Legal Aid of Orange County and Community Legal Services provide free, civil legal help to the area's poor. Legal Aid provides help in a three-tier system.

1. Hotline

Under the supervision of lawyers, Hotline paralegals provide advice,
counseling and referrals over the phone to eligible clients. The type of advice
typically given over the phone concerns legal problems that are easy to
identify and can be resolved by actions that are easy to explain.

2a. Clinics

Family law clinics are offered for dissolutions, paternity actions, and sole custody proceedings. Assistance is obtaining restraining orders is offered on an individual basis at the Compton and Norwalk Superior Courts. Clinics are also offered on landlord/tenant issues, bankruptcy and dispute mediation. Each clinic is supervied by an attorney who is assisted by a paralegal or a law student.

2b. I-CAN!

I-CAN! is a kiosk and web-based legal services system designed to provide convenient and effective access to vital legal services. It helps you to fill out some court forms and explains the legal process.

3. In-Depth Representation

In some cases, Legal Aid Society lawyers will represent you for free in your legal proceeding. They do not handle criminal cases, however.