Bay Area Legal Aid
Our website is updated regularly with the most recent information and resources including links for resources such as, Public Benefits; Workplace/Employment issues; and many other topics.
For assistance please call:
Legal Advice Line: (800) 551-5554
Housing/Tenants Rights; Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Health Consumer Center: (855) 693-7285
The CONGRESS of Neutrals - Unlawful Detainers & Housing Legal Issues
Attorney of the Day Program & Mediation & Direct Service Programs
The Congress of Neutrals in conjunction with the help of the Contra Consta County Bar Association is now offering an Attorney of the Day program, in which attorneys volunteer to provide pro bono limited scope legal advice to Unlawful Detainer case litigants prior to or on the day of trial. This program also offers the counseling services of a certified housing and urban development (HUD) counselor, augmenting assistance to the community with housing legal issues.
The attorneys and HUD Counselor will be available either on the day of trial or by remote access either on the day of trial or by prior arrangement. Please contact Alice Forsyth at alicef@congressofneutrals.org for more information. The calendar dates that attorneys/counselors will be available and that Unlawful Detainers are heard in Contra Costa County are as follows:
Contra Costa Superior Court UD Calendar Schedule:
Pittsburg (Dept. 50): Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
1000 Center Drive Pittsburg, CA 94565
Martinez (Dept. 57): Wednesday, Friday 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
725 Court St. Martinez, CA 94553
Richmond (Dept. 54): Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
100-37th Richmond, CA 94805
The CONGRESS of Neutrals - PRIVATE MEDIATION SERVICES
The Congress of Neutrals now offers mediation in the community. Our mission is to help the community meet the gap in the need for mediation at affordable rates.
Our highly trained mediators can mediate in a vast number of subject matters, as many of our mediators are trained attorneys and negotiators with backgrounds in finance, counseling, and many areas of civil law to include but not limited to real estate/unlawful detainers, construction defects, insurance claims, tort injury, money dispute, probate and much more.
As a non-profit and community minded, our goal is to provide our services to meet the needs of those who may not be able to pay the rates of other mediators. We offer better than competitive rates and we offer a need-based sliding scale for those eligible. Contact us at contact@congressofneutrals.org. for our rates.
If you have a conflict that you may have to take to court, we can work on resolving your differences without the greater expense and time to file and take your case through the court system.
We currently mediate all court unlawful detainer/eviction cases where parties agree to mediate. We are successful in finding meaningful solutions for all parties, often avoiding an eviction for the defendant and payment options for the plaintiff.
Mediation allows you to maintain control and a say in the outcome of your case!
For a list of our current mediators, their resumes and their areas of expertise click on
our website: https://congressofneutrals.org/index.php/private-mediation/
If you are interested in our services, please contact us at contact@congressofneutrals.org or call (925) 937-3008. One of our staff will get back to you shortly.
Contra Costa FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
The Family Justice Center (the “Center”) is a warm and welcoming one-stop center for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking. The Center is where families come first. They bring resources to meet the needs of children, youth and families impacted by interpersonal violence, recognizing that family violence greatly impacts children’s healthy development including their emotional, mental and physical health.
A non-profit organization, they partner with over 60 community agencies to provide survivors with the support they need.
The Center is a one stop agency that facilitates victims of domestic violence with a variety of programs and services, including:
- Lawyers for Family Justice provides pro bono or low bono services for Family Justice Center clients in an effort to bridge the income gap for survivors.
- Trauma Recovery Center provides free, trauma-informed mental health services for victims of violent crime regardless of insurance.
- Elder Abuse Prevention Project is a partnership of organizations that serve elders who are experiencing physical, psychological, financial and emotional abuse.
Services are available in person or via phone.
Nuestros servicios están disponibles en persona o por teléfono.
You can call us Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. For assistance after hours, please call 211.
Puede llamarnos de Lunes a Viernes de 9 A.M a 5 P.M. Para recibir asistencia después de las 5:00 pm, llame al 211.
Richmond (West/Oeste) 510-974-7200
Concord (Central/Centro) 925-521-6366
Antioch (East/Este) 925-281-0970
The Center’s Resources and Frequently Asked Questions page.
Contra Costa County Superior Court Self-Help Center
FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR’S OFFICE
The Family Law Facilitator’s Office offers assistance remotely Tuesday through Friday via LiveChat! Monday through Friday they offer limited drop-in assistance at their Help Desk in Martinez. Department of Child Support Services Drop-in hours are Tuesday through Friday. Click this link for more information and to print the flyer. Check the court website for their holiday hours.
You must not have an attorney in order to use the services of the Family Law Facilitator’s Office. Staff in the Facilitator’s Office can provide legal assistance to help you represent yourself in your court case, but cannot give you legal advice. If you want legal or strategic advice, you should speak to a private attorney outside the court. Facilitator’s Office staff members are not your attorneys. Facilitator’s Office staff members do not go to court with you and they are not responsible for the outcome of your case.
LANDLORD/TENANT (UNLAWFUL DETAINER), NAME CHANGES, AND CIVIL HARASSMENT
If you need assistance with unlawful detainer, name change, or civil harassment restraining order issues, you can contact the Self-Help Center by emailing selfhelpcivil@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail at (925) 608-2128.
PROBATE FACILITATOR ASSISTANCE
GUARDIANSHIP AND LIMITED CONSERVATORSHIP
The Probate Facilitator is an attorney employed by the court to assist parties who represent themselves and who seek limited conservatorship. The proposed Conservatee must be a client of the Regional Center for the East Bay. “We are working with a user friendly computer program which prepares the documents. We will be happy to assist you with instructions and review.” If you have questions about the forms or process to obtain a limited conservatorship of a person, you can contact the Probate Facilitator by sending an email to probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail message at (925) 608-2066
If you need assistance with guardianship issues, you can contact the Probate Facilitator by leaving a message at (925) 608-2066 or by emailing probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.
If you need assistance with a small claims issue, you can contact the Small Claims Advisor by email at smallclaims@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.
Be sure to do the following:
When you send us an email or leave a message, please include your name, the name of the other party, your case number (if you have one), a brief description of your issue, and your contact information. A Self-Help Center staff member will contact you as soon as possible. Response times may vary due to the volume of emails or voicemails received.
SCOPE OF SERVICES:
You must not have an attorney in order to use the services of the Self-Help Center. Staff in the Self-Help Center can provide legal assistance to help you represent yourself in your court case, but cannot give you legal advice. If you want legal or strategic advice, you should speak to a private attorney outside the court. Self- Help Center staff members are not your attorneys. Self-Help Center staff members do not go to court with you and they are not responsible for the outcome of your case.
Contra Costa County Superior Court Accounting Workshop
Free Hands-on Training and Assistance with Court-required Accounting Reports and Conservatorship Accounting
(925) 646-2783
Workshop attendees MUST sign-up in advance. Sign-ups end two (2) days before the scheduled class. Please call the Contra Costa County Public Law Library at (925) 646-2783 to sign-up and obtain additional information. Or email: reference.questionsCCCPLLIB@gmail.com
Confirm your registration in the week prior to scheduled workshop by calling (925) 646-2783. Attendees arriving late will not be admitted.
Instructors: Rex Crandell and Tammara Brown.
* California Probate Code sections: A. §1060-§1064 for Court Accounting for (i) Probate Executors, (ii) Probate Personal Representatives, (iii) Trustees of Family Trusts seeking court approval. B. PrC §2620-§2633 Guardians & Conservators. C. PrC §3708 Absentee Personal Property. D. PrC §3919 Account Custodian Liability. E. PrC §5204 Special Power of Attorney. F. PrC §16320 Princi- ple & Income Act.
Contra Costa County Tenant & Landlord Resources
Evictions, Rental Assistance & Mediation
RECURSOS PARA INQUILINOS Y PROPIETARIOS DEL CONDADO DE CONTRA COSTA
D E S A L O J O S, A S I S T E N C I A D E A L Q U I L E R Y M E D I A C I Ó N
City of Concord Housing Division
Information about the City’s housing assistance programs, including the Residential Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance; and other available resources.
Monument Impact: Tuesday Tenant Legal Clinics
-Learn and assert your rights!
-Get your security deposit back
-Get repairs made
-Prevent landlord retaliation
-Prevent eviction
1st Tuesday of every month: Antioch & East County Tenant Clinic
Call 925-529-4843 to set up an appointment.
3rd Tuesday of every month: Concord & Central County Tenant Clinic
Call 925-240-3441 to set up an appointment.
Spaces are limited. Leave your name, phone number, and your issue!
6:00 PM – 8 PM VIA ZOOM
ECHO Fair Housing
ECHO‘s Tenant/Landlord Counseling Program provides information to tenants and landlords on their housing rights and responsibilities. Additionally, ECHO has trained mediators to assist in resolving housing disputes through conciliation and mediation. The primary objective of the program is to build awareness of housing laws and prevent homelessness.
During the Coronavirus health crisis, the counselors at ECHO Housing are working remotely. Please call us at 510-581-9380 or 855-ASK-ECHO for assistance and your call will be routed to the appropriate counselor.
A HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency
Hola Asistente - a free personal immigration assistant.
Hola Asistente, is a free virtual immigration assistant for anyone in immigration court.
Hola Asistente tracks and alerts you about your precise case information while teaching you the basics of immigration law, in either Spanish and English.
Powered by vetted immigration attorneys, Hola Asistente provides you detailed case information, alerts you about any changes, and teaches you the basics of immigration law in the United States.
Free to use. Watch an introduction on Youtube.
Lawyer in the Library
Lawyer in the Library
Richmond Law Library 2nd Thursday of the month – BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!
To schedule call (925) 646-2783.
Lawyer in the Library is a program that offers unrepresented persons the opportunity to meet briefly with a volunteer attorney to get paperwork checked, or obtain answers to questions, or get general direction or information about a legal problem.
Because the sessions between clinic attendees and volunteer attorneys are brief (usually 15 to 20 minutes), it is important to maximize the time. Here are some tips to help accomplish that:
- DO indicate what result you are seeking. What are you trying to make happen? Or, what needs to change in your present situation?
- DO write your questions down and bring them to the meeting.
- DO bring any relevant legal papers, in case the attorney needs to see them.
- DO briefly summarize, in chronological order, the problem.
Legal Aid at Work
The Workers’ Rights Clinic provides low-income and unemployed people with confidential information about their legal rights related to work in CALIFORNIA only. People in need of assistance may call (925)522-2017 to make an appointment.
The Legal Aid at Work website includes additional resources on workplace protections for NICU families, those experiencing domestic violence, those experiencing pregnancy loss, family caregivers, lactating parents, and undocumented workers.
Legal Aid at Work’s Work and Family Program has a free helpline (800-880-8047) that provides free, confidential legal advice on pregnancy/parenting/caregiving workplace rights, as well as technical assistance to those who support families. They have staff that speak English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Farsi and use language line services to provide support in other languages.
Their free legal clinics and helplines provide free direct, and individualized help for people across California. They offer know-your-rights trainings and 180+ fact sheets, do-it-yourself guides, sample letters, instructional videos, and other resources online and in person.
They offer know-your-rights video for pregnant and parenting workers in California which covers how to get accommodations for pregnant workers and rights to paid leave for pregnant and parenting workers. See links below for English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Farsi, and Arabic. Panjabi, Korean, Tagalog, and Armenian will also be available soon. These videos were made with support from the Skadden Foundation.
English: Pregnant and Parenting Workers’ Rights to Paid Leave and Accommodations in California
Cantonese: 怀孕及照顾孩子的加州工作者获得有薪休假和工作便利的权利
Mandarin: 怀孕及照顾孩子的加州工作者获得有薪休假和工作便利的权利
Arabic: حقوق الموظفات الحوامل والمربيات في مكان العمل للحصول على إجازة مدفوعة الأجروالتسهيلات في كاليفورنيا
Farsi: حقوق قانونی از طرف محل کار برای زنان بار دار و والدین در ایالت کالیفرنیا
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services
CCSLS’ vision is that every older adult in Contra Costa County is able to live a safe, healthy, and productive life as they age. Our mission is to provide free legal services to protect the rights of older adults (60 and over), mediate poverty, improve health outcomes, and enable older adults to remain independent.
CCSLS’ office is open and serving clients in person and remotely. Please note in alignment with the CDC & County health recommendations, all clients are now required to wear masks when visiting the CCSLS office. If you need assistance, please call our office at 925-609-7900.
In Person Clinics. We are beginning in-person legal clinics again! Our first in person Consult-An-Attorney clinic was held in Pleasant Hill on 8/3. Please check the Events section on our website to see schedule updates and to sign up for our clinics in the months ahead. We will also post updates there should things change due to the Delta variant. In the works are Consult-An Attorney clinics in Concord, Martinez and Pleasant Hill and a Wills clinic in Antioch.
Tenant Protections Info. Rental assistance is still available for those who qualify through the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief portal.
Social Justice Collaborative - Immigration Issues
Due to COVID-19, SJC is currently not holding in-person consultations. however, SJC is offering free phone consultations between 10-2 Monday-Thursday.
Debido a COVID-19, SJCactualmente no está realizando consultas en persona. Sin embargo, SJC ofrece consultas gratuitas de teléfono entre 10-2 Lunes a Jueves.
CALL (510) 992 3964