Volunteer attorneys provide free 10-20 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!
Notice: Arrive early! Registration does not guarantee a consultation. The number of people receiving consultations may be limited due to time constraints and volunteer availability.

Areas of law that are usually covered include:

• Civil Rights
• Conservatorships/Guardianships
• Contract Disputes
• Criminal Law
• Credit Card/Debt Collection
• Elder Abuse
• Estate Planning
• Family Law
• General Civil Case
• Immigration
• Landlord /Tenant - Housing
• Personal Injury
• Probate
• Real Estate
• Small Business
• Small Claims

Remember to bring all related documents and forms! Come prepared with all questions written down: time is limited.

No advance phone reservation or appointment is necessary. Participants register on the day of the program and will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

Presented by:

• Volunteer attorneys, including members of the Black Women Lawyers Association

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 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.

Para los quien están en procedimientos de deportación, o incluso los que están sujetos a ser deportados de los EE.UU., este taller ofrece información general sobre los procedimientos de deportación y la corte de inmigración, así como una descripción detallada de asilo, retención de expulsión y la convención contra la tortura. La presentación incluye una discusión de lo que son procedimientos de deportación, cómo funcionan y cuáles son sus derechos en la corte de inmigración. También incluye una descripción detallada de los elementos y las barras de asilo, la retención de la eliminación y la convención contra la tortura. La presentación esta conducida totalmente en español.

Regístrese en persona en la corte de inmigración. Regístrese los martes/jueves entre las horas de 9:30 am-12:00 pm, 1:30 pm-4:00 pm en el quinto piso de la corte de inmigración de Los Ángeles (606 S. Olive St., Los Ángeles, CA, 90014). Tome el ascensor a la izquierda de la mesa de la recepcionista en el primer piso. No hay registración telefónico o electrónica disponible.

Presentado por:

• Jonathan Vallejo, Staff Attorney, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project

La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no da asesoría legal:
La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no da asesoría legal. La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles ofrece recursos legales y la asistencia con la investigación jurídica como un servicio educativo. La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles se complace en ofrecer a nuestros usuarios la oportunidad de obtener asistencia de proveedores de servicios legales de terceros en este y otros eventos dentro de la biblioteca. Sin embargo, la biblioteca no controla y no es responsable del contenido o el alcance de la asistencia brindada por dichos proveedores.

Get help filling out and submitting your citizenship application! Register through the Citizenship Hotline: 213-814-5248 Appointment is required
Please bring:

• Permanent Resident Card & Social Security Card
• CA State ID / Driver’s License
• Birth certificate
• Marriage and Divorce certificates
• Passport(s) that you have used to travel out of the US in the last 5 years and travel dates
• Final certified court disposition for all arrests or charges
• Application fee or waiver: $725 money order or check payable to US Dept of Homeland Security. Are you low-income or do you receive a public benefit? You may qualify for a fee waiver!

Presented by:

• Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
• Office of Immigrant Affairs

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 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 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:

• Romy Ganschow, Staff Attorney, 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.

Sometimes state or local government agencies make mistakes. In this class, learn about the process for challenging administrative decisions in superior court through what is 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:

• Matt Summers, Associate, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC

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.

Small Claims Court is a fast and convenient way to collect your money if the claim is $10,000 or less. Learn the basics of Small Claims: filing the case, serving court papers, preparing for trial, and collecting the money you win. The class provides information for both Plaintiffs and Defendants.

Presented by:

• Amy Syed, Counselor, Small Claims Advisory Program, Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs

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.

This class will cover K-12 and post-secondary education students, their rights under existing law, and schools' obligations towards these students including specialized instruction, related services, accommodations, modifications, and accessible programs and facilities across educational settings.

Presented by:

• Amethyst Thormann, Staff Attorney, Litigation, Disability Rights Legal Center
• Anthony Pinggera, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Legal 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.

Advance Health Care Directives can be used to state preferences for health care treatment. They also allow a person to appoint a power of attorney for their health care decisions, such as funeral arrangements, and organ and tissue donation.

This class is designed to train volunteers to prepare these important end-of-life forms so that they can assist clients and volunteer in Advance Health Care Directive clinics.

Earn 1.0 hour general MCLE credit

Presented by:

• California Lawyers Association
• California Minority Counsel Program Ambassadors Council
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services
• Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA)
• Health Law Committee of the CLA Business Law Section

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

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, Attorney at Law, Hopkins Family Law

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.

This training will focus on the rights granted by fair housing laws to tenants with disabilities, including mental health disabilities. Topics covered will include how tenants can use the protections under fair housing laws to advocate for reasonable accommodation, request an accommodation and negotiate with landlords through an interactive process to reach agreement. Situations like the need for emotional support animals, accommodations during threatened eviction and third party payments will be discussed.

Presented by:

• Kyle Gilliam, Staff Attorney, Mental Health Advocacy Services

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.

An advance directive is a legal document that explains how you want medical decisions about you to be made if you cannot make the decisions for yourself. At this clinic, attorneys will help you prepare your advance health care directive and explain how to use it. These forms can clarify your health care decision-making now, avoiding stress for your loved ones later.

Presented by:

• California Lawyers Association
• California Minority Counsel Program Ambassadors Council
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services
• Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA)
• Health Law Committee of the CLA Business Law Section

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 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.

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
• 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, Attorney, Hopkins Family Law

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.

An appeal is very different from trial court proceedings. There are many misconceptions about how appeals work and what the appellate courts will consider. Learn what an appeal is, the steps to take to appeal a trial court decision and the importance of the concept of harmful, judicial error.

Class covers:

• Appellate court structure
• How the appellate court reviews the trial court’s decision
• Steps to appeal
• The limits of appellate review
• Designating the record

Presented by:

• David Axelrad, Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, Horvitz & Levy LLP

Real-time captioning (CART) is available for this class for those who bring an internet-capable device.

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 an individual with a mental health disability is trying to decide whether to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits, there are many questions to be considered. How will I prove to the Social Security Administration that I am disabled? What kind of treatment history do I need? What benefits do I qualify for?

This training will cover the SSI/SSDI application process, the steps to take before applying, the kinds of information to gather, and the resources available in Los Angeles County to help you submit a successful application.

Presented by:

• Mackenzie Canniff, Staff Attorney, Mental Health Advocacy Services

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.

Since February 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions are targeting the sponsors of undocumented minors, as well as ICE officers arresting foreign nationals at home, and in areas once considered “sensitive” (e.g., schools, churches and healthcare facilities). If you are a foreign national residing in the U.S., you should know your rights. If you are detained, and you have children at home who depend on your for their care, you and your family should be prepared.

Presented by:

• Xavier Rosas, Direct Representation Attorney, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

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:

• Tyna Orren, Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, Orren & Orren

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.

This class will provide the basics of California wage and hour law, which sets the rules for how to calculate a worker’s hours, when breaks must be given, and how sick pay is earned and what it can be used for, among other topics. Learn who is covered (employees vs. independent contractors), and hear about the process for claiming and recovering unpaid wages.

Class covers:

• Rules for how to calculate a worker’s hours
• When breaks must be given
• Sick pay: how it’s earned, and what it can be used for
• Who is covered: employees vs. independent contractors
• The process for claiming and recovering unpaid wages

Presented by:

• Matt Clark, Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

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.

This class covers the knowledge and tools to make communicating and working with a lawyer easier and more effective. How you communicate with your lawyer affects not only the cost, but the effectiveness, of your lawyer. Learn how to use your time wisely and get what you need -- and can afford.

Class covers:

• Identifying your legal problem
• What does a lawyer look for in a client
• Telling your story to a lawyer effectively
• The importance of gathering your facts and documents
• How legal billing works
• Things clients do that increase costs
• Deciding what legal work isn’t worth the cost

Taught by a lawyer with significant family law experience.

Presented by:

• Kathleen O’Connor, Attorney, Law Offices of Kathleen O’Connor

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 a tenant, landlord, or advocate, learn about how the law prohibits the denial of housing to a person because of his or her membership in one or more protected classes. The protected classes include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. This class will teach you how to recognize and report discrimination in housing because of race, national origin, immigration status, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status, disability, and other protected classes. Fair Housing is your right, use it!

Class covers:

• Federal and State Protected Classes
• How to recognize and report Fair Housing violations
• Prohibited practices in rental housing
• Disparate impact: What does it mean?
• The latest on Fair Housing trends

Presented by:

• Chancela Al-Mansour, Executive Director, Housing Rights 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.

Probate is the process for transferring the asset of someone who has died to the people legally entitled to receive the assets. In this class, learn which types of assets and estates require probate. Then, learn how to fill out the petition – the document that starts the probate process – how to file it with the court, and how to serve the petition on interested parties.

Also discussed: what happens after the petition, and the basics of completing a probate case.

Class covers:

• Which types of assets and estates require probate
• How to fill out the petition – the document that starts the probate process
• What happens after the petition, and the basics of completing a probate case

Presented by:

• Crystal Hayes-Hill, Attorney, My Legal Team, Inc.

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 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.

Over 40,000 evictions are filed in Los Angeles County a year. This training will go over rules and procedures in California evictions, along with information on both renters’ and landlords’ legal rights and responsibilities when terminating a tenancy and going to court. We will also focus on emotional support animals and rules and regulations for seeking rentals and renting with an emotional support animal.

Class covers:

• Valid reasons for terminating a tenancy
• Eviction process, including termination notices and how to respond to notices
• Emotional support animals (and how they differ from service animals)
• The complaint and review process when a tenant wishes to report bad conditions, discrimination, illegal rent increases, or other problems
• Resources for dealing with an eviction lawsuit

Presented by:

• Dianne Prado, Executive Director, HEART L.A.
• Maria Hall, Attorney at Law

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.

Interested in learning how a civil lawsuit works? Designed for those who would like a basic understanding of the important stages of a lawsuit, this class is an overview of what to expect in the pleading, discovery, pre-trial and trial phases of a case.

Presented by:

• Kathy Chew, Associate, Conover & Grebe, LLP

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.