California Indian Legal Services (CILS) free and low-cost legal services to respond to the needs of the Native American community in the state. This location offers services pertaining to: federal Indian law, tribal court orders, estate planning, educational rights, Native American jurisdictional issues, and more. Serving Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba counties.
Legal Assistance
Included in this list are organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services to victims of abuse and others who qualify. Even if the organization does not have a lawyer available to represent you in court, you may want to ask if there is a lawyer who you can consult with to get advice. Please note that we list the organizations by the town/city or county where the office is located – however, many offices may likely serve multiple counties. We indicate the “counties served” whenever possible. You can click the blue “View All” button to look through the complete list of organizations. You can also contact law schools in your area to ask if they have a legal clinic.
Sacramento
California Indian Legal Services - Central Office
Capital Pro Bono
Capital Pro Bono provides free assistance with civil legal matters to low-income residents of the Sacramento region. Their practice areas include family law, debt issues, bankruptcy, employment law, guardianship, conservatorship, and estate planning. Their Family Law Assistance Project provides advice and assistance with legal separation, divorce, custody, visitation, establishing paternity, and support.
Legal Services of Northern California - Sacramento Office
Legal Services of Northern California provides free civil representation to low-income clients in 23 counties. This location handles housing and public benefits cases. They do not handle cases of divorce or custody. Serving Sacramento County.
Mil Mujeres
Mil Mujeres provides legal services to low-income individuals in the immigrant community. They specialize in serving survivors of violent crimes, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Their services include help with U visas, T visas, asylum, VAWA petitions, naturalization, DACA immigration processes, and more. There are costs associated with the services.
San Bernardino
Inland Counties Legal Services - Ontario Office
Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) provides free legal services to residents that are low-income, seniors, and with disabilities living in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Their services areas include: family law, immigration, elder law, public benefits, housing, and more. ICLS handles a variety of family law cases including: domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, child custody/visitation/support, divorce, spousal support, and more. They also assist immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence with U visas, T visas, VAWA, naturalization, adjustment of status, and deportation defense. Apply for services by completing their online application, by phone, or in person.
Inland Counties Legal Services - Victorville Office
Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) provides free legal services to residents that are low-income, seniors, and with disabilities living in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Their services areas include: family law, immigration, elder law, public benefits, housing, and more. ICLS handles a variety of family law cases including: domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, child custody/visitation/support, divorce, spousal support, and more. They also assist immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence with U visas, T visas, VAWA, naturalization, adjustment of status, and deportation defense. Apply for services by completing their online application or by phone. Walk-ins are not accepted at this location.
Mil Mujeres
Mil Mujeres provides legal services to low-income individuals in the immigrant community. They specialize in serving survivors of violent crimes, including domestic violence and sexual assault.. Their services include help with U visas, T visas, asylum, VAWA petitions, naturalization, DACA immigration processes, and more There are costs associated with the services.
San Diego
California Indian Legal Services - Southern Office
California Indian Legal Services (CILS) provides free and low-cost legal services to respond to the needs of the Native American community in the state. This location offers services pertaining to federal Indian law, in addition to services specifically for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. Those services include: help with restraining orders, child custody, mediation preparation, child and spousal support, criminal law victim advocacy, and divorce and separation guidance. This office offers domestic violence services to residents of San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - Vista Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.
Center for Community Solutions - Coastal Office
The Center for Community Solutions offers comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Services include: a 24-hour hotline, safety planning, emergency shelter, long-term shelter program, counseling, child therapy and advocacy, legal services, help navigating the court system, domestic abuse forensic exams, and more. Interpretation services are available for hotline and shelter services. Their child services are available in English and Spanish for those under age 18 who are victims of (or impacted by) domestic violence or sexual abuse, regardless of immigration status. The Center’s legal services include: assistance with restraining orders, custody, divorce, court preparation, crime victims’ rights, and more. Legal services are free for eligible individuals and offered in different languages with interpretation available, including American Sign Language. Serving San Diego County.
Center for Community Solutions - East County Office
The Center for Community Solutions offers comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking. They offer emergency crisis services such as shelter and a hotline, and the Legal Team provides free legal services for eligible individuals. Their legal services include: consultation and assistance with domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, custody, divorce, crime victims’ rights, immigration concerns related to violence or abuse, and more. Serving San Diego County.
Center for Community Solutions - West County Office
The Center for Community Solutions offers comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking. They offer emergency crisis services such as shelter and a hotline, and the Legal Team provides free legal services for eligible individuals. Their legal services include: consultation and assistance with domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, custody, divorce, crime victims’ rights, immigration concerns related to violence or abuse, and more. Serving San Diego County.
Legal Aid Society of San Diego - Midtown Office
The Legal Aid Society of San Diego offers free legal help to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in San Diego. Their areas of service include: family law, child custody/visitation, divorce, restraining orders, immigration (obtaining lawful status, applying for citizenship, defending against deportation), housing discrimination, health coverage, public assistance, eviction defense, and more. Apply for services by phone, by visiting one of their three offices, or by completing the online contact form on their website. They offer walk-in clinics at the South County and East County courthouses for restraining orders for domestic violence, civil harassment, and elder abuse.
Legal Aid Society of San Diego - North County Office
The Legal Aid Society of San Diego offers free legal help to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in San Diego. Their areas of service include: family law, child custody/visitation, divorce, restraining orders, immigration (obtaining lawful status, applying for citizenship, defending against deportation), housing discrimination, health coverage, public assistance, eviction defense, and more. Apply for services by phone, by visiting one of their three offices, or by completing the online contact form on their website. They offer walk-in clinics at the South County and East County courthouses for restraining orders for domestic violence, civil harassment, and elder abuse.
Legal Aid Society of San Diego - Southeast Office
The Legal Aid Society of San Diego offers free legal help to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in San Diego. Their areas of service include: family law, child custody/visitation, divorce, restraining orders, immigration (obtaining lawful status, applying for citizenship, defending against deportation), housing discrimination, health coverage, public assistance, eviction defense, and more. Apply for services by phone, by visiting one of their three offices, or by completing the online contact form on their website. They offer walk-in clinics at the South County and East County courthouses for restraining orders for domestic violence, civil harassment, and elder abuse.
The Immigration Center for Women and Children - San Diego Office
The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) is a non-profit legal organization providing free and affordable immigration services to underrepresented immigrants in California and Nevada. ICWC strives to provide security and stability for children who are abused, abandoned, or neglected and for immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. They offer services in the following areas: U visas, T visas, VAWA, asylum for unaccompanied children, legal orientation for custodians of unaccompanied children, DACA, help with immigration court processes (San Francisco courts), and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Call one of their four California locations for services.
San Francisco
Bay Area Legal Aid - San Francisco Office
Bay Area Legal Aid offers a Legal Advice Line to qualified low-income residents living in the Bay Area, where attorneys provide advice and information in all languages on a range of civil legal issues. Survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault need to be referred to their dedicated legal advice line by a local domestic violence or sexual assault agency, police department, or court. The Domestic Violence Prevention project helps survivors with: temporary restraining orders, divorce, separation, annulment, child support, custody/visitation orders, battered spouse waivers, VAWA enforcement, immigration issues faced by survivors, and community education. Check their website for the schedule of legal clinics on restraining orders. This location serves San Francisco and Marin Counties.
Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic
The Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC) provides free legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Their focus is on restraining orders, family law, crime victim representation, and Title IX administrative proceedings. CROC holds weekly domestic violence restraining order clinics where staff and volunteers complete court forms, which they file with the court, and then they pick up the temporary restraining order. Free childcare is provided during the clinics. Additionally they help survivors prepare for hearings and accompany them to court. CROC also offers: legal representation for civil harassment restraining order proceedings; information, advice, and representation for campus-based Title IX proceedings; and legal advice to survivors for navigating the criminal process. They have bilingual English-Spanish staff and can provide support in other languages and dialects.
The Immigration Center for Women and Children - San Francisco Downtown Office
The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) is a non-profit legal organization providing free and affordable immigration services to underrepresented immigrants in California and Nevada. ICWC strives to provide security and stability for children who are abused, abandoned, or neglected and for immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. They offer services in the following areas: U visas, T visas, VAWA, asylum for unaccompanied children, legal orientation for custodians of unaccompanied children, DACA, help with immigration court processes (San Francisco courts), and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Call one of their four California locations for services.
The Immigration Center for Women and Children - San Francisco Mid-Market Office
The Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) is a non-profit legal organization providing free and affordable immigration services to underrepresented immigrants in California and Nevada. ICWC strives to provide security and stability for children who are abused, abandoned, or neglected and for immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. They offer services in the following areas: U visas, T visas, VAWA, asylum for unaccompanied children, legal orientation for custodians of unaccompanied children, DACA, help with immigration court processes (San Francisco courts), and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Call one of their four California locations for services.
San Joaquin
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - Stockton Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.
San Luis Obispo
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - San Luis Obispo Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.
San Mateo
Bay Area Legal Aid - Redwood City Office
Bay Area Legal Aid offers a Legal Advice Line to qualified low-income residents living in the Bay Area, where attorneys provide advice and information in all languages on a range of civil legal issues. Survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault need to be referred to their dedicated legal advice line by a local domestic violence or sexual assault agency, police department, or court. The Domestic Violence Prevention project helps survivors with: temporary restraining orders, divorce, separation, annulment, child support, custody/visitation orders, battered spouse waivers, VAWA enforcement, immigration issues faced by survivors, and community education. Check their website for the schedule of legal clinics on restraining orders. The Redwood City office has free domestic violence restraining order packets available in English and Spanish in their lobby, which clients can complete and return to the office for help with electronically filing. This location serves San Mateo County.
Santa Barbara
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - Santa Maria Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County - Lompoc Office
The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County provides free legal assistance to low-income and other vulnerable residents. They provide representation in court, legal advice and information, and assistance with preparation of legal documents. Services are offered in the following areas: domestic violence (no income guideline), elder abuse (no income guideline), immigration assistance for victims of crimes (U visas, T visas, VAWA self-petitions, SIJS), fair housing, and more. Apply for services by completing the online application, by phone, or by visiting one of their three offices. Services available in English and Spanish at this location.
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County - Santa Barbara Office
The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County provides free legal assistance to low-income and other vulnerable residents. They provide representation in court, legal advice and information, and assistance with preparation of legal documents. Services are offered in the following areas: domestic violence (no income guideline), elder abuse (no income guideline), immigration assistance for victims of crimes (U visas, T visas, VAWA self-petitions, SIJS), fair housing, and more. Apply for services by completing the online application, by phone, or by visiting one of their three offices.
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County - Santa Maria Office
The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County provides free legal assistance to low-income and other vulnerable residents. They provide representation in court, legal advice and information, and assistance with preparation of legal documents. Services are offered in the following areas: domestic violence (no income guideline), elder abuse (no income guideline), immigration assistance for victims of crimes (U visas, T visas, VAWA self-petitions, SIJS), fair housing, and more. Apply for services by completing the online application, by phone, or by visiting one of their three offices. Services available in English and Spanish at this location.
Lompoc Legal Resource Center
The Legal Resource Center is staffed by a licensed attorney and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Self-help assistance is offered in completion of legal and court documents for various civil matters. Services available for the following: domestic violence and anti-harassment restraining orders, guardianship, adoption, small claims, general civil topics, and more. Serving Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara Legal Resource Center
The Legal Resource Center is staffed by a licensed attorney and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Self-help assistance is offered in completion of legal and court documents for various civil matters. Services available for the following: domestic violence and anti-harassment restraining orders, guardianship, adoption, small claims, general civil topics, and more. Serving Santa Barbara County.
Santa Maria Legal Resource Center
The Legal Resource Center is staffed by a licensed attorney and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Self-help assistance is offered in completion of legal and court documents for various civil matters. Services available for the following: domestic violence and anti-harassment restraining orders, guardianship, adoption, small claims, general civil topics, and more. Serving Santa Barbara County.
Santa Clara
Bay Area Legal Aid - San Jose Office
Bay Area Legal Aid offers a Legal Advice Line to qualified low-income residents living in the Bay Area, where attorneys provide advice and information in all languages on a range of civil legal issues. Survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault need to be referred to their dedicated legal advice line by a local domestic violence or sexual assault agency, police department, or court. The Domestic Violence Prevention project helps survivors with: temporary restraining orders, divorce, separation, annulment, child support, custody/visitation orders, battered spouse waivers, VAWA enforcement, immigration issues faced by survivors, and community education. Check their website for the schedule of legal clinics on restraining orders. This location serves Santa Clara County.
North County Family Justice Center (NCFJC)
Led by YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, the North County Family Justice Center (NCFJC) is a collaboration of multiple government agencies and community partners that provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The NCFJC is staffed by attorneys and non-attorneys with a range of expertise, encompassing immigration law, family law, legal advocacy, criminal law (prosecutions), victim compensation assistance, and law enforcement support. The service providers include the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the Step Forward Foundation, family law attorneys, and YWCA advocates. The NCFJC also provides referrals to other agencies for further assistance if required.
Santa Cruz
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - Watsonville Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.
Watsonville Law Center
The Watsonville Law Center (WLC) provides free legal services to low-income individuals on California’s Central Coast. They focus on workers’ rights, consumer rights, and access to employment. In partnership with Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, WLC offers special services to CalWORKs participants, including legal advice regarding child custody and visitation and family financial stability.
Shasta
Legal Services of Northern California - Redding Office
Legal Services of Northern California provides free civil representation to low-income clients in 23 counties. This location handles the following types of cases: housing, public benefits, education rights, and healthcare benefits. They also provide assistance for grandparents (ages 55+) who wish to obtain guardianship of their grandchildren. They do not handle cases of divorce or custody. Serving Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Tehama counties.
Solano
Legal Services of Northern California - Vallejo Office
Legal Services of Northern California provides free civil representation to low-income clients in 23 counties. This location handles the following types of cases: housing, public benefits, healthcare benefits, employment law, education, and senior issues (consumer cases). They do not handle cases of divorce or custody. Serving Solano County, and older adults (age 60+) in Napa and Solano counties.
Sonoma
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - Santa Rosa Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.
Stanislaus
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. - Modesto Office
California Rural Legal Assistance provides free civil legal services through its 17 offices to low-income residents of the state’s rural counties. Their focus is on the legal areas of employment and labor, housing, education, rural health, and leadership development. In addition, they have special advocacy programs for: Indigenous Latin American communities, LGBTQ+, agricultural workers, fair housing, and environmental justice.