Do you need legal advice but can`t afford to pay for a lawyer? You can talk to a local legal aid group. There are local legal aid agencies that offer free and inexpensive legal services. Click on a link to learn more about their services. See also this list of „Do It Yourself“ self-help resources compiled by the Court`s self-help office. „Users are allowed to ask up to five legal questions a year. If a question is not answered after 35 days, it is removed and does not count towards a user`s number of questions. „It works like a walk-in clinic or legal helpline, but more convenient in some ways because it`s not as limited in time and location. A client may ask a question early in the morning before work and a pro bono lawyer may answer the question between calls the next afternoon. It is a question-and-answer program where clients ask questions about specific legal issues and pro bono lawyers working under a fixed-term agreement offer free legal advice and information where possible. All communications between the lawyer and the client take place within the platform. Customer eligibility is verified, creates a secure FLA account, signs a limited scope agreement and publishes their question.
It is based on ABA`s Free Legal Answers platform™ and is designed to ensure client privacy. Information published by customers remains confidential and subject to strict restrictions. This is made possible through funding and support from the California Lawyers` Association, California Lawyers Foundation, Legal Access Alameda, disaster legal assistance collaborative (DLAC) and others. Disaster Legal Services Californiadisasterlegalservicesca.org/DLAC is a coalition of Northern California organizations and law firms working together to provide free legal services to communities after natural disasters. Survivors of disasters such as wildfires face a variety of legal and financial needs, ranging from assistance with insurance claims to applications for government programs such as FEMA assistance. Visit the DLAC website to learn more about the free legal services they currently offer in addition to resources on current and active disasters. Here are some resources that can provide legal assistance with foreclosure, rental, home ownership, and other laws in California. Everyone should have access to a lawyer to help them overcome legal problems. „The demand for our services is growing and we need help keeping pace. The pandemic is far from over and the legal consequences of the devastating wildfires will continue into the future for years to come.
Volunteer lawyers can help individuals and communities recover from the double crisis by helping clients resolve landlord-tenant issues, employment issues, foreclosures, insurance disputes, and many other challenges. The California FLA began as a Northern California pilot project and became a national program in May. It has the potential to use technology to provide free legal advice and information where it is most needed. Legal Services & Legal Aid Programs across Californiawww.lawhelpca.org/LawHelpCA.org is a comprehensive website to help you find a legal aid or legal advice program in your area for your specific legal issue. The website also provides legal information and is available in seven languages (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino (Tagalog) and Russian). For pro bono lawyers, it offers the opportunity – at their own discretion – to participate in a virtual legal aid clinic that provides useful advice to people on the margins who are seeking legal help for their problems. As subject matter experts review the answers, both junior and more experienced lawyers can expand their legal knowledge and experience. „If you don`t understand anything about this site, or if you`re having trouble filling out your court forms, talk to a lawyer.
If you represent yourself and fill out your own court forms, we recommend that you consult them with a lawyer before filing them. You can get a referral to a lawyer or legal aid group from the local Santa Clara County Bar Association. His phone number is 408-971-6822. With the ongoing pandemic, the need for virtual legal assistance is even greater than ever. Fortunately, the American Bar Association, in partnership with the California Lawyers Association and Legal Access Alameda, introduces the pro bono virtual legal service, California Free Legal Answers. David Chircop, Provisionally Licensed Attorney, Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative at Legal Access Alameda and one of the directors of California Free Legal Answers. (FLA) The platform shared more information about this new pro bono virtual legal aid service in the following interview. „The user must be of legal age, meet financial eligibility guidelines, not be detained or consult a lawyer in a criminal case, provide their name and residence.“ For tips on how to find the right lawyer, questions to ask when hiring a lawyer, and how to avoid fraud, check out our free legal information. Bar associations across the state also offer a variety of services to help the public. Many regional bar associations offer accredited orientation and information programs for lawyers. These programs often offer up to 30 minutes of free consultation with a lawyer if you are deported.
Some bar associations also offer legal services programs in their community and/or incubator programs that allow new lawyers to connect with the public.