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If you are facing a legal problem and you can’t afford a lawyer, you may feel hopeless and frustrated. But don’t worry, there is a way to get free or low-cost legal help in Los Angeles. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) is a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to people living in poverty across Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has been fighting for justice, equity, and hope for over 90 years, and they can help you with a variety of legal issues.

What Kind of Legal Issues Can LAFLA Help You With?

LAFLA can help you with legal issues related to:

• Housing and homelessness: LAFLA can help you if you are facing eviction, foreclosure, rent increase, housing discrimination, habitability issues, or homelessness. LAFLA can also help you apply for housing subsidies, vouchers, or programs.
• Domestic violence and family law: LAFLA can help you if you are a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. LAFLA can also help you with family law matters, such as divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, or guardianship.
• Immigration and citizenship: LAFLA can help you if you are an immigrant, refugee, asylum seeker, or naturalized citizen. LAFLA can help you with immigration matters, such as applying for visas, green cards, citizenship, DACA, TPS, U visas, VAWA, or SIJS. LAFLA can also help you if you are facing deportation, detention, or immigration fraud.
• Consumer rights and bankruptcy: LAFLA can help you if you are dealing with debt, credit, or bankruptcy issues. LAFLA can help you with consumer matters, such as disputing debt collection, identity theft, predatory lending, or unfair business practices. LAFLA can also help you with bankruptcy matters, such as filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or avoiding foreclosure or wage garnishment.
• Employment and workers’ rights: LAFLA can help you if you are facing problems at work, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, or wage theft. LAFLA can also help you with employment matters, such as applying for unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, or disability benefits, or enforcing your labor rights, such as minimum wage, overtime, sick leave, or family leave.
• Government benefits and health care: LAFLA can help you if you are applying for or receiving government benefits, such as CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, Medicare, SSI, SSDI, or VA benefits. LAFLA can also help you with health care matters, such as accessing health insurance, medical services, or mental health services, or challenging denials, overpayments, or terminations of benefits.
• Expungement and reentry: LAFLA can help you if you have a criminal record that is affecting your life, such as finding a job, housing, or education. LAFLA can help you with expungement matters, such as clearing your criminal record, reducing your felony to a misdemeanor, or obtaining a certificate of rehabilitation or pardon. LAFLA can also help you with reentry matters, such as restoring your civil rights, such as voting, jury service, or firearm possession, or accessing reentry resources, such as job training, education, or counseling.
• Community economic development: LAFLA can help you if you are a low-income entrepreneur, small business owner, or community organization. LAFLA can help you with community economic development matters, such as forming a business entity, drafting contracts, obtaining permits, or complying with regulations. LAFLA can also help you with community development matters, such as creating affordable housing, preserving historic landmarks, or promoting environmental justice.
• Civil rights and environmental justice: LAFLA can help you if you are a victim of civil rights violations, such as police misconduct, hate crimes, or voting rights violations. LAFLA can also help you with environmental justice matters, such as challenging pollution, contamination, or environmental hazards that affect your health, safety, or quality of life.

How to Apply for LAFLA Services

There are three ways to apply for LAFLA services:

• Apply online: You can fill out an online application form in English or Spanish, and a LAFLA staff member will contact you within two business days. You can also apply in other languages, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Khmer, by clicking on the language icons on the website.
• Call to apply: You can call LAFLA’s toll-free number at 800-399-4529, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You will be connected to a LAFLA staff member who will ask you some questions about your legal issue and your income. If you qualify for LAFLA services, you will be scheduled for an appointment with a LAFLA attorney or referred to another legal resource.
• Apply in person: You can visit one of LAFLA’s six offices in Los Angeles County and apply for LAFLA services in person. You can find the office locations and walk-in schedules on the website. Due to COVID-19, some offices may have limited hours or services, so please call ahead to confirm before you visit.

What to Expect from LAFLA Services

Depending on your legal issue and your eligibility, LAFLA may provide you with different types of services, such as:

• Legal advice: LAFLA may give you legal information and advice on how to handle your legal problem on your own. You may also get referrals to other legal or social service agencies that can help you.
• Legal representation: LAFLA may represent you in court or in administrative hearings if your case is complex or involves a serious legal matter. LAFLA attorneys will work with you to prepare your case and advocate for your rights.
• Self-help assistance: LAFLA may help you fill out legal forms, draft letters, or file documents for your legal issue. You can also access LAFLA’s self-help resources on the website, such as videos, brochures, and FAQs, to learn more about your legal rights and responsibilities.
• Community education: LAFLA may offer workshops, clinics, or webinars on various legal topics, such as immigration, housing, consumer rights, and more. You can check LAFLA’s calendar of events on the website to see what’s coming up and register online.

Why Choose LAFLA for Your Legal Needs

LAFLA is not just a legal service provider, but also a community partner and a leader in social justice. LAFLA has a team of dedicated and experienced attorneys, paralegals, and support staff who are passionate about helping people in need. LAFLA also has a strong network of pro bono volunteers, donors, and allies who support LAFLA’s mission and vision. LAFLA is committed to:

• Providing high-quality and holistic legal services to low-income individuals and families in Los Angeles County
• Empowering clients and communities to know and exercise their legal rights
• Advocating for systemic change and policy reform to address the root causes of poverty and inequality
• Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within LAFLA and the legal profession

If you are looking for legal help in Los Angeles, don’t hesitate to contact LAFLA today. LAFLA is here to help you with your legal problem and make a positive difference in your life.

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Ghazala Siddique