homeless Services

Homeowners Assistance

Housing & Landlord / Tenants

Housing / Living Conditions / Habitability

Housing Discrimination

Human Trafficking

Identity Theft

Immigration

Immigration Clinics (Law Schools)

Legal Aid Organizations

Mediation

Medicare

Mental Health Services

Misconduct (Attorneys)

Misconduct (Doctors)

Name Change

Police Misconduct

Real Estate

Rent Control Enforcement

Sexual Assault

Small Business

Small Claims

Social Security

Special Education Law

Student Loans

Tax Disputes

Unemployment Insurance Appeals

Utility Assistance Programs

Veterans

Victims of Crime

Workers' Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

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Classes

Written by Published in Self Help

Self Help

Published in Self Help

The self-help collection is designed for people doing their own legal research without the assistance of an attorney. It is an excellent starting point for people involved in lawsuits who don’t have attorneys (also called self-represented litigants) as well as people who are facing common legal problems and seeking answers to everyday legal questions.

Many of the books in the self-help collection are published by Nolo Press, a publisher of books for non-attorneys. The majority of the Library’s Nolo books are also available electronically at the LA Law Library through the Legal Information Reference Center database. The self-help collection is an excellent starting point for landlords and tenants, homeowners, small business owners, employees, pet owners, and those doing their own divorce, among others. The self-help collection also has books for those who are suing or being sued in small claims, California state courts or the federal courts. The self-help collection also includes a wide variety of pamphlets, referral sheets and publications provided by the California and Federal Courts, legal aid providers and social services agencies.

LA Law Library provides access to legal resources and information and assistance with legal research. LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. For legal advice, you must consult an attorney. The “Get Legal Help” section suggests some ways to start looking for an attorney if you need one and also has information about finding free or low-cost legal aid services for those who qualify. Every superior court in California also makes legal help available in family law and in small claims cases. Some superior courts can also help you with other legal issues. For more information on court-based services in Los Angeles County, including hours and locations, click here.

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