Information of free legal assistance programs in California

There are several non-profit law firms in California that provide provide free legal assistance to low and moderate income families and individuals, senior citizens, and the disabled. Lawyers from these organizations are committed to helping low income individuals and the disadvantaged among us. They can assist with a wide variety of legal problems, including housing problems, consumer and debt issues, foreclosures, family disputes, immigration, welfare and health benefits, and evictions. Lawyers can also offer free representation and further advice on cases such as landlord/tenant disputes, poverty issues, disability support and family benefits payments. Below you will find the law firm to contact in your part of California, as well as additional information on the programs and legal services offered.

Each of these non-profit law firms employes a staff of lawyers and other support personnel who will help you and your family resolve your legal problems and provide counsel free of charge. Call for help as soon as a problem arises.

Home Preservation

Attorneys will help California residents with problems related to their housing, such as foreclosure, illegal mortgages or an eviction. Attorneys will work closely with clients to prevent homelessness, both preserve and expand affordable housing, fight illegal evictions, and prevent foreclosures. The organizations will provide free legal assistance in the following areas:

• Lock-outs, heating and utility service shutoffs
• Public, government, and subsidized (including Section 8, Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention,  and other HUD subsidized projects) and private housing
• Fair housing, discrimination, and housing discrimination
• Foreclosure advice and free representation
• Unsafe and illegal housing conditions
• Rent control
• Eviction defense and prevention

Medical Concerns and Health Care Access

Lawyers and paralegals will help people deal with insurance problems, medical debt collectors, and ensure they get the health care services they need. Attorneys will assist families and individuals with enrolling in and obtaining high quality services from health insurance programs. They provide free legal help with the following concerns:

• Medicare
• Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal
• Medicare
• Health insurance companies and preexisting conditions
• Healthy Families Program
• Medical Debt collectors
• In-Home Support Services
• ParaTransit Services
• County Medically Indigent Programs
• Mental Health Services
• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

Domestic Issues

The non-profit firms will also assist people with domestic issues, and help those who are trying to get out of abusive or dangerous home situations. They also provide advice to deal with lifes everyday issues. Get assistance with the following:

• Divorce, annulments, or legal separation
• Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs)
• Child or spousal support
• Custody and home visitation orders and concerns
• Battered spouse waivers
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) enforcement and regulations
• Immigration issues faced by domestic violence survivors

Labor, Employment, and Government Programs

Get help with issues including minimum wage and overtime claims,  retaliation from boss or employer, unsafe or illegal working conditions, sexual harassment, employees' rights, and unemployment claims and compensation.

Consumer Law, Including Debt and Financial Concerns

This service will help low-income and other qualified clients retain income, protect them from debt collectors, and help them retain assets to meet basic necessities of life. Lawyers can help with :

• Debt Collectors
• Illegal harassment and collection calls
• Wage garnishment
• Credit discrimination
• Predatory lenders and illegal credit card agreements
• Automobile repossession
• Illegal mortgages, including subprime and other high interest rate loans

Contact in California for free legal services

Bay Area Legal Aid - This law firm provides legal services to residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. (800) 551-5554

California Indian Legal Services - This organization provide specialized legal representation for Indians and Indian tribes in California. CILS provides free or low-cost assistance and representation. (800) 743-8941.

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - This group provides services for people across the state. It provides legal help to farm worker and migrant workers through offices located across the state. It offers community outreach, direct legal services, and educational training. Phone number is (415) 777-2752.

Central California Legal Services - Another non-profit law firm that offers free services and representation. They provide legal assistance to low income families and others in the following counties across the state. Fresno, Kings, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare, and Tuolumne. Dial (800) 675-8001 to learn more.

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, (GBLA) - Covers the Bakersfield, California area. They offer free legal services in civil matters to qualified people in Kern County and Bakersfield. 661-325-5943

Inland Counties Legal Services - This area covers the central, inland areas of the state, including San Bernardino, Reiverside, Indio, Victorville, and Rancho Cucamonga. Call (888) 455-4257 to learn more about legal services offered.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) - This non-profit law firm employs attorneys and others who provide free civil legal services to poor, low-income and others in Los Angeles County. (213) 640-3881

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLS-LA) - Another non-profit law firm that provides free help to people in the Los Angeles area. Lawyers will provide free legal services and representation to low-income and other eligible residents. They cover all of Los Angeles County, including the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys, and also the neighboring communities in the Pomona, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, and the cities of Pasadena, Burbank, and Glendale. 800-433-6251.

Legal Aid Society of Orange County - Provides services to people of Orange County. Dial them at (800) 834-5001 to learn more about legal programs offered.

Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc - Employs a staff of expert legal workers and lawyers who will help you family take care of and address your legal problems or crisis free of charge. (1-877-534-2524).

Legal Services of Northern California - This law firms serves the following counties. Sacramento, Placer, Amador, Sierra, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Solano, Yolo, Butte, Plumas, Glenn, Tehama, Lassen, Colusa, Mendocino, Lake, Del Norte, Humboldt, , Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity. 916.551.2150