L.A. Represents, led by the City Attorney's Office and the Mayor's Office, is an unprecedented legal assistance initiative to help thousands of Angelenos who are facing extreme hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a coalition of law firms, bar associations and attorneys who will enhance their existing pro bono commitments to legal aid organizations to provide COVID-19-related legal services, including helping vulnerable tenants, domestic violence victims and low income individuals with employment, consumer debt, and bankruptcy matters.
Additionally, the City of Los Angeles has partnered with Bet Tzedek Legal Services to build a new support system for small businesses devastated by the pandemic. Many LA Represents' pro bono attorneys will provide assistance to small businesses least likely to have access to effective legal services as they confront new workplace regulations, renegotiate commercial leases, apply for government relief programs, and navigate compliance with emergency health and safety orders.
I need a lawyer to help me with my landlord:
Stay Housed L.A.
A collaboration between the City of Los Angeles, community organizations, legal service providers, and L.A. County to provide renters with information about their rights as tenants and landlords with information about their responsibilities under the law. Stay Housed L.A. also offers free clinics and legal assistance to tenants to help prevent evictions and keep people in their homes.
Inner City Law Center (Downtown / Metro)
E-mail evictions@innercitylaw.org to receive a response within two business days. If you do not have email, call (213) 891-2880 and dial 0 to leave a voice message.
Public Counsel
(Downtown, Compton, Long Beach): Call (213) 385-2977, ext. 100 and leave a message with your name, number, and the legal issue you are trying to resolve. If you have received a complaint without a summons, call the Shriver Self-Help Center at (818) 485-0576 or email ShriverSHpublic@nlsla.org.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
(Downtown, South LA, Inglewood): Call (800) 399-4529 Monday through Friday (9 a.m. to 12 p.m; or 1 to 4:30 p.m. for intake and advice); or apply online.
Bet Tzedek
(Santa Monica, Westside, Mid-City): Call the intake line at (323) 939-0506 or email intake@bettzedek.org.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Call (800) 433-6251, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Leave a message and an advocate will reply promptly.
Community Legal Aid SoCal
(Southeast Los Angeles): Call the Hotline number 800-834-5001, Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles:
For assistance in English: (888) 349-9695; 中文: (800) 520-2356; 한글: (800) 867-3640; Tagalog: (855) 300-2552; ภาษาไทย: (800) 914-9583; Tiếng Việt: (714) 477-2958.
I need a lawyer to help me with my safety:
If you are experiencing an emergency threat, call 9-1-1.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Courthouse-based domestic violence clinics (Downtown LA, Long Beach, Santa Monica) are providing assistance with restraining orders on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–3 p.m. Call (800) 399-4529 ext. 8097 for help.
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Call (213) 624-3665 or email dvp@lacba.org.
Bet Tzedek
For assistance with completing and filing Elder Abuse Restraining Order applications and responses, email eaclinic@bettzedek.org or call (323) 648-4730. For other help with Elder Abuse and Elder Fraud issues, call (323) 939-0506.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
For assistance in English: (888) 349-9695; 中文: (800) 520-2356; 한글: (800) 867-3640; Tagalog: (855) 300-2552; ภาษาไทย: (800) 914-9583; Tiếng Việt: 714.477.2958. If you are an Asian victim of hate, review their Anti-Asian Discrimination information.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
For restraining orders, divorce and custody, call (800) 433-6251, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Leave a message and an advocate will reply promptly.
Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
If you think you need a restraining order the same day, you should call the police 911 and say you are in danger and need an Emergency Restraining Order (EPO) or go the Los Angeles County Superior Court website and or call the Court at (213) 830-0845 during weekdays. For all other domestic violence questions and problems, call them at (213) 388-7515 and leave a safe number for them to call you back. You can say it is about domestic violence. If you receive CalWORKs you should them know that too.
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice
Provides family law and immigration law representation for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Call (323) 980-3500 or email services@LACLJ.org or apply online at www.laclj.org/contact/services-request. Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Community Legal Aid SoCal
For assistance with domestic violence restraining orders and elder abuse, call the Hotline number (800) 834-5001, Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Or email DVComptonmail@clsocal.org or DVWhittierMail@clsocal.org.
I need a lawyer to help me with my employment:
Bet Tzedek Employment Rights
Bet Tzedek Employment Rights Project Workers’ Rights Virtual (Telephonic) Clinic every Wednesday night. Leave a voicemail at (323) 648-4767 to request an appointment. Advanced registration required and does not guarantee that we can represent you in your matter.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
For assistance with unemployment insurance applications and appeals, call (800) 433-6251, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Leave a message and an advocate will reply promptly.
Community Legal Aid SoCal
For assistance with unemployment benefits, call the Hotline number 800-834-5001, Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
For assistance in English: (888) 349-9695; 中文: (800) 520-2356; 한글: (800) 867-3640; Tagalog: (855) 300-2552; ภาษาไทย: (800) 914-9583; Tiếng Việt: 714.477.2958. If you are an Asian victim of hate, review their Anti-Asian Discrimination information.
I need a lawyer to help me with my debt:
Public Counsel
For individual bankruptcy or other consumer debt issues, click here. If you are not able to fill out the online application, leave a message at (213) 385-2977 ext. 700.
Bet Tzedek
For Elder Fraud issues, email eaclinic@bettzedek.org or call (323) 648-4730.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
For Student Loan Issues, call (800) 399-4529.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
For individual bankruptcy call 818-485-0571, for help with medical debt call (800) 896-3202 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Leave a message and an advocate will reply promptly.
Community Legal Aid SoCal
Call the Hotline number 800-834-5001, Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
For help with rent or utilities, search CFPB for rental assistance programs in your area.
I have other legal questions
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Call (800) 399-4529 Monday through Friday (9 a.m.–12 p.m; or 1–4:30 p.m. for intake only); or apply online 24/7.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Call (323) 939-0506 or email intake@bettzedek.org.
Public Counsel
Call (213) 385-2977.
Inner City Law Center
Call (213) 891-2880 and dial 0 to leave a voice message.
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
Call their hotlines Monday through Friday between 9:00 am to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. General Help Line: (800) 433-6251. Health Help Line: (800) 896-3202. Leave a message and an advocate will reply promptly.
Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
If you need help with custody, divorce, parentage, property division (pensions, houses), and support you can call us at 213-388-7515 and leave a message. If you receive CalWORKs you should let us know. You can also get help on the Court’s website at and you can call them at 213-830-0845 during weekdays. It is recommended to check the Court website first.
Community Legal Aid SoCal
Call the Hotline number 800-834-5001, Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
For assistance in English: (888) 349-9695; 中文: (800) 520-2356; 한글: (800) 867-3640; Tagalog: (855) 300-2552; ภาษาไทย: (800) 914-9583; Tiếng Việt: 714.477.2958. Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles provides legal services regarding immigration, naturalization/citizenship, and family law.
I am a lawyer who wants to help
The following legal aid organizations are recruiting volunteer lawyers to assist in landlord/tenant actions:
Bet Tzedek
Bet Tzedek is recruiting volunteers to assist with with representing low-income renters in unlawful detainer matters and other landlord-tenant/housing matters. Prior housing experience is not required. Contact: Cristin Zeisler at CZeisler@bettzedek.org.
Community Legal Aid of Southern California
CLA/SoCal holds unlawful detainer answer clinics every Tuesday with volunteer shifts throughout the day. Pro bono volunteers assist low-income tenants by helping to prepare answers to unlawful detainer complaints in this remote clinic setting. Expert staff lawyers provide real-time assistance. The time commitment is approximately three hours, unless a volunteer chooses to represent the client in further proceedings.
Contact: Monica Mar at mmar@clsocal.org.
Inner City Law Center
Inner City Law Center is focused on actual representation at trial of low-income clients facing eviction. ICLC is also looking for volunteers to handle affirmative litigation involving slum condition housing remediation. Further, the organization offers volunteers the chance to help clients experiencing homelessness with expungements, clearing citations, as well as research projects. Contact: Vidhya Ragunathan at VRagunathan@innercitylaw.org.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
LAFLA hosts weekly remote eviction answer clinics on Fridays from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Volunteer attorneys interview clients, review evidence, and prepare pro se unlawful detainer (eviction) answers under the guidance of a LAFLA supervisor. Free online on-demand trainings are available at pbtraining.org. Contact: probono@lafla.org for clinics and Phong Wong at pwong@lafla.org regarding full-scope eviction defense opportunities.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles
NLSLA holds advice-and-counsel housing clinics on Wednesdays twice per month, from 3:00-5:00 pm. Contact: Skip Koenig at SkipKoenig@nlsla.org.
Public Counsel
Public Counsel is focused on providing full scope representation to tenants facing eviction upon the expiration of the moratorium. Contact: David Daniels at ddaniels@publiccounsel.org.
Public Law Center
PLC operates weekly remote self-help clinics, helping tenants with answers and motions. The organization is looking for volunteer law firms to handle affirmative housing discrimination and habitability cases, full-scope eviction defense cases. In addition, PLC will need volunteers to handle back-rent debt assistance matters in clinics and by full-scope representation. Contact: Leigh Ferrin at lferrin@publiclawcenter.org.
The following organizations are also recruiting volunteer lawyers to offer other COVID-19 related legal services including employment, consumer debt, domestic violence, and bankruptcy matters:
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice
- Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
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Thank You to Our Partners |
Thank You to These Organizations |
Thank You to These Institutions |
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Ackerman LLP |
Arab American Lawyers Association of Southern California |
UCLA School of Law |
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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP |
Armenian Bar Association |
USC Gould School of Law |
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Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP |
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles |
Loyola Law School |
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Alston & Bird LLP |
Beverly Hills Bar Association |
Southwestern Law School |
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Arent Fox LLP |
Beverly Hills Bar Foundation |
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law |
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Baker Marquart LLP |
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles |
UC Irvine School of Law |
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Barnes & Thornburg |
Irish American Bar Association-Los Angeles |
Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law |
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Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks, Lincenberg & Rhow PC |
John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles |
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Blank Rome LLP |
LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles |
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Brutzkus Gubner |
Los Angeles County Bar Association |
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Cooley LLP |
Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County |
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Covington & Burling LLP |
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association |
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Cozen O’Connor P.C. |
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles |
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Crowell & Moring LLP |
LA Law Library |
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Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
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Dechert LLP |
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DLA Piper |
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Duane Morris LLP |
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Fenton Law Group |
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Fenwick & West LLP |
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Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP |
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Goodwin Procter LLP |
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Greenberg Glusker |
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Greenberg Traurig |
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Guggenheim Partners, LLC |
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Hanson Bridgett |
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Hogan Lovells |
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Holland & Knight |
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Hunton Williams |
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Irell & Manella LLP |
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Jackson Lewis P.C. |
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Jenner & Block |
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Jones Day |
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Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP |
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King & Spalding LLP |
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Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
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Larson LLP |
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Latham & Watkins LLP |
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Law Offices of Lawrence S. Middleton |
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LimNexus LLP |
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Loeb & Loeb LLP |
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Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP |
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Margolin & Lawrence |
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Mayer Brown LLP |
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McDermott Will & Emery LLP |
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McGuireWoods LLP |
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Milbank LLP |
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Miller Barondess, LLP |
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Michelman & Robinson, LLP |
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Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP |
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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP |
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Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP |
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Nixon Peabody LLP |
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Norton Rose Fulbright |
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O’Melveny & Myers LLP |
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Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP |
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Paul Hastings LLP |
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Perkins Coie LLP |
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Polsinelli |
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Proskauer Rose LLP |
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Robins Kaplan LLP |
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Seyfarth Shaw LLP |
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Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP |
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Sidley Austin LLP |
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Southern California Edison |
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Squire Patton Boggs |
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Steptoe & Johnson LLP |
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Vedder Price |
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Venable LLP |
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Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP |
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Winston & Strawn LLP |
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