How to Obtain Legal Aid Services in Long Beach, CA

Legal Aid in Long Beach

Legal aid refers to the professional legal services offered by nonprofits and other government-funded agencies. These organizations seek to provide legal guidance and assistance to those who cannot afford it. The tradeoff for reduced fees is that clients often need to meet certain income requirements and demonstrate a need for legal counsel.
Having access to legal services through legal aid organizations can be extremely helpful to those with low incomes in any community — including Long Beach, CA. For example, you may not be able to afford an attorney for a civil suit, divorce or family law issue, adoption, bankruptcy, child custody, housing issue, consumer issue or health care issue . Legal aid can also help with public benefits, as well as education, unemployment and individual rights.
For many residents of Long Beach, legal aid can create the advantage needed in a civil case. This is important because in most civil cases, there is not the right to counsel provided at public expense. Since criminal cases already offer a public defender for residents who do not have the money to pay for a private lawyer, legal aid becomes the only option to avoid justice being served disproportionately against the poor.
Legal aid services are available to legally and financially eligible clients, and are offered either free or at a reduced fee.

Legal Aid Eligibility in Long Beach

As a public interest resource, Legal Aid in Long Beach is available to those who cannot afford a private attorney. Legal Aid packages many different types of services into one central hub. However, this does not mean that anyone can walk into the office and ask for assistance. Kicking things off right, legal aid requires qualifications to be met by any potential client. Typically, eligibility requirements include an income cap, the number of children in the household, disabilities, and whether or not non-U.S. citizens are involved.
To begin, low-income California residents are eligible for legal assistance. Generally, this is capped at 125% of the federal poverty guideline. As such, a family of four can earn $31,375 a year if they want to apply for legal aid in Long Beach or other areas of Orange Country. Income limitations differ depending on the type of case. For example, an eviction trial allows individuals to earn up to 80% of the poverty level. Furthermore, legal aid protects tenants from abusive landlords. That way, victims of domestic violence can leave an abusive relationship without fearing retaliation. Because this is just one example of legal aid in Long Beach, it’s important to note that other qualifications are not related to income. For example, military veterans get assistance with discrimination cases. Also, and regardless of economic stability, anyone who has a disability is able to file a case with the help of a legal aid attorney.

Cases Legal Aid Covers in Long Beach

In Long Beach, legal aid services offer support for a wide variety of legal issues. Legal aid lawyers focus primarily on certain kinds of cases; for those who qualify, legal aid can provide invaluable assistance. Common types of cases in which legal aid attorneys are involved include:
Family law. Legal aid frequently provides services for family law issues such as divorce, child custody and support, guardianships, conservatorships, adoption, spousal support and property division. Domestic violence issues and domestic abuse are also handled by legal aid.
Housing cases. Legal aid lawyers often assist with cases involving housing issues, such as landlord-tenant disputes, tenant or landlord rights, evictions and foreclosures.
Employment issues. Legal aid may be able to provide services for wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, safety issues and sexual harassment related to work.
Immigration matters. Legal aid may help to represent immigrants who need assistance with visa, green card or citizenship applications. Legal aid may also work with immigrants who are victims of crimes or abuse in their countries of origin.
Certain types of criminal cases. Legal aid may be able to provide assistance for criminal appeals and post-conviction relief. Legal aid lawyers may also help clients with sealing criminal records and with certain types of misdemeanors.
These types of cases only begin to cover the most common issues for which legal aid is typically available. Many other civil matters may also be covered, while criminal matters are generally limited to minor issues such as traffic offenses and low-level, nonviolent offenses.

How to Apply for Legal Aid in Long Beach

Eligibility for legal aid in Long Beach, CA is generally based on income and need. Individuals or families with an income that is less than 125 percent of the current federal poverty guidelines or those with limited assets may qualify for assistance. Domestic violence survivors may also qualify. Legal aid organizations do not require litigation experience from clients. Some may also require that services be for cases taking place in Long Beach courts.
Eligible clients for legal aid services receive a free one-on-one consultation. Some organizations allow you to complete a questionnaire electronically through the organization’s website. Legal aid representatives review the client’s answers and assess whether the matter qualifies for free legal aid services. If it does, the client is connected with a legal aid lawyer.
Those who do not have internet access can visit their legal aid offices in person. If qualifying for legal aid, an organization staff member will identify the next steps. Office staff may require individuals to show proof of income or other documentation.
If you lack transportation, can’t afford meals, or need personal care while you have your consultation, legal aid staff may be able to help. They may provide food vouchers, arrange for ground transportation, or help you find funding for child or elder care while you meet with legal aid staff.
Even if you are found eligible for aid, sometimes your matter isn’t handled at the organization. You may be referred to a cooperating agency or a pro bono attorney. At that point, it will be your responsibility to find your way to the new legal aid organization or hire a lawyer.

Local Legal Aid Groups in Long Beach

Several legal aid organizations provide essential services in Long Beach, CA. The Long Beach office of the Long Beach Bar Association (LBBA) has put special focus on providing community legal services since its inception in 1990. Through its Justice Foundation, it provides free, direct assistance at its Self-Help Legal Access Center at the Long Beach Courthouse. LBBA attorneys volunteer their time to assist low-income residents with legal matters. Cumulatively, the Justice Foundation has: assisted over 40,000 individuals; helped more than 3,500 people set up simple legal clinics; resolved 2,500 legal issues for qualifying individuals; and provided legal information to more than 20 , 000 residents.
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has a regional office in Long Beach. Founded in 1971, it is nationally recognized as an organization that focuses exclusively on issues affecting low-income immigrants. Its local office partners with several organizations to provide families with legal assistance to obtain U.S. citizenship and more.
One of the largest legal aid organizations in the U.S. also has an office in Long Beach. Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) received national recognition for its work with low-income people throughout Southern California, including those who reside in Long Beach. It provides assistance to a wide range of vulnerable people, including victims of rent increases and foreclosures.

Legal Aid Pros and Cons

Just like there are advantages and disadvantages to any service, there are pros and cons of using legal aid. The biggest pro is that you receive some free legal advice and representation, which can save you thousands of dollars and come especially in handy if you are facing serious criminal charges or are being taken to court by a collection agency or former spouse.
However, legal aid isn’t available in all cases. There are times where you have to find an attorney yourself because your case doesn’t meet the criteria for the type of legal aid assistance offered by a law firm that provides this service. And legal aid isn’t always seamless. For instance, here’s an example from Legal Services NYC about restrictions they have on when legal aid can be provided: "LSNYC provides legal services in court for eviction cases, but only at City Hall Court and only in the afternoon."
But perhaps the biggest limitation with legal aid services is that many legal aid organizations have limited availability of attorneys and staff and thus your legal aid case may be staffed by an intern or a volunteer instead of a senior attorney. The Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School explains: "Generally speaking, legal aid organizations have limited staff and take in as many clients as possible. Many legal aid attorneys, non-profit law offices, and ‘public interest’ law firms rely on interns and volunteers from law schools to provide services."
Legal aid increases the availability of legal assistance to those who desperately need it. Not having access to justice leaves the most vulnerable in our society unprotected against those who have the power to take their safety and even their lives. But everyone who needs legal counsel shouldn’t necessarily have to go through the legal aid system first. The ability to pay shouldn’t dictate who deserves access to justice.

Other Options for Legal Help

Not everyone seeking legal aid services will qualify. However, there are many low-cost and free legal service organizations and programs that provide basic legal assistance or referrals to other community resources.
Services include:
Diversity Legal Aid Network (DLAN): DUI and domestic violence legal aid assistance , with bilingual support
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: Limited free legal advice and pro bono services
Pro Bono Manager for the State Bar of California: Local staff who can give advice on how to contact private attorney services and other legal services in your area
Pro Bono Center Library
California State Bar: ABA section for referring pro bono cases to private practice attorneys
Volunteer Lawyer Program: Provides free legal representation and/or pro bono support for low-income residents of Long Beach and surrounding areas with families or individuals that cannot afford to pay a lawyer.