If you live in Los Angeles and cannot afford a private attorney, several organizations provide free or low-cost civil legal aid serving Los Angeles County. These groups help with evictions, unsafe housing, domestic violence, consumer debt, family law, immigration-related civil matters, disability benefits, senior legal needs, and more. (You may upload legal documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.)
Major Legal Aid Providers Serving Los Angeles
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
What they do: LAFLA is one of the largest free civil legal aid providers in LA County. They handle eviction defense, housing conditions, domestic violence, family law, public benefits, consumer debt, elder law, and immigration civil matters across multiple offices.
Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Los Angeles County.
Contact: Phone: (800) 399-4529. Website: lafla.org.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
What they do: Provides free civil legal services to low-income and vulnerable Los Angelenos including seniors, people with disabilities, and immigrants. Handles housing, elder law, public benefits, employment, and consumer matters.
Who they help: Low-income residents, seniors, people with disabilities, and immigrants in Los Angeles.
Contact: Phone: (323) 939-0506. Website: bettzedek.org.
Public Counsel
What they do: The largest pro bono legal services organization in the US, providing free civil legal help to low-income children, families, and individuals in Los Angeles. Handles immigration civil matters, family law, housing, public benefits, and consumer issues.
Who they help: Low-income children, families, and individuals in Los Angeles.
Contact: Phone: (213) 385-2977. Website: publiccounsel.org.
LA County DV Hotline
What they do: Connects survivors across Los Angeles County to local domestic violence programs offering 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and protective order assistance.
Who they help: Survivors of domestic violence in Los Angeles County.
24/7 Hotline: (800) 978-3600. Website: 211la.org.
Common Civil-Legal Issues Covered in Los Angeles
- Eviction defense and unsafe housing conditions
- Landlord retaliation and habitability problems
- Domestic violence and protection orders
- Custody, visitation, and child support issues
- Debt collection, repossessions, and garnishment
- Public-benefits denials (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI)
- Foreclosure prevention and homeowner assistance
- Immigration-related civil help
- Record sealing and expungement
- Elder law and financial exploitation prevention
- Civil rights and discrimination claims
- Immigration civil legal help
What Los Angeles Legal Aid Usually Cannot Handle
- Criminal defense cases
- Traffic violations
- Personal injury or malpractice lawsuits
- Business or commercial disputes
- Immigration removal (deportation) defense
- High-asset or heavily contested divorce cases
When Los Angeles Residents Should Seek Help Immediately
- You receive an eviction notice: Act quickly - contact legal aid at (800) 399-4529 immediately upon receiving any court notice in Los Angeles County.
- You experience domestic violence: Call LA County DV Hotline at (800) 978-3600 immediately for emergency legal advocacy and safety planning.
- You receive debt-collection or garnishment paperwork: Deadlines are strict - save all documents and contact legal aid right away.
- Your landlord refuses urgent repairs: Document conditions with photos and written requests before taking further steps.
- Your public benefits were denied or cut: Appeals windows are short - call legal aid as soon as you receive a denial notice.
- You face eviction and need immediate help: LA County has Right to Counsel protections in many eviction cases - contact LAFLA at (800) 399-4529 immediately.
How to Prepare Before Contacting Legal Aid
- Gather documents: leases, eviction notices, court papers, photos of housing conditions, debt collection letters, benefit denial letters, ID, pay stubs, and any disability or immigration documentation.
- Create a timeline: note key dates - notices received, repair requests, payments missed, and upcoming court or hearing dates.
- Prepare financial information: household size, monthly income, expenses, and current benefits - eligibility screening requires this.
- Write a brief issue summary: 2-3 sentences describing what happened and what outcome you need.
- Note urgent factors: upcoming court dates, eviction deadlines, risk of homelessness, violence, disability, or pending benefit cutoffs.
Alternatives If You Don't Qualify for Free Legal Aid
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service: low-cost attorney consultations at (213) 243-1525.
- LawHelpCA.org: free legal forms, plain-English guides, and self-help resources at www.lawhelpca.org.
- LegalClarity document upload: receive a plain-English explanation of your legal documents (informational only).
Conclusion: Where Los Angeles Residents Should Start
If you need civil legal help in Los Angeles and cannot afford a private attorney, call Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) at (800) 399-4529. For domestic violence emergencies, call LA County DV Hotline at (800) 978-3600 right away. If you don't qualify for free services, contact the Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (213) 243-1525. You can also upload your documents to LegalClarity for a plain-English explanation - informational only, not legal advice.