Free Legal Aid in Los Angeles

Central Office

Good to Know: This branch provides Housing and Eviction Defense services. They assist in everything from legal representation, to helping alleviate slum conditions. If you are a Long Beach resident with a housing problem, call (800) 399-4529 or see below.

East Los Angeles Office

Good to Know: This branch assists with Government Benefits and Immigration Law. The LAFLA’s Veterans Justice Clinic also operates here. It is a special program designed to help veterans and their families secure government benefits, medical care, and stabilize their living situation. It’s open to all veterans who are at risk of homelessness. 

West Side Office

Good to Know: This office provides assistance for Asian and Pacific Islanders, and specializes in Consumer Law and Family Law.  Asian and Pacific Islander clients have access to a full range of services in the following languages:

Cantonese/Mandarin (323) 801-7912

Korean (323) 801-7987

Japanese (323) 801-7913

Vietnamese (323) 801-7923

Khmer (Cambodian) (213) 640-3887

South Los Angeles Office

Good to Know: This branch assists with Employment Law and Community Economic Development. Legal representation and assistance is provided to workers from various industries including construction, restaurant, garment, domestic work, janitorial, security, and car wash services throughout L.A. County.

Santa Monica Office

Good to Know: LAFLA’s Santa Monica branch is funded by the City of Santa Monica and provides legal services to residents of Santa Monica only. This office provides assistance with naturalizations, housing issues, family law and domestic violence cases, government benefits, and consumer law problems.

Long Beach Office

Good to Know: Attorneys at LAFLA’s Long Beach branch provide comprehensive legal services for the residents of Long Beach and the Harbor areas. This office provides areas assistance with issues including consumer law, government benefits, family law, and eviction.

Toll Family Law Counseling Center (Superior Courthouse)

Domestic Violence Clinic—Long Beach (Long Beach Courthouse)

Domestic Violence Clinic—Santa Monica (Santa Monica Courthouse)

LAFLA operates three domestic violence and family law clinics. Attorneys can provide immediate assistance to those in need in cases involving child abduction, child custody and visitation, child support, divorce, or domestic violence.

Good to Know: All clinics are located in a courthouse and are first come, first served. You cannot make an appointment ahead of time. Each clinic has different operating hours. Please call (800) 399-4529 for updated hours. If you have an emergency and cannot wait for an attorney, please contact your local police department or call 911.

Inglewood Courthouse

Long Beach Courthouse

Santa Monica Courthouse

Torrance Courthouse

If you are choosing to represent yourself in a civil matter including evictions, divorces and paternity actions or civil harassment, you can contact one of the four Self Help Legal Access Centers for legal information and/or assistance in preparing legal forms.

Good to Know: All clinics are located in a courthouse and are first come, first served. You cannot make an appointment ahead of time. The Centers are open on the following dates and times:

The Centers are open on the following days and times:

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-12 noon, 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. The Inglewood Center opens at 8:30 a.m. The Centers are closed the 3rd Wednesday of each month, except Santa Monica.

California Lawyers for the Arts

Intake Phone: (310) 998-5590

Counties Served: Statewide

Case Types: Art law, Entertainment law, Intellectual Property law (copyright, trademark, rights of publicity, etc.)

Case Restrictions: C.L.A. only serves creative artists and arts organizations, as well as general individuals with arts-related issues.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Counties Served: Los Angeles

Case Types: AIDS/HIV, Adoption, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Elder Law, Employment, Housing, Public Benefits, Real Estate, Wills

Other Case Types: Employment rights, Caregiver issues

Case Restrictions: Clients must be residents of LA county, all must be prescreened prior to being given appointment, and the case must have merit.

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Legal Services Department

Counties Served: Los Angeles

Case Types: Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence, Housing, Immigration, Individual Rights, Wills

Legal Services Program for Pasadena and San Gabriel-Pomona Valley

Intake: (909) 622-1417

Counties Served: Los Angeles

Case Types: Bankruptcy, Child Custody, Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence

Other Case Types: Post-decree modifications of custody/visitation

Case Restrictions: Must reside in service area; jurisdiction over case must be either: a) close to a volunteer attorney; or b) accepted for representation by a Legal Aid/Legal Service program in a foreign jurisdiction.