Free legal assistance with citizenship application
(N-400) preparation. Call NALEO Educational Fund at 888.839.8682 to register.

Workshop provides:

• Individualized screening for eligibility
• Assistance with N-400 application
• Application review by an immigration attorney
• Step-by-step review of naturalization process
• Passport photos

Presented by:

• NALEO
• CARECEN
• CHIRLA
• California-Pacific Neighborhood Immigration Clinics (Cal-Pac NIC)
• Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service (IRIS)

​Volunteer attorneys, including the Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers, provide free 20-minute consultations with people who have legal problems to discuss. No advance phone reservations or appointments necessary. Participants register on day of program. Remember to bring all related documents and forms!

Examples of issues that may be covered include:

• Child Custody & Support
• Civil litigation
• Contracts
• Criminal Law
• Debt and bankruptcy
• Divorce - family law
• Employment
• Government Benefits
• Landlord /Tenant disputes
• Personal injury
• Probate

There are over 30,000 children in the Los Angeles County foster care system, many having been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. These children are forced to move from home to home and each time adjust to new caregivers, new schools, new teachers and new social circles. Many of them deal with this alone, but they don't have to!

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (or CASA) is a trained, dedicated and caring community volunteer, who has the opportunity to broadly influence the life of a foster child by advocating across many important life issues, including permanent placement, health care, education, and enrichment activities. Many more children can thrive with the intensive intervention of a CASA volunteer.

This class will teach you what you need to know to begin the process of becoming a volunteer advocate, so you can help reduce and reverse the effects of child abuse and neglect.

Preesnted by:
Camrin Christensen, Director of Volunteer Recruitment and Outreach,
CASA of Los Angeles

Whether you are a housing provider, advocate or renter, learn about how the law protects tenants with disabilities from discrimination and gives them rights to reasonable accommodations that ensure access to stable housing.

Class covers:

• California and federal fair housing laws
• Discriminatory housing practices
• How to prevent housing discrimination will be covered

Preesnted by:
Paula Guerra, Staff Attorney, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc.

People in other countries sometimes have to be given notice before a lawsuit here can proceed but serving legal documents on someone living in a foreign country can be complicated. This class covers the requirements of serving papers abroad through the Hague Service Convention.

Class covers:

• What is the Hague Service Convention?
• When does the Hague Service Convention Apply?
• Procedures for service of papers outside the U.S. under the Hague Service Convention

Preesnted by:

• Janice Shurlow, Los Angeles Superior Court
• Sreoshi Datta, Neighborhood Legal Services Los Angeles
• Ana Maria Garcia, Neighborhood Legal Services Los Angeles

Hiring a lawyer is an important decision. Lawyers are expensive and the litigant's rights are at stake. Many people find the process of finding an attorney overwhelming and confusing. This class covers the knowledge and tools to make communicating and working with a lawyer easier and more effective.

This class is taught by a veteran legal services lawyer with more than 20 years of experience.

Class covers:

• How to determine whether legal services are worth the cost or not
• The most effective way to tell a story to a lawyer
• The top 10 habits of highly effective clients and why it matters
• The questions to ask to know if the lawyer is right for a case
• How to find free and low cost resources

Preesnted by:
Debra Zimmerman, Law Office of Debra M. Zimmerman

Briefs are written legal arguments that present a party's position on appeal. In this class, learn to prepare a successful brief.

Class covers

• The purpose of an appellate brief
• Content of briefs
• What rules guide the appellate court's decision about whether the trial court decision should be reversed
• The importance of the statement of facts
• Format requirements for briefs
• Where and how to file
• Deadlines and time limits

Presented by:
Ben Shatz, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

​Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an immigration relief for individuals that arrived to the United States before the age of 16, entered before June 15, 2007 and have lived in the U.S. continuously since that date. This immigration relief provides a work permit and protection from deportation for a period of 2 years.

The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) is currently completing initial DACA and renewal DACA applications for free. Learn about the benefits of and eligibility requirements for DACA as well as the renewal process which provides DACA recipients with two more years of DACA status.

Presented by:
Sandra Ruiz, Staff Attorney, Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic

Mediation is a voluntary process and will only take place if both parties agree. It is a confidential process where the terms of discussion are not disclosed to any party outside the mediation hearing. Learn how the use mediation to negotiate a problem can save you time and money.

Come to this workshop if you have a problem with:

• Consumer Disputes
• Contract Disputes
• Family Disputes
• Neighborhood Disputes
• Damage to Property or Personal Injury

Presented by:
Maritza Gutierrez, Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs

Many people think they can't afford to hire a lawyer. California law permits lawyers to represent clients on a “limited scope" basis. This means that even if you are representing yourself, you can pay a lawyer to provide coaching, advice and to represent you in negotiations or at court hearings. When the task is completed the representation ends. This class covers how to find, hire and work with a lawyer on a limited scope basis.

Class covers:

• The benefits and risks of limited scope services versus full representation or self-representation
• Areas of law where limited scope services have proven effective
• How to determine if limited scope services would be the right option
• How to find a lawyer for limited scope services
• Questions to ask when hiring a lawyer for limited scope services
• How to divide the work between you and your lawyer
• How to improve the quality of your relationship with your limited scope lawyer

Presented by:
Michelle Hopkins, Law Office of Michelle C. Hopkins

This class will provide an overview of child custody and visitation in family law cases, including what the court looks at in creating and modifying orders for custody and visitation. The child support guidelines and how they apply will also be covered. Taught by a lawyer who has significant experience in handling custody and support disputes.

Class covers:

• Establishing child custody and visitation rights
• How to change a child custody order
• Calculating the right amount of child support and spousal support
• Asking for or changing child support
• Collecting money due under existing support orders

Presented by:
Michelle Hopkins, Law Office of Michelle C. Hopkins

Esperanza seeks dedicated volunteers who are passionate about helping vulnerable immigrants facing deportation from the US. At the informational session, potential volunteers will learn about the broad spectrum of work conducted by Esperanza, and the various opportunities available for volunteers to get involved.

The pro bono program will seek to match volunteers with an appropriate position having regards to the volunteer’s interests, expertise, availability, and of course the needs of Esperanza and its clients. See Esperanza’s website for more information.

Presented by:
Kimberley Plotnik, Pro Bono Coordinator, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project

​This program will provide an overview of emerging best practices that aim to: 1) divert individuals from jail when their erratic behavior is caused by mental affliction, addictive disorders, untreated trauma or histories of extreme poverty as opposed to any criminal animus, and 2) to prevent those reentering society from juvenile camps, jail or prison, and from ending up homeless or without support services if mentally ill or suffering from addictive disorders. This program will also include a basic training on "trauma informed" care, which is becoming increasingly incorporated as a vital component of holistic advocacy.

Presented by:

• Paul Freese, Director of Litigation & Policy Advocacy, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA)
• Kathleen West, Instructor, USC Department of Preventive Medicine

Those seeking to understand the workings of a city, county or other local government agency in California -- and those interested in providing input – will learn what rights they have under the Brown Act to receive notice, obtain copies of materials and address the agency.

Class covers:

• Which government agencies must comply
• What notice must be provided before conducting a meeting or taking action
• When agendas must be posted and what they should contain
• When and how the public is allowed to attend, speak or record
• When an agency can go into closed session
• How the Brown Act is enforced

Earn 1 hour general MCLE credit.

Presented by:
Sandra J. Levin, Executive Director, LA Law Library

​This practitioner training will review essential concepts in immigration law and deportation proceedings. The training will provide attorneys with an understanding of the framework in which UAC cases exist, and as well as the information and resources needed to effectively defend minors from removal.

The most common forms of relief pursed by Esperanza in UAC cases - Asylum based on particular social group, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (Probate Court) - will be analyzed and simplified. Challenges and new developments in the law will be addressed also.

This training is ideal for attorneys interested in learning about immigration, removal defense, and/or working with children. It is essential for attorneys looking to volunteer in, or practice unaccompanied minor removal defense.

Earn 1 hour general MCLE credit.

Presented by:
Kimberley Plotnik, Pro Bono Coordinator, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project

​Learn about low-income housing assistance programs and services available to tenants with Section 8 vouchers.

Class covers:

• General Subsidized Housing Information
• Evictions vs. Terminations
• Preparing for a Section 8 Hearing
• Tenant Rights in Section 8

Presented by:

• Natalie A. Minev, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
• Sheyda Joolharzadeh, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

The Special Education Process can be daunting and intimidating. This class attempts to break it down into manageable chunks. This class focuses on Special Education rights and advocacy and teaches attendees how to make appropriate requests for special education assistance, IEP assessments and Due Process hearings.

Class covers:

• IEP and 504 Plan Requirements
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA)
• Reasonable Accommodations
• IEP process
• Timelines for requesting IEPs and Assessments
• Rights under the IDEA and due process rights
• Discipline in schools
• Free and Appropriate Education
• Bullying

Presented by:
Heather Bento, Director, Community Advocacy Program, Disability Rights Legal Center

​Sometimes state or local government agencies make mistakes, In this class, learn about the process for challenging administrative decisions in superior court through what’s called a “writ of mandate.” Writs are different from other kinds of civil lawsuits and the procedures and terminology can be complicated.

This class will cover the basic process, timelines and terminology and give some tips on how to prepare a persuasive case.

Presented by:
Matthew Summers, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC

​Zephyr Teachout, author of Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United, argues that placing private interest over the public good in public office is at the root of what ails American democracy. Do you agree? Read the book and join the discussion of the history and current state of public corruption.

Presented by:
Kathleen O'Laughlin, Librarian, LA Law Library

​A motions for summary judgment or summary adjudication allows a party to obtain judgment in their favor for an entire case or part of a case without a trial. These motion are based entirely on written submissions and avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of a trial. Learn how to determine whether a summary judgment motion might be appropriate for you, how to bring one before a California state court, and how to respond when one is brought against you.

Presented by:
Sandra J. Levin, Executive Director, LA Law Library

With the passage of Proposition 47, certain prior convictions for low-level, nonviolent felonies can now be changed to misdemeanors. This classes addresses eligibility requirements and resources for getting help for a reduced sentence under Prop 47. This class also covers the process of clearing criminal records (or record expungement) which allows individuals to dismiss misdemeanor criminal convictions. allowing them to seek jobs and other opportunities. Learn to assist community members with the expungement process and get inspired to volunteer at a future clinic.

Class covers:

• Forms needed to petition the court under Prop 47
• Eligibility/disqualification details
• Obtaining assistance from a Public Defender
• How long does it take to get Prop 47 relief?
• What is the impact of not applying for Prop. 47 relief?
• Overview of the expungement process
• The court forms need to file for a record expungement

Presented by:
Rene Pena, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles