California Legal Aid and Lawyer Referral
This page provides information about Legal Aid and Lawyer Referral resources in California.
Links are grouped by those that cover courts statewide, for multiple counties, and then by individual county.
California - Statewide Courts Legal Aid
Find a Lawyer, Referral Services, and Complaint Procedures
The State Bar of California offers advice on how to find a lawyer, a search of its membership by name or bar number, and a search of lawyer referral services by county. It also provides instructions for filing a complaint against a lawyer, resolving a fee dispute, and applying for reimbursement for attorney misconduct.
Find Interpreters
The Judicial Council of California offers an online search of court interpreters by language spoken and county. Includes links to interpreter resources and an online search for medical interpreters.
California Rural Legal Assistance
View information about California Rural Legal Assistance, which provides free legal assistance to low-income rural residents of approximately one third of California's counties. Most services involve civil rights, community development, education, health, housing, labor, and employment.
Limited-Scope Representation
View information about limited-scope representation, in which lawyers provide some services to self-represented parties for a smaller fee than full representation. Services may include advice about the case, representation on some issues in the case, document and evidence preparation, coaching, discovery, research, and other tasks as agreed.
California Bar Association - Attorney Information and Discipline Records
The California Bar Association offers an attorney search by name or bar number and a search for legal specialists. Search results include contact information, date of bar admission, schools attended, and any public disciplinary records. Links to information about obtaining discipline records and the discipline system is included.
Free and Low-Cost Legal Services Information
View information about sources of free and low-cost legal services, including court-based services, legal aid agencies, governmnent agencies, lawyer referral services, law schools, dispute resolution programs, and prepaid legal sevice plans.
Free Legal Help
LawHelp California offers a directory of California organizations that provide free and reduced-fee legal services. The directory can be searched by counties and cities served or an alphabetical list.
California Multiple County Courts Legal Aid
Legal Assistance for Seniors
Elder Law and Advocacy provides free and low-cost civil legal assistance to senior residents and their caregivers in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Northern California Legal Aid
View information about Legal Services of Northern California, which provides civil legal advice and representation to low-income residents of Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Tehama, Trinity, and Yolo Counties.
Northern California Voluntary Legal Services
View information about Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California, which provides civil legal advice and representation to low-income residents of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Yolo Counties.
Bay Area Legal Assistance
View information about Bay Area Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. A legal advice hotline number and links to additional resources are included.
Central California Legal Aid
View information about Central California Legal Services, which provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Fresno, Kings, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties.
Inland Counties Legal Services
Inland Counties Legal Services provies free civil legal assistance and clinics to low-income and senior residents of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Southern California Lawyer Referral
Lawyer Referral Service of Orange County provides referrals by online request form to lawyers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties.
Alameda County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Alameda County Public Defender
View information about the Alameda County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants.
Contra Costa County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Contra Costa County Lawyer Referral and Legal Aid
View Contra Costa County providers of legal aid and lawyer referral.
Contra Costa County Legal Assistance
Contra Costa County offers free legal workshops, clinics, and presentations for self-represented parties on a variety of issues, including domestic violence, family law, guardianship, housing, and small claims cases.
Contra Costa County Public Defender
View information about the Contra Costa County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, explanations of services, and answers to frequently asked questions are included.
El Dorado County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
El Dorado County Public Defender
View information about the El Dorado County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants.
Fresno County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Fresno County Public Defender
View information about the Fresno County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, service descriptions, and answers to frequently asked questions are included.
Humboldt County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Humboldt County Public Defenders
View information about the Humboldt County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible adult and juvenile low-income defendants. Links to Alternate Counsel and Conflict Counsel offices, a client intake form, and information about court procedure and additional resources are included.
Kern County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Kern County Legal Help
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance offers free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents. Information includes types of cases handled, eligibility guidelines, and links to additional online legal resources.
Kern County Public Defender
View information about the Kern County Public Defender's Office, which provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants.
Los Angeles County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Los Angeles County Bet Tzekek Legal Services
View information about Bet Tzedek - The House of Justice - which provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and senior residents. Links to self-help resources are included.
Los Angeles County Family Law Assistance
The Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law provides free family law legal services to low-income residents.
Los Angeles County Legal Assistance
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles offers free civil legal assistance to low-income residents. Information about Self Help Access Centers is included.
Los Angeles County Neighborhood Legal Assistance
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County provides free civil legal services to low-income residents. Information about self-help centers is included.
Los Angeles County Public Defender
View information about the Los Angeles County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, explanations of services, and answers to frequently asked questions are included.
Marin County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Marin County Family and Children's Law Center
The Family and Children's Law Center provides family law legal services to low-income residents of Marin County.
Marin County Legal Assistance
Legal Aid of Marin provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and senior residents.
Marin County Public Defender
View information about the Marin County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants. Contacts, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional online resources are included.
Mendocino County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Mendocino County Public Defender
View information about the Mendocino County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense, wardship, and mental illness representation for low-income residents.
Merced County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Merced County Public Defender
View information about the Merced County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendantes. Contacts, locations, and descriptions of services are included.
Monterey County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Monterey County Public Defender
View information about the Monterey County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants.
Napa County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Napa County Public Defender
View information about the Napa County Public Defender's Office, which provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, court information, and answers to frequently asked questions are included.
Nevada County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Nevada County Public Defender
View information about the Nevada County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants and parties involved in civil conservatorship and child support actions.
Orange County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Orange County Legal Aid
View information about the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, which provides free and low-cost civil legal assistance to senior and low-income residents.
Orange County Legal Help
The Orange County Public Law Center offers free civil legal assistance and clinics to low-income residents.
Orange County Public Defender
View information about the Orange County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, and answers to frequently asked questions are included.
Placer County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Placer County Public Defender
View contact information for the Placer County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants.
Riverside County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Riverside County Public Defender
View information about the Riverside County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, descriptions of services, and asnwers to frequently asked questions are included.
Sacramento County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Sacramento County Lawyer Referral
The Sacramento County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone or online form.
Sacramento County Public Defender
View information about the Sacramento County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants. Contacts, locations, descriptions of services, and answers to frequently asked questions are included.
Sacramento County Superior Court Legal Service Referrals
View Sacramento County Superior Court's links to agencies that provide social and court-related services, including attorney referrals and legal aid.
San Bernardino County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
San Bernardino County Public Defender
View information about the San Bernardino County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants. Contacts, locations, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional online resources are included.
San Diego County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
North San Diego County Lawyer Referral
The North County Bar Association offers lawyer referral by online request form. A free initial consultation is included.
San Diego County Lawyer Referral
The San Diego County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone or an online referral request form. Most consultations up to 30 minutes are free.
San Diego County Legal Aid
View information about the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, which provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents. Links to self-help resources, free clinics, and additional online resources are included.
San Diego County Public Defender
View information about the San Diego County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional online resources are included. A link to the Alternate Public Defender for cases in which the Public Defender has a conflict of interest is included.
San Diego County Volunteer Lawyers
View information about the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, which provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents. Services include domestic violence, family law, youth, HIV/AIDS, immigration, elder law, and non-profit organizations.
San Francisco County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
San Francisco Justice & Diversity Center
The Justice & Diversity Center of the San Francisco Bar Association provides free legal clinics and other types of legal assistance to people who can't afford a lawyer.
San Francisco Lawyer Referrals
The Bar Association of San Francisco offers lawyer referrals by telephone and online.
San Francisco Public Defender
View information about the San Francisco Public Defender's office, which provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants. Contacts, locations, and descriptions of services are included.
San Joaquin County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
San Joaquin County Public Defender
View information about the San Joaquin County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants.
San Luis Obispo County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
San Luis Obispo County Lawyer Referral
The San Luis Obispo County bar association offers a Lawyer Referral and Information Service, including an online referral request. Initial consultations with the selected lawyer can also be arranged for a small fee.
San Luis Obispo County Senior Legal Services
View information about San Luis Obispo County Senior Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to residents age 60 and over with benefits, housing, or elder abuse issues.
San Mateo County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
San Mateo County Lawyer Fee Disputes
The San Mateo County Bar Association offers an arbitration program to resolve fee disputes with your lawyer, with links to rules and forms.
San Mateo County Lawyer Referrals
The San Mateo County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone or online request for a small fee, which includes an initial consultation with an attorney.
San Mateo County Legal Assistance
View information about the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, which provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and senior residents.
Santa Barbara County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Santa Barbara County Lawyer Referral and Family Law Reduced Fee Lawyers
The Santa Barbara County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone, email, or online request; and a Modest Means Program for income-eligible parties in family law cases.
Santa Barbara County Legal Assistance
The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents and seniors.
Santa Barbara County Public Defender
View information about the Santa Barbara County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional online resources are included.
Santa Clara County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Santa Clara County Lawyer Referral
The Santa Clara County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone or online request. A nominal fee is required; an initial consultation with a lawyer is included.
Santa Clara County Lawyers
Search the Santa Clara County Bar Association's Public Directory of Attorneys by name, area of practice, and location.
Santa Clara County Legal Assistance
View information about limited-scope representation and links to various community legal aid organizations in Santa Clara County.
Santa Clara County Public Defender
View information about the Santa Clara County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, descriptions of services and special programs, and links to additional online resources are included.
Santa Cruz County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Santa Cruz County Lawyer Referral
The Lawyer Referral Service of Santa Cruz County offers referrals and an initial consultation for a small fee. An online inquiry form is included.
Santa Cruz County Legal Services
The Watsonville Law Center provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents in cases involving workers' compensation, wage claims, consumer fraud, debt, criminal record clearance, child custody, and small claims.
Shasta County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Shasta County Public Defender
View information about the Shasta County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and criminal defendants. Answers to frequently asked questions and links to additional resources and information are included.
Solano County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Solano County Conflict Defender
View information about the Solano County Conflict Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants when the Public Defender is unavailable due to a conflict of interest. Contacts, locations, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional information are included.
Solano County Lawyer Referral Service
The Solano County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone, and an initial consultation for a small fee.
Solano County Lawyer Referral and Background Check
The Attorney Search Network offers referrals to Solano County area lawyers and background checks of Solano County lawyers. Both services are accessed by an online request form.
Solano County Public Defender
View information about the Solano County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, a financial eligibility form, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional information are included.
Sonoma County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Sonoma County Lawyer Referral
The Sonoma County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a referral and consultation to an attorney for a nominal fee.
Sonoma County Legal Assistance
Legal Aid of Sonoma County provides free civil legal help to low-income residents involved in domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, habitability and eviction, and barriers to employment.
Sonoma County Public Defender
View information about the Sonoma County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants.
Stanislaus County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Stanislaus County Lawyer Referral
The Stanislaus County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone, and an initial consultation for a small fee.
Stanislaus County Public Defender
View information about the Stanislaus County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, locations, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional resources are included.
Stanislaus County Senior Citizens Legal Help
View information about the Stanislaus County Senior Citizens Law Project, which provides free legal assistance to residents age 60 and over in the areas of benefits, health care, housing, elder abuse, and simple wills.
Sutter County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Sutter County Public Defender
View information about the Sutter County Public Defender's Office, which provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants.
Tulare County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Tulare County Public Defender
View information about the Tulare County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants.
Tuolumne County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Tuolumne County Public Defender
View information about the Tuolumne County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants.
Ventura County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Ventura County Lawyer Referral
The Ventura County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service by telephone or online request form, and an initial consultation for a small fee.
Ventura County Legal Aid
Ventura County Legal Aid offers free civil and expungement legal services to low-income residents.
Ventura County Public Defender
View information about the Ventura County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income adult and juvenile defendants. Contacts, answers to frequently asked questions, an application form, and links to additional resources are included.
Yolo County - Courts Legal Aid Resources
Yolo County Lawyers
Search the Yolo County Bar Association's member list by name, language, area of practice, or location.
Yolo County Public Defender
View information about the Yolo County Public Defender, who provides criminal defense services to eligible low-income defendants.
Advertising