Come learn how to participate in a Zoom meeting and take advantage of the wide variety of classes LA Law Library has to offer. Participants will get assistance setting up an e-mail and practice registering and participating in Zoom meetings.

Class covers:

• Setting up an E-mail address
• Registering for a Zoom meeting
• Basics of participating in a Zoom class
• Resources for technology assistance

Presented by:

• Chloe Casey, Community Resource Specialist, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

In California, many families struggle to care for adults who are not able to care for themselves. For these families, a court-approved conservatorship may help. It allows a responsible person or organization to assist an adult with personal care or finances. This session provides general information about the court process.

Class covers:

• Screening for appropriateness of probate conservatorships or available alternatives
• Overview of conservatorship law
• Rights of the conservatee and responsibilities of the conservator
• The court forms needed to request a conservatorship
• The petitioning process—what to expect before and after the hearing
• Referrals for other types of assistance

Presented by:

• Isabela Garcia, Self-Help Conservatorship Clinic Paralegal,Bet Tzedek Legal Services

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Learn about form resources available in and out of the Library — from the Library’s practice guides and form books to the many online sources, both in the Library and available elsewhere.

Class covers:

• Finding forms on court and agency websites
• Accessing California Judicial Council court forms
• Finding form books in the Library
• Locating form books in Library databases
• Creating pleadings using Library’s pleading paper templates

Presented by:

• Danny Hayes, Librarian, Legal Education, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Come create or update your resume to make you a compelling candidate. We will review the basic components of a resume, appropriate formatting and length, how to identify transferable skills from past experiences and how to tailor your resume for a specific job opportunity.

Class covers:

• How to build a resume that employers are looking for
• Basic resume formats
• How to best present previous work experiences
• Drawing on your non-employment background to build a compelling resume
• Using tools, such as template and online resources to build a better resume
• Resources for employment assistance

For this class, participants will be using the public computers at LA Law Library. In order to do so, participants must have a LA Law Library card. If you are not currently a card holder, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time slot to get signed up. Please bring a photo ID with you. If you have any questions, please contact the Community Resource Specialist at (213) 785-2585 or communityconnections@lalawlibrary.org

Presented by:

• Chloe Casey, Community Resource Specialist, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) will provide free legal assistance to eligible low income individuals who are seeking to clean up their criminal records. Clearing a criminal record allows individuals to move on with their lives and seek jobs and other opportunities that would otherwise not be available. To Register: Interested individuals should call (800) 399-4529 to be pre-screened for the workshop. Eligible candidates will be seen by appointment ONLY. Candidates must not be on probation or owe fees, fines or restitution. Candidates must also have a copy of his/her criminal transcript from the court or a criminal history report (a ‘RAP’ sheet) from the California Department of Justice. You may request a criminal history report by doing a live scan at locations found at: https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations

Presented by:

• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Learn to counsel our community members about options for dealing with their debts, including bankruptcy. Following the volunteer training, there will be an opportunity to observe a clinic conducting intakes on debt, bankruptcy and financial literacy issues. MCLE Disclaimer: MCLE credit is only granted to attorneys licensed to practice law by the State Bar of California. Attorneys from other jurisdictions should contact their state bar to learn about credit reciprocity. Earn 1.0 hour general MCLE credit

Presented by:

• Public Counsel

Learn about options for dealing with your debts, including bankruptcy, if you are a person of low income. Then talk to a volunteer attorney for free! The session begins with an informational seminar, followed by a one-on-one counseling session with a volunteer attorney to discuss your financial issues.

Presented by:

• Public Counsel

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

In 1965, the Walt Disney Company proposed building a massive ski resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which was approved by the federal government in 1969, and would have irreversibly altered the practically untouched Mineral King Valley, a magnificently beautiful Alpine area. At first it seemed inevitable that this expanse of wild natural land would be radically changed and turned over to a private corporation. But then the scrappy Sierra Club pushed back with a lawsuit that ultimately propelled the modern environmental law era. Author Daniel Selmi, an expert on environmental law and appellate advocacy, deftly brings to life the complete history of this revolutionary legal battle and the ramifications that continue today, almost 50 years later.

About the author:

• Fritz B. Burns Chair in Real Property Emeritus, Loyola Law School Los Angeles
• Specializes in Land Use Law, Environmental Law and Appellate Advocacy
• Former Chair of California State Bar Section on Environmental Law
• Argued 39 cases involving environmental and land use law in state and federal appellate courts

Although you can listen to the class from various kinds of devices, you will need video to view the speaker(s) and any presentation materials and the ability to type on your device and use Zoom to ask questions or use the chat features.

Presented by:

• Katie O’Laughlin, Managing Librarian, Reference & Research, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Whether you are ready to launch a new business or expand an existing one, you'll likely need extra cash. However, traditional business loans have collateral and credit requirements many businesses cannot meet. What now? Learn about microloan opportunities from Small Business Administration lenders.

Class covers:

• Introduction to the Entrepreneur Fund: lending and services
• Microloans: overview and benefits
• Preparing for business borrowing: assessing needs and best practices
• Open Q&A for workshop participants
• Opportunity for one-on-one questions with a PACE business advisor

Presented by:

• Martin Pirgiotis, Loan Manager, Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE Business)

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Legal writing requires a different set of skills than other types of writing, and this class will introduce these skills to get you “thinking like a lawyer” – or a judge! We will work through the process of legal analysis by identifying the legal issue, stating the relevant legal rule or principle, applying the principle to new facts, and stating a clear conclusion.

Class covers:

• Points in a lawsuit where you will need to make your case in writing
• Identifying the legal issue
• Structuring your writing, and keeping it short
• Legal problem-solving and “deductive” reasoning used by legal decision-makers
• How to organize your facts into a legal argument

Presented by:

• Spencer Gales, Librarian, Reference & Research, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

A civil lawsuit starts with the filing and service of a written complaint; the defendant must then file an answer or other response. These are called pleadings, and they set the stage for all that comes afterward in the lawsuit. In this class, learn how to prepare, file, serve and respond to civil case pleadings in California state court.

Class covers:

• Is filing a lawsuit a good idea?
• Identifying possible legal theories
• Drafting the complaint
• Service of summons and complaint
• Answers and other responsive pleadings

Presented by:

• Mary Garcia, Librarian, Reference & Research, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

The two pillars of a case on appeal are the appellate records and the briefs. The record consists of the documents filed in the trial court (the “Clerk’s Transcript”), plus a record of the oral proceedings in the courtroom (the “Reporter’s Transcript” or a substitute). The briefs are written legal arguments that present a party’s position on appeal. In this class, learn to designate an adequate record and prepare a successful brief.

Class covers:

• The purpose, content and importance of the Clerk’s and Reporter’s Transcripts
• How to designate a record that is adequate to help the appellate court assess error
• The purpose and contents of an appellate brief
• What rules guide the appellate court’s decision about whether the trial court decision should be reversed
• The different, and equally essential roles of the factual history and the legal arguments in a brief
• Format, filing and service requirements
• Deadlines and time limits

Presented by:

• Zoe Dolan, Supervising Staff Attorney, Public Counsel

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Are you thinking of appealing the trial court decision in your civil lawsuit? Do you know the purpose of an appeal? Do you know the basics of court procedure? Learn about the appeals process from clerks at the California Court of Appeal who have extensive experience providing assistance to unrepresented litigants.

Class covers:

• The purpose of an appeal
• Deadlines and calendaring
• Where and how to file
• Brief writing
• And more!

Presented by:

• Melissa Real, Deputy Clerk at the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

When thinking about the law, we often think of how it affects us during our lives. But what about when we die? This class shares information on preparing for death, caring for human remains and avoiding disputes among family members about how to handle a loved one’s remains. The class covers the various ways our laws govern the dead, as well as ways to navigate government entities charged with handling dead bodies, and the resources available to help us process death and our grief.

Class covers:

• Definitions of key terms like “human remains”, “cemeteries”, “burial park” “mausoleum”, “columbarium”, and “crematory”
• Property Rights and the interment of human remains
• Coroner’s autopsy and liability
• Native American burial sites
• Liability for internment and disinterment expense
• Negligence in the performance of funeral-related services
• Contract-related disputes

Presented by:

• Spencer Gales, Librarian, Reference and Research, LA Law Library
• Mary Garcia, Librarian, Reference and Research, LA Law Library

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

In California, many special need families struggle to care for adults who are not able to care for themselves. For these families, a court-approved conservatorship may help. A probate conservatorship allows a responsible person or organization to receive legal powers to provide for the care, needs and protection of their loves ones after 18 years old. This information session raises awareness and educates the public about conservatorship as a legal process available to families.

Class covers:

• What a conservatorship is and what it does
• Disproving misinformation about conservatorships
• Legally granted powers provided to the conservator
• Conservatee’s rights under a conservatorship
• Alternatives to a conservatorship
• Letters of a conservatorship
• Getting help from The Conservatorship Center in preparing and filing documents to request appointment as a probate conservator
• Referrals for other types of assistance

Presented by:

• Bruce Kaufer, Founder/Attorney at Law, The Conservatorship Center

No advance registration or phone appointment is necessary. Participants register on the day of the program and will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Call The Conservatorship Center at 310-869-9792 and ask for Bruce Kaufer for additional information.

Registration fee: FREE

Check-in begins: 9:30 a.m.

Notice: Space is limited. Attendees admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

The presentation will cover the fundamentals of special education law and the rights that protect parents and their children's education, including the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

Class covers:

• Eligibility for special education
• Rights to comprehensive assessment in all areas of suspected need
• How to read and understand the Individualized Education Program (IEP) document

Presented by:

• Marisol Chianello, TIGER Program Director, Learning Rights Law Center

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

We invite you to make a request for a free consultation below. Before your consultation, though, we highly recommend that you consult with a reference librarian by email at reference@lalawlibrary.org, via live chat service at https://calcountylawlib.libanswers.com, or by phone at 213-785-2513. This will help you be fully prepared and make the best use of your consultation time with the attorney once assigned.

This program provides free 10-20 minute consultations with volunteer lawyers for people who have legal problems to discuss but do not have a lawyer representing them. Consultations may be either in person or by telephone depending on the patron’s preference and the availability of lawyers with expertise on the requested topic.

Remember to organize and bring all related documents, forms and court papers to your appointment! Come prepared with all questions written down: time is limited.

To register: By appointment only. Click on the IN-PERSON button below (More Information button) to fill out the online request form and provide an eSignature on the disclosure form. The Library will email to confirm your appointment and volunteer availability for your requested legal issue. We won’t be able to schedule you for a consultation with a lawyer without your eSignature on the disclosure form.

Areas of law that are usually covered include:

• Challenging Government Agency Decisions (Writs)
• Children’s Court
• Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
• Conservatorships
• Contracts (formation and breach)
• Credit Card/Debt Collection
• Criminal Law
• Divorce and Child Custody/Support
• Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
• Elder Abuse Restraining Orders
• Employment Law
• Estate Planning
• Guardianship of Estate
• Guardianship of the Person
• Immigration
• Landlord/Tenant
• Personal Injury/Auto Accident
• Probate Litigation
• Real Estate
• Small Business
• Small Claims

A few things you should know:

• Each person is allowed two consultations per calendar year.
• This program is not a substitute for legal representation.
• Attorneys will provide advice about filling out forms but will not fill out your forms.
• We do our best to facilitate helpful consultations but cannot provide guaranties, given the popularity of the program, the dependence on volunteers and the broad range of issues.

Location:

• LA Law Library-Main Branch
  301 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Presented by: LA Law Library

Registration Fee: FREE

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers

Join Piece by Piece artisans during the Public Legal Services Fair and add your piece to the unique mosaic created especially for LA Law Library. Piece by Piece, an affiliate partner of Skid Row Housing Trust provides arts education, skills training and transitional employment to low income residents of South Los Angeles and Skid Row through free mosaic art workshops using recycled materials. Participants in the skills training program learn and master basic mosaic skills, which leads to the creation of marketable skills, self-confidence, earned income and an improved quality of life.

Presented by:

• Piece by Piece