Immigration Legal Resources

Avoid Immigration Services Fraud

Visit the “Getting the Right Help” section on our Immigration Fraud page for detailed information on finding authorized immigration legal service providers.

Find a Los Angeles Lawyer Service – State Bar of California

A private attorney referral service to help connect you to licensed attorneys in immigration and other areas

Smart Law Referral Service – LA County Bar Association

A private attorney referral service to help connect you to licensed attorneys in immigration and other areas

Immigration Unit – Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office

Can assist legal service providers and Los Angeles County residents in assessing the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and evaluate whether post-conviction relief may help individuals to qualify for immigration benefits/relief.

The State Bar of California

Verify if an attorney is licensed in California by checking the State Bar

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The federal agency that that oversees immigration benefits in the United States such as family petitions and naturalization

Processing Times – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS tool to check case processing times

Case Status Online – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS tool to track the status of an immigration application, petition or request

Food & Nutrition

CalFresh (food stamps)

Federally funded food assistance program SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in California, also known as food stamps.

APPLY NOW – https://benefitscal.com/Public/login 

Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) 

Supplemental nutrition program for pregnant and post-partum women, infants, and children up to age 5 in families whose gross income is less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

APPLY NOW – https://www.phfewic.org/en/how-wic-works/apply-for-wic/ 

Food Pantries – Nonprofit organizations distributing free food items to families in need

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank – https://www.lafoodbank.org/ 
Food Forward – https://foodforward.org/
Hope net – https://www.hope-net.org/ 
Food oasis – https://www.foodoasis.la/ 
Hollywood Food Coalition – https://hofoco.org/ 
Long Beach Food Pantries – https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/ca-long_beach 
Antelope Valley Partners for Health – https://www.avph.org/
God’s Pantry – https://www.gods-pantry.com/ 

Health & Medical

Medi-Cal – Dept. of Public Social Services (DPSS)

Full-scope Medi-Cal (MEDICAID) is available to income eligible California residents regardless of immigration status.

APPLY NOW – https://benefitscal.com/Public/login 

In-Home Support Services (IHSS)

Alternative to nursing homes or board and care facilities, pay for in-home care to low-income elderly, blind or disabled individuals.

MORE INFORMATION – https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/senior-and-disabled/ihss.html 

County Clinics & Hospitals – Dept. of Health Services (DHS)

Health care facilities including emergency room, urgent care, and outpatient clinics operated by the County, services at these locations are available to all County residents

Mental Health Services

If you or a loved one is experiencing or affected by a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis, please call or text ‘988’ for free, confidential, and immediate help. For mental health resources and support, call DMH’s 24/7 help line at (800) 854-7771.

Housing and Tenant Protections

Eviction Assistance / Housing and Tenant Protections – Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)

Enforce the County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance and provide counseling to tenants and landlords regarding rent increase and eviction

HOTLINE – (800) 593-8222 (Department of Consumer and Business Affairs)

Public Housing Housing developments owned and operated by the housing authorities which lease these units directly to the residents

Tenant Right to Counsel Program – Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)

Provides free legal services to eligible tenants living in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County during eviction (Unlawful Detainer) proceedings.

Public Housing – L.A. County Development Authority (LACDA)

Housing developments owned and operated by the housing authorities which lease these units directly to the residents

Transportation

Para-Transit – ACCESS

Provide curb-to-curb shared-ride transportation services for elderly and disabled individuals within Los Angeles County

Low Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) – LA Metro

The LIFE program helps qualifying LA County residents save on fares. Once you’re in the program, you can load 20 free regional rides each month or purchase a discounted pass on any of the 13 LIFE participating transit agencies.

Legal & Public Safety

Criminal Defense – Public Defender’s Office

Provide free criminal defense to any defendants who cannot afford to retain the services of a private attorney, also may represent involuntarily detained individuals in a variety of mental disability or conservatorship proceedings, or individuals who are subject to contempt proceedings for violation of court orders, such as child support, child visitation or custody orders

Alternate Public Defender’s Office

Provide free criminal defense to any defendants who cannot afford to retain the services of a private attorney, also may represent involuntarily detained individuals in a variety of mental disability or conservatorship proceedings, or individuals who are subject to contempt proceedings for violation of court orders, such as child support, child visitation or custody orders

Small Claims Advisory Program – Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)

Free services to assist litigants to understand the Small Claim Court procedures and how to file appropriate paperwork

Dispute Resolution Program – Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)

Free and confidential services to assist parties involved in disputes to settle through a neutral third-party mediator out of the court

Self-Help Legal Access Centers – Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)

Provide information and resources about court procedures to individuals so that they can effectively represent themselves in family or civil courts

Consumer Protection – Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA)

Investigate various types of consumer fraud complaints and assist victims to recover losses when possible

Animal Care & Control

Investigate and enforce relevant laws involving animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, or illegal animal fighting to protect the animals’ wellbeing, as well as investigate complaints against dangerous animals to protect the public

Victim Services – District Attorney’s Office

Assist crime victims and witnesses with services including crisis intervention, counseling and social services referral, restitution, and case status notification

Domestic Violence Council – Dept. of Public Health (DPH)

Provide crisis hotline, shelter, legal, and a variety of supportive services to domestic violence victims

U-Visa and T-Visa Certification – District Attorney’s Office

Human trafficking victims (T-visa) or victims of qualifying crimes (U-visa) may be able to obtain visas to stay in the country to assist law enforcement agencies investigating and prosecuting the criminals, District Attorney’s Office or station detective from the Sheriff’s Department may assist the victims to complete the required certification

Hate Crimes Report – Human Relations Commission

Track and monitor hate crime reports in the County and connect victims to appropriate social services through contract with 211

Hate Crimes Report – 211 LA County

211 LA County provides hate crimes reporting for people in LA County.

Proposition 47 Expungement – Public Defender’s Office

Assist clearing criminal records relating to Prop. 47; DPSS also offers expungement services for other eligible criminal records for individuals participating in the GAIN/GROW programs

Re-Entry Intensive Case Management Services – Dept. of Justice Care and Opportunities

Developed and funded by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the SHLAC program provides information and resources to litigants that are representing themselves in court without the help of an attorney.

Educational Resources

Arts Internship Program – Dept. of Arts & Culture

Companion program to the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program, provide undergraduate students with meaningful on-the-job training and experience working in nonprofit organizations in the field of performing, film, media, or literary arts

Head Start – L.A. County Office of Education (LACoE)

Childhood learning programs provided by LACOE to prepare children from birth to age 5 with necessary social and learning skills before entering formal schools

Adult Education Program – California Dept. of Education

Free or low-cost adult education programs offered at local school districts to individuals age 18 or older with classes including ESL, citizenship preparation classes, and various career training programs

California Community Colleges

California’s system of 2-year public institutions that offer transfer opportunities to 4-year colleges, associate degrees, credentials, or certificates preparing students for in-demand jobs

Library Homework Help – L.A. County Library

Library provides free homework help from a live, online tutor in English and Spanish everyday from 12 PM to 10 PM

Online Language Program – L.A. County Library

Free, online language-learning classes through Mango that offers self-paced classes including ESL and over 70 languages

Career Online High School Program – L.A. County Library

Library provides free, self-paced, and accredited high school diploma program that can be completed in 18 months or less, plus a career certificate in 1 of 10 high-demand job fields

Tiny Tots Program – Parks & Recreation

Designed to prepare children ages 3 to 5 for pre-school and kindergarten through a variety of activities including arts and crafts, learning basic counting and letters, and educational field trips

After-School Program – Parks & Recreation

After school activities offered at local parks for children under age 18 to get homework assistance, healthy snacks, and a supervised safe environment to socialize with peers

Children’s Camps – Parks & Recreation

Day camps offered to children at local parks with activities including arts and crafts, music, sports, baseball, basketball, soccer and swimming, Crime Scene Investigations (C.S.I.) Camp offered to children during summer with a six-week instructional program that focuses on topics including crime scene reconstruction, tracking, bomb disposal, arson investigation, fingerprints and DNA analysis