Demystifying Free Legal Aid
Free legal aid is designed to help those who cannot afford to pay traditional attorney fees. The intention of free legal aid is to make lawyers available to low-income people where pro bono attorneys would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. This includes those facing foreclosure, domestic violence victimization and other pressing legal issues. In general, the types of services for which free legal aid is available include: Family law: This could entail a divorce proceeding, a child custody or child support case or a domestic violence lawsuit . Housing: With the high rate of foreclosures in Long Beach, it should come as no surprise that free legal aid often covers housing issues related to foreclosure. Consumer: Debt collection suits are an area of particular legal consideration for low-income people. Immigration: Pro bono attorneys may help with up to half of all immigration cases that go through the courts. Public benefits: Sometimes legal aid is necessary for persons seeking Social Security disability benefits.
Who Qualifies for Free Legal Aid in Long Beach
Free legal aid services in Long Beach may be available to low-income individuals and families who cannot otherwise afford the cost of legal assistance. In order to qualify for free legal aid services in Long Beach, you must first meet certain income requirements. While individual programs vary, general guidelines spell out the following eligibility criteria:
Be aware that additional qualifying factors may apply for certain types of free legal aid in Long Beach. For example, free legal aid for veterans serves only low-income veterans, while free legal aid for children may be available regardless of family income. An estimated 12% of Long Beach children live in poverty.
Key Providers of Legal Aid at No Cost in Long Beach
In Long Beach, various organizations and legal clinics strive to deliver free legal assistance to residents in need. Here are some of the most notable:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA): LAFLA is a prominent nonprofit law firm that provides legal aid, advice, and representation across multiple family law-related matters. Primarily assisting low-income individuals, LAFLA specializes in areas such as divorce, domestic violence restraining orders, guardianships, and adoption. They also offer assistance for expunging criminal records and providing advice on other civil legal issues.
Contact Information: 1055 W. 7th Street, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 1-800-399-4529, www.lafla.org.
Inner City Law Center (ICLC): Serving the legal needs of low-income residents in the community, ICLC is another major provider of free legal services in Long Beach. The organization has a particular focus on solving legal issues related to housing, including evictions and wrongful termination of Section 8 housing contracts. ICLC also helps with public benefits, health care, and employment issues.
Contact Information: 1309 E 4th Street, Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92701, 1-877-307-1765, www.iclc.org.
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF): CRLAF prides itself on being California’s leading legal services program for the low-income population living in rural areas. While not solely focused on Long Beach, this foundation offers free legal aid for a variety of civil issues, such as immigration, workers’ rights, and housing. CRLAF uses litigation, community education, and policy advocacy to empower the communities they serve.
Contact Information: 601 S. Figueroa St, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 1-800-886-5247, www.crlaf.org.
Public Counsel: Focused on helping people in crisis, Public Counsel delivers free, comprehensive legal services, including advice and representation. Their Long Beach office particularly focuses on assisting low-income families with children. The organization has deep roots in the community and works closely with other local agencies to help clients overcome difficult legal situations.
Contact Information: 610 S Commonwealth Ave, Ste 300, Los Angeles, CA 90005, 1-800-748-1257, www.publiccounsel.org.
These organizations are essential for the provision of free legal aid in Long Beach. Residents seeking assistance should reach out to the provider whose specialization seems most aligned with their needs.
The Sorts of Cases That Offer Free Legal Service
In Long Beach, free legal services are predominantly focused on civil matters. Legal aid organizations and pro bono lawyers primarily manage cases that impact the well-being of individuals and families, such as family law, housing, and public benefits. For instance, organizations like the H.E.L.P. Program and Centro CHA have specific practices for issues like wrongful detainers or eviction defense. Such non-profit law firms also manage immigration and naturalization matters. Depending on qualification for legal aid, individuals may be represented in cases involving housing discrimination, child support enforcement, name changes, and guardianships.
On the criminal side, the Long Beach public defender’s office handles both felonies and misdemeanors. Nonetheless, because criminal cases can vary widely based on severity, an individual may need to seek private representation rather than rely on a public defender. There are also various law school clinics for immigration and asylum, and some law firms may get involved with criminal cases on a pro bono basis.
Applying for Legal Aid at No Cost
Because legal aid organizations are non-profits, they have limited obligations in terms of paperwork required of applicants. For many, applying is an incredibly simple process. Generally speaking, the application consists of a short form with basic information.
Helpfully, every legal aid organization has the same application process. While certain organizations specialize in different areas of the law, their application process remains largely the same. Thus, if you have never before applied for free legal aid, you will know what to expect.
The first step is obtaining the application. You can do this online or in person. Since Long Beach is such an expansive area, online applications come highly recommended. Most online forms are available on the legal aid organization’s websites. As long as you have some basic information regarding your income and legal situation , filling out the application should take around 10 minutes.
Once you have submitted the application, an attorney will review it. If they think that your case is suitable for pro-bono legal aid, they will contact you for a meeting. This meeting is usually held over the phone. During this call, it is essential that you answer all questions honestly and to the best of your ability. If you have supporting documentation regarding your case, have it ready in hand for the attorney. At the end of the meeting, they will likely draw a conclusion regarding whether or not they can assist you.
In the rare instance that an application gets denied, applicants can appeal to the organization. For the most part, applications are approved. As long as you provide correct information and are not overly wealthy, attorneys will likely accept you as a client.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Legal Aid for Free
The primary benefit of free legal aid services is that they allow individuals to address legal issues who may otherwise be unable to do so, both in terms of financial and logistical barriers. They cover a broad range of legal problems that cater to the common needs of low-income families and individuals. These include general legal information and advice, aids for navigating the court system, and some assistance with lawyers. Assuming you are at or below the federal poverty guidelines, you are free to choose any caseload attorney and request to speak to them at your regular clinic. While your specific needs may be getting a divorce, seeking child custody, or dealing with a criminal charge, an attorney will be available to meet during regular office hours and provide guidance and representation as necessary.
That said, there are some limitations to free legal aid that may be frustrating for some clients. First, you should know that the types of cases accepted by a free legal aid service may be restricted; some only accept civil cases rather than criminal. Next, there is often a long wait for free legal assistance, and appointments are typically scheduled in person on a first-come, first-serve basis. Third, the intake process can take several hours and, once accepted, your case could be handed off to a law clerk or paralegal rather than an attorney. Finally, some organizations will only help clients who are pursuing their legal issues in the local vicinity.
Alternatives to Free Legal Aid
For those who do not qualify for free legal aid, there are still a number of options available in Long Beach. Numerous non-profit organizations offer low-cost legal services and/or pro bono work to those in unfortunate legal situations.
The Long Beach Bar Association, for example, is known for providing quality service to residents in the area. They offer help with divorce, family law, DUI, personal injury, criminal law, bankruptcy and more. They also hold a weekly pro-bono clinic that provides 20-minute consultations to qualified residents. All services are on a sliding scale-meaning that no individual is turned away for lack of funds .
Another option available is My Legal Buzz, a legal aid society that connects clients with volunteer attorneys in Los Angeles. Those wishing to apply must fill out an online form describing their legal issue, income level and city. Once submitted, advisors match clients with a pro bono attorney. This organization has been helping residents for nearly 20 years and claims to have helped more than 1,000 people.
There are also a number of companies that provide legal services for free or at a lower rate. These services may include tax services, bankruptcy advice, estate planning, chapter 7 bankruptcy and benefits advice. Some also offer foreclosure protection help.