Locations

Inglewood Courthouse
1 E. Regent Street, Inglewood

Santa Monica Courthouse
1725 Main Street, Santa Monica

Torrance Courthouse
825 Maple Ave., Torrance

Long Beach Courthouse
415 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

 

Volunteer Applications

To volunteer at the Inglewood, Santa Monica, Torrance, or Long Beach Self-Help Legal Access Centers, please contact Sally Ann Molloy, Directing Attorney, at smolloy@lafla.org or (323) 801-7967

Self-Help Legal Access Centers

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles--in conjunction with Neighborhood Legal Services--opened its first Self-Help Legal Access Center in the Inglewood courthouse on January 15, 2003. In 2006 LAFLA opened centers in Santa Monica and Long Beach courthouses, and we opened a center in the Torrance courthouse in 2007.

California has seen an tremendous increase in the number of individuals who cannot afford attorneys and are forced to represent themselves, especially in the areas of family law and landlord-tenant.

The four courthouse centers use volunteer attorneys, law students, and pre-law students to assist more than 30,000 self-represented litigants each year with almost any matter that can be brought in state court.

Volunteers are trained to help litigants understand the legal options available to them and to complete all necessary paperwork. The volunteers also advise litigants on civil procedure and courtroom procedure, as well as how to present their case in court.

We atively seek volunteers who speak Spanish, Farsi (Santa Monica), Korean, and other Asian languages fluently. We will test your language ability.  You don't need to know exact legal terms, but must be able to accurately convey legal concepts.

No prior experience with legal issues is required, but is helpful.

Volunteer shifts are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  All centers are closed Wednesday afternoons. Volunteers must commit to at least two shifts per week and must be available for the entire shift.