Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles seeks to achieve equal justice for people living in poverty across Greater Los Angeles. We change lives through direct representation, systems change, and community education. To achieve our mission, LAFLA’s expert team of attorneys, paralegals and support staff works with the community in a variety of ways: Provides direct representation, Offers counsel and advice, Provides referrals, and Educates the community about their legal rights through workshops and seminars. LAFLA’s legal priorities encompass: Supporting families, Preserving quality, affordable housing, Maintaining economic stability, Promoting safety, security, and health, Serving populations with special vulnerabilities, Protecting human and civil rights
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Area of law
Details
Qulification (if any)
Domestic violence
Restraining orders, divorce, child custody, child concealment, paternity, child support
Survivors
Employment
Unpaid wages, overtime pay, unemployment benefits. Legal advice regarding: discrimination, workplace harassment, medical leave
Income-eligibility. US citizen/eligible immigrants
Expungement
Government benefits
CalWORKs, Foster Care, Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), State Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), CalFresh (Food Stamps), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), General Relief
Income-eligibility. US citizen/eligible immigrants
Housing
Harassment by landlords, unfair termination, needed repairs, eviction defense
Depending on cases
Medical-legal partnership
A medical team can refer patients to LAFLA attorneys
Immigration
Immigration status, asylum and refugee status, unaccompanied minors, adjustment of status, naturalization, family reunification, removal defense
Depending on cases. Securing immigration status if victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, persecution, child abuse, human trafficking, torture, and other crimes.
Nonprofit organization
Formation, tax exemption, governance, real estate documents, regulatory process
Student loan issues
Depending on cases. May be able to help if: you are in default on your student loans and face wage garnishment, Social Security offsets, or tax refunds seizures; are worried your college may close; went to a college that closed; did not have a valid high school diploma or GED before you enrolled in your school and received federal financial aid; went to a college that you believe lied to you or did not provide what it promised; you have student loans and you are disabled; you have sued for repayment on your student loans or by your school; you cannot afford your monthly student loan payments; you have other student loan-related questions or problems
Small claims
Tenant small claims: assistance for tenants sued for COVID-19 back rent in small claims; assistance for tenants suing landlords for violation of their rights in small claims court
Torture survivors
Asylum application, removal defense in court, refugee travel documents, family reunification, adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident, naturalization
Help torture survivors from the time they enter the US until they become US citizens
Veterans
VA benefits; get social security and other income, health, and food benefits; deal with housing and landlord problems; deal with Section 8 and HUD-VASH problems; clear criminal records; take care of tickets; reinstate driver’s licenses; upgrade military discharges; cancel or discharge student loans; reduce back child support
Veterans
WHO DO THEY HELP
All. Has programs for veterans, immigrants, nonprofits, and survivors of violence
Contact
(800) 399-4529
Website link
Application link
Address
Ron Olson Justice Center: 1550 W. 8th Street. Los Angeles, CA 90017/
East Los Angeles Office: 5301 Whittier Blvd., 4th Floor. Los Angeles, CA 90022
South Los Angeles Office: 7000 S. Broadway. Los Angeles, CA 90003
Long Beach Office: 601 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802
Santa Monica Office: 1640 5th St., Suite 124. Santa Monica, CA 90401