About This Site

Got ideas? Give us feedback!

What is LawHelpCA?

LawHelpCA is California’s official and free legal resource.

  • RELIABLE information about common legal issues, written by reputable sources on 16 general topics and over 140 specific subtopics
  • UPDATED directory of legitimate and pre-screened organizations that offer free or low-cost legal advice and representation
 

Why should I use LawHelpCA?

  • AUTHORITATIVE links are constantly checked and updated
  • COMPREHENSIVE directory of organizations that can provide legal help
  • EASY to read and navigate; designed with smooth access in mind
 

Where does information on LawHelpCA come from?

Government agencies
  • Examples: California Department of Consumer Affairs, Federal Trade Commission
Legal aid organizations
  • Examples: Legal Services of Northern California, Legal Aid Society
California courts
  • Examples: Judicial Council, Contra Costa County Superior Court
Non-profit organizations
  • Examples: Equal Rights Advocates, World Institute on Disability

 

Who runs LawHelpCA?

Legal Aid Association of California

The Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) is the statewide membership organization for the almost 100 nonprofits funded through IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Account) grants by the State Bar of California. Capitalizing on its structure as a membership organization, LAAC naturally takes on the role of advocating on behalf of this group of nonprofits. LAAC facilitates communication and coordination between programs, trains in core substantive areas, analyzes best practices, and assesses and improves the effectiveness of the delivery of legal aid in California, including working strategically to support rural and small programs and meet the needs of under-served populations.

 

Pro Bono Net

Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization based in New York City and San Francisco. Pro Bono Net works in close partnership with nonprofit legal organizations across the United States and Canada, to increase access to justice for the millions of poor people who face legal problems every year without help from a lawyer.

If you are an attorney looking for pro bono opportunities at a legal aid organization, please visit www.CaliforniaProBono.org.

 

Volunteer with us!

Learn more about volunteer opportunities!

 

Who funds LawHelpCA?

Donations from the public make LawHelpCA possible. Donate to Legal Aid Association of California!

 

 
LawHelpCA receives funding from the State Bar of California and generous donations from legal aid providers throughout the state:
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Bay Area Legal Aid
Legal Services of Northern California
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Bet Tzedek Legal Services 
Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc. 
Legal Aid Society of Orange County
Inland Counties Legal Services
Central California Legal Services
Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center
Los Angeles Center for Law & Justice 
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc.
Immigrant Defender Legal Center
Inner City Law Center
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
Legal Services for Children
University of San Diego Legal Clinic
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
National Center for Youth Law
OneJustice 
California Indian Legal Services
Learning Rights Law Center
Elder Law & Advocacy
Asian Law Alliance - Santa Clara County  
California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
Legal Aid of Marin
Youth Law Center
Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc.
The Public Interest Law Project
Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley
Impact Fund
National Housing Law Project 
Senior Adults Legal Assistance
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara
Legal Assistance to the Elderly
McGeorge Community Legal Services
Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law
Insight Center for Community Economic Development
Child Care Law Center
Levitt Quinn
Watsonville Law Center
Public Advocates, Inc.
Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California
Legal Assistance for Seniors
Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
Senior Citizens Legal Services
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
Inland Empire Latino Legal Aid
Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Corporation
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services
Affordable Housing Advocates
Coalition of California Welfare Rights Org., Inc.
Family Violence Appellate Project
Yuba Sutter Legal Center for Seniors
FreeFrom
Step Forward Foundation
 

What is LawHelpCA's history?

LawHelpCA is a collaborative project started by the federally-funded Legal Services Corporation, with policy oversight from the CalJustice Advisory Committee and assistance from advocates at legal aid programs throughout the state.

The LawHelpCA staff gratefully acknowledges the CalJustice advisory committee for their guidance in building this site.  Committee members contributed their time and experience to ensure that LawHelpCA provides a clear and simple portal to quality legal services referrals and legal self-help information.  We thank the following organizations for their participation on the advisory committee: Judicial CouncilBay LegalCalifornia Indian Legal ServicesInland Counties Legal Services,  Legal Aid Society of Orange CountyLegal Aid Society of San DiegoLegal Services of Northern CaliforniaOneJusticeState Bar of California, VLSP - San Francisco Bar Association, Western Center on Law & Poverty.

LawHelp Iconography

LawHelp Iconography is derived from Google’s Material Design Icons, which are available under the Apache License v2.0, with the exception of the “Statue of Liberty” icon, which is licensed from Icons8.com under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Social media icons sourced from FontAwesome under under a Creative Commons 3.0 License.

Back to top