Learn

We know that sometimes the biggest barrier to serving is not knowing where to start, so we've compiled some great free or low-cost resources here for you to learn about the areas of law that impact our clients the most.

Please do not feel that you have to be an expert in all of these areas of law before you can volunteer - sometimes learning "on the job" is the fastest way to get started! Thanks to a generous grant from the Hugh & Hazel Darling Foundation, we have created a comprehensive Legal Aid Manual that is available for all of our attorneys to use and reference at our clinics.

The most common areas of law that we see at our clinics include:
  • Family Law (Child Custody, Child Support, Guardianship, Divorce)
  • Reentry & Post-Conviction Relief (Expungement, Prop 47, Prop 64, Rights restoration, Court fines & fees, Background check questions)
  • Housing (Eviction, Tenant/Landlord issues, Neighbor disputes)
  • Small Claims & Small Business (Fraud, Breach of Contract, Warranty)
  • Probate, Wills, and Trusts
  • Immigration
  • Debt & Bankruptcy
Due to the walk-in nature of our clinics, issues may vary widely and any area of expertise may prove valuable.
PLI (Practicing Law Institute)
https://shop.pli.edu/en/pro-bono/
  • Intended for attorneys & legal professionals
  • Live webcasts, on-demand trainings, and in-person learning
  • MCLE available on a wide range of topics​ ​
PBTI (Pro Bono Training Institute)
http://pbtraining.org
  • On-demand trainings tailored to needs of volunteer attorneys
  • Limited trainings available at the moment, but more being added​ ​
LA Law Library Trainings
http://www.lalawlibrary.org/index.php/current-classes.html
  • Many of the LA Law Library's MCLE classes are applicable to volunteering at clinics or offering pro bono representation
  • Members of the public and people representing themselves in legal matters may also benefit from many of the LA Law Library's trainings​ ​
Legal Aid Association of California
http://laaconline.org/train/​
Root & Rebound Reentry Training Hub
http://reentrytraininghub.org/
  • Free (for a limited time) training hub for reentry issues
  • Accessible for formerly incarcerated persons, their communities, and professionals assisting them​ ​
Bet Tzedek Resources
https://www.bettzedek.org/our-services/resources/
  • Materials covering primarily conservatorships & family preparedness​​ ​