A great many legal problems in Los Angeles County do not need a paid attorney — they need someone who has seen the form before. Court self-help centres, legal aid organisations and clinics exist for exactly that, and they are chronically under-used because people do not know they are there.
This sheet maps what is available, what each place actually helps with, and which languages are served. It is a directory of public services, not an endorsement of any organisation.
What is inside
- Court self-help centres by location, with what each covers
- Legal aid organisations and their subject areas
- Law school and bar association clinics
- Which services have income eligibility limits
- Languages served at each location
- What to bring, and what these services cannot do for you
How to use it
Check subject coverage first
Most services specialise. Turning up at the wrong one costs a morning.
Go early
Same-day capacity at popular centres is usually gone before mid-morning.
Bring everything
These services move fast and cannot chase missing documents for you.
Common questions
Is this the same as free legal advice?
Self-help centres generally provide procedural assistance rather than advice on the merits. Legal aid organisations can advise, but usually within eligibility limits and subject areas.
Why is there no phone number list?
Contact details change often enough that a printed list goes stale. The sheet points to each organisation's own current listing.