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.

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 a 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:

• Naomi Sultan, Supervising 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.

Si usted es inquilino, propitario o arrendatario conozca como la ley prohibe negar el derecho a una vivienda a una persona debido a que pertenece a una raza differente, por el color de piel, por la religión que practica, por origen de nacionalidad, por sexo, status familiar, por su status migratorio. Esta clase le permitirá conocer y denunciar cualquier tipo de discriminación. ¡Vivienda justa es su derecho!

Clase cubre:

• Clases protegidas federales y estatales
• Cómo reconocer y reportar violaciones de vivienda justa
• Prácticas prohibidas en viviendas de alquiler
• Discriminación por prejuicios: ¿Que significa?
• Lo último en tendencias de vivienda justa

Presented by:

• Katherine Jara, Outreach Coordinator, Housing Rights Center

La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no brinda asesoría legal:
La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no brinda asesoría legal. La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles brinda acceso a recursos legales y ayuda con investigación legal. La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no brinda asesoramiento legal. Para consejo legal, debería consultar un abogado.

Renting a commercial space is a big step for any small business. Before you sign your lease agreement, you should understand how commercial leases differ from the residential agreements, and make sure you understand the basic terms of the lease. If you already have a lease in place and you don’t understand its terms, join this session to understand the meaning of its clauses. Lawyers will provide an overview of the most important terms of a commercial lease and provide tips when negotiating a new contract or changes to your current agreement.

Class covers:

• Commercial Leasing Overview
• Terms of a Lease
• Lease Strategies
• Commercial Leasing and COVID-19

Presented by:

• Nadia Segura Narvaez, Director, Small Business Development Program,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.

Considering filing for bankruptcy? Being sued by a credit card company? Falling behind on loan repayments? Wondering if debt settlement is a good idea?

When it comes to dealing with debt, many people do not know what bankruptcy can and cannot discharge, as well as options and alternatives they may have when dealing with debts they can no longer afford to pay. At this remote clinic, unrepresented, low income individuals seeking help and guidance with debts will get FREE counsel and advice from attorneys. You will learn about bankruptcy and available options for dealing with debts.

Presented by:

• Public Counsel

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.

If your case makes it to court, you want to make a good impression. How you handle yourself – in person or remotely – can affect how the court sees you and ultimately how successful you are in presenting your case. Learn how to address the court, what to wear, and more, directly from a L.A. Superior Court judge.

Class covers:

• Preparing your case for a judge
• What to expect, how to appear, and how to act at your hearing, whether it’s remote or in person
• Presenting your case to the judge
• Explaining your request for an extension or continuance to the judge
• How to avoid hurting your own case

Presented by:

• Judge Bruce Iwasaki, LA Superior Court

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:

• Katie O’Laughlin, Managing 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.

Trial is the culmination of a civil lawsuit, where evidence is presented and a decision made by either a jury or a judge (i.e., a “bench trial”). In this class, learn basic rules, strategies and tips about how to present evidence and handle your own trial in a California state court.

Class covers:

• Presenting testimony from friendly witnesses
• Cross-examining unfriendly witnesses
• Getting documents admitted into evidence
• How to stop improper evidence by making effective objections
• Making opening and closing arguments

Presented by:

• John M. Yenokian Esq., Founder/Principal Attorney, My Justice Lawyer

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, Attorney,Orren & Orren
• Richard Nakamura, Senior Counsel, Clark Hill PLC

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:

• Derrick Sanders, Sr. Deputy Clerk at the California Court of Appeal,Second Appellate District
• 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.

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: 9:15 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.

Many people are unaware of the types of legal services available to the public and how to find a lawyer who has the right expertise and fits their budget. This class covers how to find the right lawyer, what types of fee arrangements are available and how to find legal services when you can’t afford to hire a lawyer.

Class covers:

• Is there such a thing as “affordable" legal services?
• Determining what kind of lawyer you need
• Pros and cons of flat fee legal services
• Areas of law for flat fee legal services
• How can a "limited experience" lawyer help
• How to negotiate fees with a lawyer
• How to determine if limited scope services would be the right option
• Getting legal help when you can’t afford a lawyer
• Library resources for getting legal help

Presented by:

• Seth Chavez, Director,, LACBA SmartLaw & Attorney-Client Mediation & Arbitration 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.

Finding legal help you can afford can be difficult. In this class, learn about low-cost and free options for getting help from a lawyer. You will also get information on how to talk to a lawyer, what a lawyer looks for in a client, how to tell your story, and the importance of gathering the facts and documents in your case. Learn how to make your legal journey easier and more successful by making the most out of the legal help you can afford.

Class covers:

• Low-cost and free options for getting help from a lawyer, and when and how to use each
• How to talk to a lawyer: identifying your legal problem, telling your story effectively, and what a lawyer looks for in a client
• 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

Presented by:

• Kathleen O’Connor,Law Office of Kathleen M. 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.

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, Senior Counsel, 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.

Volunteer lawyers provide free 10-20 minute consultations with people who have legal problems to discuss.

To register: By appointment only. Click on this link ( www.lalawlibrary.org/litl.) and fill out the online form to request a 10-20 consultation in-person with a lawyer. The Library will call to confirm your appointment and volunteer availability for your legal issue.

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

UPDATED 10/24/22: We DO NOT have slots available in the following areas of law: Child Support, Challenging Government Agency Decisions (writs), Civil Rights, Divorce & Child Custody, Conservatorship, Credit Card Lawsuit/Debt Collection, Elder Abuse, Estate Planning, Family Law Restraining Orders, Guardianship of Estate, Landlord/Tenant, Probate Litigation, Real Estate, Restraining Orders for Protection.

Areas of law that are usually covered include:

• Challenging Government Agency Decisions (Writs)
• Child Support
• Conservatorships
• Contracts (formation and breach)
• Credit Card/Debt Collection
• Criminal Law
• Divorce and Child Custody
• Education Law
• Elder Abuse
• Employment Law
• Estate Planning
• Government Benefits
• Guardianship of Estate
• Guardianship of the Person
• Immigration
• Landlord/Tenant
• Personal Injury/Auto Accident
• Probate Litigation
• Real Estate
• Restraining Orders for Protection
• 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