There are a number of strategies for getting free legal help in California. Much depends on the type of case, criminal or civil. Another important factor is the type of civil case and the remedy that an individual seeks. A California legal consultation would help a person understand what kind of free or low-cost legal services and legal advice are available in that state.
The State Bar of California is an agency of the California court system. It licenses and regulates California lawyers. The State Bar also makes grants to legal aid societies in California. These legal aid societies use the funds to provide legal services to citizens of the state who have low and moderate incomes. An individual’s local legal society can help them with their legal issue, whatever it is, from child custody to worker’s compensation and Social Security benefits.
At the website of the State Bar, a person can find out about a number of services:
- The local legal aid offices funded by the State Bar that offer legal help to clients at a low cost
- Legal help that may be available to victims after a disaster
- Advice on finding the right attorney
- What a person should ask their lawyer when they hire one
- Avoiding fraud in legal services.
The California Courts website also has online resources that can help a person locate affordable legal advice.
An individual can represent themselves for free if they file their civil complaint in a California small claims court. They may seek up to $12,500 or less without attorney help. A business can sue for up to $6,250 in damages in a California small claims court.
When a person chooses to sue in small claims court, they agree to waive any amount of damages above the allowed maximum. They cannot recover more than the limit, even if they prove they are entitled to more. But there are significant advantages to it as follows:
- Court filing fees are lower in small claims than in other courts.
- The process is faster in small claims than in other courts, as a hearing is usually scheduled within 30 to 70 days after a lawsuit is filed.
- A person generally has to represent themselves and this keeps the cost low.
LegalMatch.com is another resource. At the LegalMatch website, an individual can present their legal case to lawyers who have been pre-screened lawyers and work in the city or county where the individual resides. Experienced local lawyers review it and respond with an offer to represent the individual if they feel they have a good case. Their offer would include their fee structure, background, and ratings by other LegalMatch users.
Is Free Legal Help Available for Criminal Cases in California?
It is important to understand that an individual who has been charged with a criminal offense may have a right to be represented by an attorney. If the punishment is possible time behind bars in a county jail or state or federal prison, the accused has the right to be represented by an attorney. This is provided by the 6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution.
If a defendant cannot afford to hire an attorney in a criminal case in which they have a right to one, then the court would appoint an attorney to represent them. The court-appointed attorney would be paid by the government. Often, in urban areas, counties have a public defender office. The attorneys on its staff exclusively represent defendants who cannot afford to pay a lawyer.
In some rural counties, the county government may pay an attorney who also practices privately as the court-appointed attorney for a person who has been charged with a crime but cannot afford a lawyer. An individual who has been charged with a crime may also always represent themselves, but it is not recommended.
Under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a suspect in a criminal investigation also has the right to an attorney when they are interrogated in police custody. This is true even if they have not been charged with any crime. A person could be in police custody while at the police station, in the back of a police car, standing on the street corner, or even in their own home. The key in most cases is that they do not feel free to leave because of the actions of the police.
Again, LegalMatch.com can provide a lawyer who will review a person’s criminal case at no charge and tell them if there is a good defense available to them. LegalMatch.com can quickly connect a person who has been charged with a crime to a criminal defense attorney.
What Is Legal Aid?
As noted above, the State Bar of California funds the Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC). This is a statewide membership organization for about 100 nonprofit groups funded through grants from the State Bar.
These nonprofit member groups of the LAAC offer legal help to low-income Californians. LAAC helps the attorneys of the nonprofit member groups by offering them advocacy, training, and other support as they work for their clients. A person can find a local group that is a member of LAAC at the LAAC website, https://www.laaconline.org/laacmembers.
The State Bar of California also offers contact information for lawyer referral services throughout California where a person can search for affordable legal advice.
Pro Bono Net is a national nonprofit organization that works with legal organizations across the U.S. and Canada to offer access to legal representation for poor citizens who have legal issues but cannot afford to hire a lawyer for help.
Still, another group that offers free or low-cost legal representation to those who qualify because their income is limited is the Legal Aid Society of California. There are Legal Aid Society offices in many locations in California. For example, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego can be accessed at its website. It serves the citizens of San Diego. Other cities in California also have offices, e.g., San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
What Are Law Clinics?
Most law schools have programs that allow students to get real-life experience in providing legal assistance. They may offer their services to people who are underrepresented or other organizations. The students generally work under the supervision of law professors on the school’s faculty.
They provide their legal services at low or no cost. A person who lives near a law school may contact the school and ask if it has a law clinic that could help them with their issue.
Is There Free Legal Help for Social Justice Claims in California?
There are a number of well-known non-profit organizations that offer significant legal support to social justice causes. The American Civil Liberties Union has been supporting cases involving civil rights for decades.
The Innocence Project works to establish the innocence of people who are in prison because they were wrongly convicted of serious criminal offenses.
A person who has a claim that involves an interest associated with social justice can always search for a comparable non-profit organization that serves their cause. Law clinics at law schools may offer the support of law students for various social justice causes as well.
What About Free Legal Help if I Have Been Injured in California?
A person who has been injured because of someone else’s negligence can probably locate a lawyer who would represent them on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer is not paid for their representation unless the client wins an award of damages in their case.
The lawyer is paid a percentage of the award. If the client does not win an award of damages, the lawyer is not paid and their legal help would have been free. LegalMatch.com can quickly connect a person who has been charged with a crime to a criminal defense attorney.
Can LegalMatch Help?
If you need legal help, you want to find a lawyer through LegalMatch.com. At no charge, you can present your situation to a LegalMatch lawyer and get their professional opinion as to whether you have a good case or not.
Your lawyer will then offer their representation at a fee that is disclosed along with information about the lawyer and their background. LegalMatch is the best way to efficiently learn about your case and identify a lawyer who has the experience needed to represent you successfully.
