Free Civil Legal Aid in Los Angeles: Which Door to Use for Your Problem
Los Angeles County has two large free civil legal aid firms, a network of courthouse self-help centers and a handful of specialty projects. This guide sorts them by the problem you have, so you can apply once, in the right place, and know what to expect after.
AT A GLANCE
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Pick a door by problem
Both firms cover a wide range of civil problems, and their service lists overlap. The table below follows what each one says it handles on its own website. When two options appear, either one is a reasonable start.
Your problem | Start here | Also try |
|---|---|---|
Eviction papers or an eviction notice | Stay Housed LA, (888) 694-0040 | LAFLA or NLSLA intake; a self-help center for the written answer |
Section 8 or public housing trouble | LAFLA, 800-399-4529 | NLSLA, 800-433-6251 |
CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, SSI or Medi-Cal denied or cut | LAFLA or NLSLA intake | LAFLA's state hearing guide (see below) |
Medi-Cal or Covered California problem | NLSLA Health Consumer Center, 800-896-3202 | LAFLA's Medi-Cal appeal guide |
Wage garnishment, bank levy or debt lawsuit | NLSLA Consumer Debt Self-Help Center | A self-help center for a claim of exemption |
Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy without a lawyer | NLSLA Bankruptcy Self-Help Center | |
Domestic violence restraining order | LAFLA courthouse DV clinics (walk-in) | NLSLA self-help centers |
Clearing a criminal record | LAFLA record clearing clinics | LAFLA self-help workshops |
Divorce, custody or name change paperwork | A courthouse self-help center |
What neither firm takes
LAFLA lists the cases it does not handle: criminal cases, police misconduct, complaints about attorneys, bankruptcy, car accidents, credit counseling, and probate or wills. For those, see the referral list near the end of this guide. (NLSLA does help with Chapter 7 through its self-help center, and it runs estate planning and probate clinics, so check there before paying anyone.)
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
LAFLA describes itself as a nonprofit law firm working for people living in poverty across Greater Los Angeles. It has five community offices, four self-help legal access centers and three domestic violence clinics.
Who qualifies
LAFLA's apply page says you qualify if your household income is less than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. It adds that people over 125% sometimes qualify too, so don't rule yourself out without asking. The income rule doesn't apply at the self-help legal access centers, which help anyone.
Three ways to apply
Online. The application is available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese.
By phone. Call 800-399-4529, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
In person. All five community offices list walk-in hours of Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LAFLA office | Address |
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Ron Olson Justice Center (Westlake) | 1550 W. 8th St., Los Angeles 90017 |
East Los Angeles | 5228 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles 90022 |
South Los Angeles | 7000 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 90003 |
Long Beach | 601 Pacific Ave., Long Beach 90802 |
Santa Monica | 1149 3rd St. #300, Santa Monica 90403 |
What LAFLA works on
Its practice areas include eviction defense, government benefits, domestic violence and family law, employment, record clearing, student loans, immigration for crime survivors, medical-legal partnerships and a Veterans Justice Center.
On housing, LAFLA says it can give advice whether or not an eviction has been filed, prepare eviction answers, prepare tenants who represent themselves for trial, and represent tenants in court. If you have a Section 8 voucher and might lose it, LAFLA says it can help you prepare for the hearing.
On benefits, LAFLA lists CalWORKs, foster care, Medi-Cal, SSI, SSDI, CAPI, CalFresh, In-Home Supportive Services and General Relief. It also posts two free guides: a Medi-Cal appeal guide for managed care denials, in many languages, and a manual called Representing Yourself at a State Hearing for CalWORKs, CalFresh, CAPI, IHSS and Medi-Cal disputes with the county.
"If you need help applying for government benefits or have been wrongly denied benefits, we may be able to help you." (Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles)
Domestic violence restraining order clinics
LAFLA runs walk-in clinics that help survivors draft restraining order petitions, prepare evidence and get ready for the hearing. Service is first come, first served.
Central District courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Room 216: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. LAFLA recommends arriving by 9 a.m., because the clinic is often full by 10.
Long Beach Courthouse, 275 Magnolia Ave., Room 1004: same days and hours as the downtown clinic.
Santa Monica Courthouse, 1725 Main St., Room 121: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 to 11 a.m.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
NLSLA was founded in 1965 and gives free legal help to individuals and families across Los Angeles County. Its focus areas include affordable housing and eviction defense, public benefits, domestic violence, health care access, and worker and consumer rights.
How to apply
Online, any time. The application is open 24/7. At the end, you can schedule an appointment.
By phone. General Legal Assistance: 800-433-6251 or 818-834-7500. Phone hours are Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to noon.
In person. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., at Glendale (1104 E. Chevy Chase Dr.), Pacoima (13327 Van Nuys Blvd.) or El Monte (3629 Santa Anita Ave. #109).
After you apply, NLSLA screens your application and forwards it to its legal team, who call you back. NLSLA says callback times vary and services are decided case by case. If you aren't eligible, you get a referral.
Benefits help
NLSLA's public benefits team lists CalFresh, CalWORKs and GAIN, General Relief, CAPI, refugee cash assistance, SSI and SSDI, and benefit overpayments. It also takes public charge questions for immigrant families.
Health care problems
NLSLA's Health Consumer Center, 800-896-3202, helps with questions about Medi-Cal, Medicare, county health programs and Covered California, including getting, keeping or using your coverage.
Debt and bankruptcy
NLSLA says its self-help staff can help you answer a debt collection lawsuit, look at options after a default judgment, deal with harassing collectors and file a claim of exemption after a wage garnishment or bank levy.
NLSLA debt help | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
Bankruptcy Self-Help Center (four-workshop Chapter 7 series) | Tue and Thu, 9 a.m.–noon, 1–4 p.m. | 21041 Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills |
Consumer Debt Self-Help Center | Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.–noon, 1–4 p.m. | 9425 Penfield Ave., 3rd floor, Chatsworth |
Consumer Debt Legal Clinic | Second Wednesday monthly, 3:30–6:30 p.m. | Van Nuys Public Library, 6250 Sylmar Ave. |
Our Los Angeles medical debt rights guide covers hospital bills specifically.
Courthouse self-help centers
If you just need help with forms, a self-help legal access center may be faster than waiting for a legal aid lawyer. LAFLA's centers give legal information and form help through workshops and one-on-one help, and an attorney may review your forms. They do not give legal advice and they are not your lawyer.
LAFLA runs centers at the Inglewood, Long Beach, Torrance and Santa Monica courthouses. Mornings run Monday to Friday and afternoons Monday to Thursday; exact times differ by center. Its remote self-help hotline is (213) 235-0060. LAFLA notes that some centers may not handle eviction or family law, so call first.
NLSLA runs centers in Lancaster (Antelope Valley), Chatsworth, Pasadena, Pomona and Van Nuys, reachable at (818) 485-0571. The Shriver Self-Help Center for housing cases is in Room 115 of the Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., (818) 492-5211. NLSLA says to expect a response within one to two business days after you ask for self-help.
Plan for a long day. LAFLA's FAQ says to be ready to spend several hours, since a small staff and volunteers serve 100-plus people a day. People may be seen out of order if they need a disability accommodation, are attending a workshop, or must file something that day. Free court child care is available at Long Beach and Santa Monica only.
If legal aid can't take your case
NLSLA publishes a referral list. A few entries that list no fee or serve specific groups:
Bet Tzedek: 818-769-0136. Landlord-tenant, home equity fraud, consumer, guardianship, nursing home and benefits cases. Not immigration, family or criminal.
Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law: 213-388-7515.
Pasadena Legal Services for Seniors: 626-795-4331.
LA County Bar Lawyer Referral Service: 213-243-1525, for when you need a private lawyer.
LA Superior Court Self Help: 213-830-0845.
For plain-language articles on California law, LawHelpCA.org has sections on housing, consumer debt, public benefits, family law and more.
Before you call
☐ Any court papers, notices or letters, with the deadline circled
☐ Your household size and monthly income for everyone in the home
☐ The name and address of the landlord, agency, collector or other party
☐ Benefit notices, including the date the county mailed them
☐ A phone that can take callbacks, since NLSLA calls you back after screening
☐ The language you'd like to be helped in
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in Los Angeles
Related guides
Official sources
Last checked: October 23, 2026. Phone numbers, hours, addresses and eligibility rules come from LAFLA's and NLSLA's own help, location, self-help and service pages. Referral numbers come from NLSLA's referral list. Clinic schedules change, so call before you travel.
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