1. Legal Agencies Providing Family Law Pro Bono or Low Fee Services

ACCESS – SF Superior Court Offers self-help services on a drop-in basis for family law matters and certain civil cases. Is available to self-represented parties who seek legal information and resources.

Adoptees Liberty Movement Association (ALMA) The ALMA Society is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation funded by tax-deductible registration fees and donations. They were founded in 1971 and state they have the oldest, most comprehensive and successful adoption registry of its kind. ALMA has been helping their adoptee members connect with their birth relatives since 1971.

AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) The AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) is a non profit organization whose mission is to help people living with HIV/AIDS maintain or improve their health by resolving their legal issues.

Alameda County Bar Association Legal Services Clinic The Volunteer Legal Service Corporation (VLSC) is the pro bono arm of the Alameda County Bar Association. VLSC provides free legal services to low-income people in Alameda County and is the largest provider of pro bono legal services in the county.
Amarilis Medrano, Clinics Coordinator, amarilis@acbanet.org, (510) 302-2219

Alameda County Self-Help and Family Law Facilitator Centers Assists in pro se representation with information, instructions, self-help law books and referrals. No legal advice or representation.

Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach Founded in 1975, the mission of API Legal Outreach is to provide culturally competent and linguistically appropriate legal representation, social services, and advocacy for the most marginalized segments of the community including low-income women, seniors, recent immigrants, and youth.

BASF – Justice and Diversity Center (JDC) The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) provides pro bono legal services to low-income people as well as educational programs that foster diversity in the legal profession.

BASF – Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) – low fee referrals More than 500 attorneys participate in LRIS, including their low fee referral service. The LRIS clients have to qualify financially and the referral panel attorneys set their own reduced fee rate.

BASF – Legal Advice & Referral Clinic (LARC) & JDC JDC holds free legal clinics on one or two Saturdays a month. The Legal Advice and Referral Clinic (LARC) is a way for people to find out whether they have a legal issue, get brief advice, learn about next steps, and get referrals to further help in a variety of subject areas.

Bay Area Legal Aid Bay Area Legal Aid provides low-income clients with free civil legal assistance, including legal advice and counsel, effective referrals, and legal representation (including in the area of family law). They are the largest civil legal aid provider serving seven Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

Centro La Familia Through the Victim Assistance Program, their staff supports non-citizen victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and other serious crimes throughout Fresno County. Services include help with legal protective orders, mental health counseling and immigration-related assistance.

Centro Legal de la Raza Founded in 1969, Centro Legal de la Raza is a legal services agency protecting and advancing the legal rights of low-income, immigrant, and Latino communities through bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy.

Chico - Community Legal Information Center (CLIC) CLIC is a student-run, non-profit organization that has been providing legal information to students and community members for over 40 years.

Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto is a nonprofit offering legal services for low-income families throughout the region. They specialize in immigration, housing, workers’ rights, records clearance, and consumer protection.

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) CORA’s Legal Information Line helps those experiencing intimate partner abuse. Their attorneys provide advice, information and referrals on criminal and non-criminal intimate partner abuse cases. They offer assistance with understanding a victim’s role in the criminal process, restraining orders, child custody, divorce and more.

Contra Costa County Family Law Facilitator They provide assistance with the completion of legal forms and procedural guidance in most areas of family Law, including: child support, spousal support, child custody, visitation, dissolution, legal separation, nullity, and establishment of paternity.

Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC) The Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC) is a legal services agency in San Francisco that supports the legal rights and dignity of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking survivors. Committed to meeting the holistic legal needs of survivors through empowerment-based advocacy, CROC offers free legal advice and assistance in civil restraining order, criminal, and campus-based Title IX proceedings.

DA’s Family Violence Project The prosecutors, victim services advocates, investigators and paralegals in the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit are trained to handle domestic violence cases. They work with victims through every step of the criminal justice process and provide victims with access to services.

Disability Rights California Disability Rights California (DRC) is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. We provide programs for Information and Referral, Investigation of Abuse and Neglect, Legal Representation & Rights Protection, Education & Outreach, and Public Policy Advocacy.

Equal Rights Advocates Since 1974, Equal Rights Advocates has led the legal fight for women's equality. ERA's mission is to protect and secure equal rights and economic opportunities for women and girls through litigation and advocacy.

Family & Children's Law Center (FACLC) The Family & Children's Law Center (FACLC) assists children and families by helping them navigate the legal system. They provide low-cost legal services to children and families on matters ranging from domestic violence and immigration to child custody and support. The FACLC are advocates for the needs and rights of children and serve all forms of families.

Family Violence Appellate Project FVAP is dedicated to helping domestic violence survivors and their children appeal dangerous trial court decisions on their behalf for free and serves California and Washington state. We help survivors of abuse get the safety and justice they deserve.

Family Violence Law Center (FVLC) Founded in 1978, Family Violence Law Center (FVLC) helps diverse communities in Alameda County heal from domestic violence and sexual assault, advocating for justice and healthy relationships. They provide survivor-centered legal and crisis intervention services, offer prevention education for youth and other community members, and engage in policy work to create systemic change.

Legal Access Legal Access Alameda (Legal Access) is the pro bono arm of the Alameda County Bar Association. Legal Access provides free legal services to low-income people in Alameda County through monthly legal clinics in a range of areas of law. Legal Access relies on the support and commitment of volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law school graduates to hold over 30 legal clinics a month in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, guardianship, housing and more.

Legal Advocates for Children & Youth or LACY LACY provides free and confidential legal assistance to children and youth in juvenile dependency, family law, probate guardianship, education matters and numerous other practice areas; advocacy to improve court and community systems designed to protect and promote child welfare; and workshops to educate youth, parents, caregivers and members of the community about issues impacting child welfare and legal rights.

Legal Aid of San Mateo County Legal Aid provides free, quality civil legal services to San Mateo County’s low-income residents.

Legal Assistance for Seniors (LAS) LAS provides free legal services to seniors throughout Alameda County, including free legal advice and information, representation in court and administrative hearings, referrals to other community resources, and community education and training on legal issues.

Legal Services for Children (LSC) Through a holistic team approach utilizing legal advocacy and social work services, LSC's goal is to empower their clients and involve them in the critical decisions that impact their lives. LSC seeks safety and stability at home for their clients, as well as educational success and freedom from detention and deportation.

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children LSPC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and a designated California State Bar legal support center for Qualified Legal Service Providers. LSPC does not provide direct services or take on individual legal cases. However, they are able to provide informational manuals and referrals to other legal services.

Marin County Family Law Facilitator The Family Law Facilitator, a licensed attorney employed by the court, provides assistance to parents involved in parentage actions and other family law matters concerning child and/or spousal support. The services of the Family Law Facilitator include: distributing court forms and voluntary declarations of paternity, providing assistance to parties in completing forms, preparing child and spousal support calculations, as well as mediation of support matters. The Family Law Facilitator also provides referrals to the Department of Child Support Services, Family Court Services, and other community agencies providing services to families.

Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Program They offer a full range of programs and services to help break the cycle of violence, from those that give immediate relief to families in need to proactive services that help women and families move their lives in healthy directions.

Open Door Legal Open Door Legal is pioneering the country’s first system of universal access to civil legal representation. Their goal is to show that when everyone has access to the law, poverty will be dramatically reduced. They can assist low-income residents in specific San Francisco neighborhoods with advice or representation on various civil legal issues, including family law matters such as dissolution, custody/visitation, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, guardianship, or adoption.

Pro Bono Project For those who have a legal problem in a civil matter in Santa Clara County and live in the County of Santa Clara, but cannot afford a private attorney, Pro Bono Project might be able to help. They take or assist with cases in family law and consumer law.

Sacramento County Public Law Library The library is a practice library, focusing on practical materials for attorneys and the public. A team of highly skilled professional, technical, and clerical staff works together to provide appropriate resources to meet the legal research and information needs of library patrons.

Sacramento County Self-Help Center /Family Law Facilitator The Self-Help Center provides free legal, procedural assistance to individuals without an attorney in the areas of Family Support, Domestic Violence, Family Law and Probate. The Self-Help Center also houses a Community Resource Room for anyone in need of referrals to community services. All services are provided free of charge.

San Mateo County Family Law Facilitator The Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator (SHC/FLF) helps people who need legal information, but do not have lawyers. Help is free.

Santa Clara County Self-Service Center/Family Law Facilitator's Office The Self-Help Center can help with divorce, custody, visitation & support, eviction, guardianship, conservatorship, civil (non-family) and other issues.

Santa Cruz County Family Law Facilitator The Self Help Center assists with the following issues: Family Law, Restraining Orders, Guardianship (of the person), Landlord/Tenant, Name Changes, and Emancipations. They also offer Special Programs for assistance with Small Claims, Limited Civil and Conservatorship cases in addition to community and legal referrals, and public computers and self help legal resource library.

Sonoma County Guardianship Clinic Their mission is to ensure that children receive the services regarding parentage and financial support to which they are legally entitled.

Trinity County Family Law Facilitator Trinity Superior Court provides an Access to Justice Self-Help Center, located on the first floor of the courthouse, which includes the services of a Mediator and a Family Law Facilitator who can assist with filling out forms.

Voluntary Legal Services Program The Voluntary Legal Services Program of Northern California provides services to clients who need assistance with legal problems in family law. VLSP provides one time advice and forms assistance for separation, divorce, custody, support (child and spousal), paternity, etc. VLSP does not provide assistance with domestic violence issues or restraining orders.

WOMAN, Inc. W.O.M.A.N., Inc (Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent) provides peer counseling, therapy, safety planning, and referrals.

Yolo County Family Law Facilitator The Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’s Office provides legal information and assistance to self-represented parties. We assist with divorce, parentage, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, probate guardianship and conservatorship, small claims, unlawful detainers, domestic violence, civil harassment, elder abuse and workplace violence restraining orders, name changes and gender changes. We provide information regarding court forms, rules and procedures. We help parties to start their case or determine the next steps in their case. All services are free of charge.

2. Professional Organizations

AAML National American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys (AAML) This is the national website for the nonprofit American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. You can read or reprint the booklet Stepping Back From Anger, which is a guide for divorcing parents, read the Children’s Bill of Rights, order other publications, or find a family law specialist attorney through the site. This site has excellent information about the legal process of divorce as well. There are AAML chapters in Northern and in Southern California.

California Courts Information This is the site for the California courts featuring up-to- date information on Court of Appeal and Supreme Court opinions, court news, jury information, news releases, forms, etc.

American Bar Association: Family Law Section

ABA Center on Children and the Law

San Francisco County Bar Association

State Bar of California

Martindale Hubbell Since 1868, generations of lawyers have relied on Martindale-Hubbell as the authoritative guide to the American legal profession. The database is now regarded as the primary research source for information about attorneys and law firms around the world.

AFCC: The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, an international and interdisciplinary association dedicated to the constructive resolution of family disputes.

IACP: International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Site of the umbrella organization for Collaborative Practice (Collaborative Law, Collaborative Divorce) and information for subscriptions to the Collaborative Review