For an individual or individuals looking for free legal advice or assistance with a legal matter, a number of university law schools and private law schools in Orange County provide a variety of clinics to address particular legal problems. The clinics range from tax law clinics to family violence clinics. Each university clinic has their own criteria for selecting applicants to assist. Below is a short description of some of the university legal clinics located in Orange County:
1. Chapman University
- Tax Law Clinic is the longest-running clinic at the School of Law and has helped thousands of taxpayers. The students, supervised by attorney-professors, assist the clients in various ways, which can include meeting with the IRS to negotiate a settlement or appear in court if the settlement attempts fail. (714) 628-2535.
2. UC Irvine School of Law
- Domestic Violence Clinic helps clients who have suffered from domestic violence. Students offer advice regarding the law and assistance in court. (949) 824-7916.
- The Ninth Circuit Appellate Litigation Clinic — Students argue appeals in Ninth Circuit cases. (949) 824-9646 or (949) 824-8536.
- Startup and Small Business Clinic — Students help Orange County business owners and entrepreneurs in handling the legal intricacies of the small business and startup arena. (949) 824-8536 or (949) 824-9646.
3. Trinity Law School
- Mobile Legal Clinic is a mobile law office where Trinity students provide legal services to low-income and homeless residents of Orange County. (800) 922-4748.
- Religious Liberty Clinic of the Pacific Justice Institute concentrates on the defense of religious freedom. (800) 922-4748.
4. Western State College of Law
- Law Entrepreneurship Clinic is no-cost legal assistance that covers a wide range of transactional topics for nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses. Eligibility is based on both financial need and business circumstances. The clinic, staffed by law students (with the supervision of qualified attorneys) supports entrepreneurs at all stages. The clinic is open August through December and takes a break January through July. (714) 459-1142. smhendricks@wsulaw.edu
Using Our Library
We advise you to use our library before contacting the below resources. We may be able to refer you to appropriate printed and/or online materials. Nolo Press books are especially helpful. (1) If our materials don’t answer all your questions, they will hopefully educate you enough so you can better communicate with an attorney. See our 2009 article for Self-Helpers, www.ocpll.org/transcript/transcript_2009_08.pdf.
Lawyer Referral & Information Service
This is sponsored by the Orange County Bar, www.lrisoc.org, or call (949) 440-6747. A $25 administrative fee is waived for Criminal Law, Family Law, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Social Security and Workers’ Compensation matters.
Users get up to three consecutive referrals for brief consultations to review issues and fees. For a Modest Means program of reduced fees for Bankruptcy, Consumer Law, Elder Law, Family Law, Housing, and Immigration, users may have to provide financial information.
Partial Attorney Help: Consultation & “Unbundling”
You can consult an attorney without retaining him to represent you. Or you could retain an attorney to represent you on only part of a case. This is called Limited Scope Representation, or “unbundling.” Optimum use might be a divorce, where everything is agreed upon except child custody and support – best handled by an attorney.
Pro Bono & Free Legal Help
Legal Aid Society of Orange County at www.legal-aid.com/, or call (800) 834-5001 or (714) 571-5200. Indigent clients may be referred to the Public Law Center, 601 W. Civic Center Drive, which advertises everything from clinics and brief advice, to full representation. Clients’ cases include family law, consumer fraud, student loans, bankruptcy, wills, and tort defense. www.publiclawcenter.org or call (714) 641-1010.
Legal Document Assistants and Unlawful Detainer Assistants
Business & Professions Code Section 6400 (g): “A legal document assistant may not provide any kind of advice, explanation, opinion, or recommendation to a consumer about possible rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies….” For further information, see Section 6400 et seq. (2) For local Document Assistants, ask for our handout and see “Legal Documents & Forms Preparation” in the Yellow Pages.
Law School Legal Clinics
Legal clinics typically staffed by supervised students are listed in a separate article in this newsletter. It describes various clinics and the types of cases they handle.
Other Free and Low Cost Legal Help
Many of the above resources, and others, are included in the California Courts’ Self-Help website at www.courts.ca.gov – more extensive, so more difficult to use.
The full text of some Nolo Press books are available on the EBSCO database, which can be accessed through our website at www.ocpll.org/databases.html.