Legal Aid in Los Angeles: How to Get Free or Low-Cost Legal Help

If you live in Los Angeles and can’t afford a private lawyer, you’re not alone. Many Angelenos rely on nonprofit legal aid for help with housing, family matters, benefits, eviction, and more. This guide shows where to turn — fast — for legal help in L.A., what problems legal aid can cover, and what to expect when you call.

Major Legal Aid Organizations in Los Angeles

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)

LAFLA is one of the main providers of free civil-legal services for low-income people throughout Los Angeles County.

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families (often using income thresholds based on federal poverty guidelines).
• What cases they take: Housing and eviction defense (including subsidized-housing & Section 8 issues), tenant rights, domestic violence/family law (restraining orders, divorce, child custody/support), public benefits, employment issues (wage theft, unemployment), immigration-related matters, and more.
• How to contact: Call 800-399-4529 (intake line). They also operate Self-Help Legal Access Centers across the county for walk-ins or remote assistance.
• Eligibility: Generally income under about 125% of the federal poverty level — though sometimes people slightly above may qualify.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Bet Tzedek is a nonprofit law firm offering free legal services, education, and advocacy for people and families across Los Angeles County.

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families, including workers, seniors, immigrants, and people facing housing or public-benefits issues.
• What cases they take: Housing issues, public benefits, employment and wage-theft issues, small-business legal help, civil rights, and more — including services for vulnerable communities such as immigrants and seniors.
• How to contact: Call 323-939-0506 or visit their website to apply for help.
• Eligibility: Generally low-income, or other hardship criteria — contact them to check.

Public Counsel

Public Counsel is a large public-interest law organization that offers free legal services by matching volunteer lawyers with clients in need in L.A. County.

• Who they help: Low-income individuals, families, veterans, immigrants, nonprofits, and small-business owners.
• What cases they take: Housing, immigration, family law, veterans’ issues, civil rights, debt & consumer issues, and broader public-interest cases.
• How to contact: Call 213-385-2977 (by appointment) to request help.
• Eligibility: Typically low-income and those who cannot afford a private lawyer; intake includes screening and may depend on issue type and demand.

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA)

NLSLA offers free legal advice and representation aimed at combating poverty — with help for low-income residents across L.A. County.

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families across the county, including families receiving services through public-health clinics.
• What cases they take: Eviction defense, housing, public benefits, family and immigration issues, health-related legal issues tied to housing or benefits.
• How to contact: Through their website or via clinics associated with local medical or social-service providers.
• Eligibility: Low-income individuals or those receiving public benefits or medical services; often tied to social-service or medical-legal partnerships.

Free or Low-Cost Legal Clinics & Hotlines in L.A.

• Self-Help & Intake Centers via LAFLA — If you don’t qualify for full representation, LAFLA’s Self-Help Legal Access Centers offer help with paperwork, court forms, and limited advice for issues like housing, family law, restraining orders, name changes, and more.
• Medical-Legal Community Partnership (via County Health Services) — For patients receiving care at certain clinics: free legal services for eviction defense, benefits, immigration, special education, domestic violence, and health-related legal problems.
• Pro Bono Directory & Referrals — Use the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) / Pro Bono Directory to find volunteer-lawyer help from organizations like Bet Tzedek, Inner City Law Center, Disability Rights Legal Center, and more.

What Legal Aid in L.A. Usually Doesn’t Handle

Even with several strong legal aid organizations, there are limits. Typically, free legal aid in Los Angeles does not cover:

• Most criminal defense — legal aid focuses on civil issues like housing, benefits, family law, consumer law.
• Some complex commercial litigation or major corporate/business disputes.
• Small-claims cases, traffic tickets or minor infractions, or certain personal-injury or car-accident cases (unless there’s a special pro bono program).
• Legal aid capacity is limited — so even eligible people may receive limited help (advice, referrals, self-help) rather than full representation.

Emergency Legal Help in Los Angeles

If you face an urgent problem — eviction, unsafe housing, domestic violence, threat of homelessness, benefit loss — there are services meant for faster response:

• Eviction or displacement risk: Through Stay Housed LA — tenants who meet income/housing criteria may get free legal representation or advice to prevent eviction or displacement.
• Domestic violence or family safety issues: LAFLA and other legal-aid agencies handle restraining orders, family law, and safety planning for survivors.
• Housing emergencies, unsafe living conditions, or subsidized-housing disputes: Legal aid providers may offer urgent help — especially for tenants in public or Section 8 housing.
• Health-related legal crises tied to housing or benefits: Through medical-legal partnerships, some patients can get faster support for legal issues linked to health, housing, benefits, or family law.

How to Prepare Before You Call for Legal Aid in L.A.

Having information and documents ready can help legal aid staff help you faster. Before calling or applying, try to gather:

• Proof of income or public benefits (pay stubs, benefit letters, unemployment info, etc.)
• Housing documents — lease, rent receipts, eviction notices, Section 8 or subsidized-housing paperwork
• Any correspondence relevant to your problem (landlord letters, denial notices, court papers)
• Basic personal info: names, ages of household members, address, contact info, any immigration or benefit status if relevant
• Any important deadlines (court dates, hearings, eviction dates, benefit termination, etc.)

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Ask for a referral from LACBA’s Lawyer Referral Service or Pro Bono Directory — they may connect you to volunteer or sliding-scale attorneys.
• Use Self-Help Clinics or Intake Centers — some provide guidance, court-form help, or limited-advice services at low or no cost.
• Consult legal-help hotlines or medical-legal partnerships — especially if your case involves housing, benefits, public assistance, or health-related legal issues.
• Use statewide legal-aid directories and self-help resources — such as LawHelpCA — to find other nonprofits or clinics near you.

Key Takeaways

• Los Angeles has several strong nonprofit legal aid providers — including LAFLA, Bet Tzedek, Public Counsel, and NLSLA — offering free or low-cost help with civil legal issues.
• If you face housing problems, eviction, public benefits issues, family law, or emergencies like domestic violence or homelessness — there’s a good chance one of these groups can help.
• Even if you don’t qualify for full representation — self-help centers, hotlines, and referrals can still give you helpful advice or resources.
• Be ready with income info, documents, deadlines, and clear explanation of your issue when you reach out for help to make the intake process smoother.