Indexed from official State Bar of California records · Identity verification · Updated regularly
California Attorney Registry · Public resources
Free & Low-Cost Legal Help in California
Find California court self-help, legal aid and lower-cost attorney options. Browse local resources, eligibility information and official guidance without signing up.
CAR is an independent directory, not a court, government agency or legal-aid provider. Resource listings are unpaid and do not imply an affiliation. Legal information, not legal advice.
No lawyer for your case; ask which matters the center handles.
Legal aid or a clinic
Assistance offered by a separate organization.
Income, location, issue and capacity rules; whether representation is included.
Private attorney
Services agreed directly with an attorney.
Scope, fees and availability. A consultation is not a promise to take the case.
Court self-help offers procedural information and help with forms to people without a lawyer. Staff do not become your attorney, give legal advice or represent you in court. Conversations are not protected by attorney-client privilege.
Legal-aid programs set their own income, location and case-type rules. Capacity can be limited. Only the provider can decide eligibility and whether to accept a matter.
Resource links go directly to the provider. They are free to browse without registration. Listing order is not a quality judgment or a guarantee of availability.
Official court guidance
California Courts Self-Help Guide
Browse court forms and explanations by case type. Use the official guide for procedural information; CAR does not calculate a filing deadline or choose a legal strategy.
How to access
Online, no CAR account required.
Eligibility and limits
Information, not a lawyer for your case.
Language access
The guide offers language options; availability varies by topic.
Source checked . Confirm hours and service availability before traveling.
Official court guidance
What court self-help can and cannot do
Court self-help offers procedural information and help with forms to people without a lawyer. Staff do not become your attorney, give legal advice or represent you in court. Conversations are not protected by attorney-client privilege.
How to access
Read before sharing details with court staff.
Eligibility and limits
Court self-help is free regardless of income; available case types vary.
Source checked . Confirm hours and service availability before traveling.
Official court guidance
Free and low-cost assistance explained
Understand legal aid, law-school clinics, law libraries and other sources of assistance. These are different services with different eligibility rules.
How to access
Online guide with links to service directories.
Eligibility and limits
Legal-aid programs set their own income, location and case-type rules. Capacity can be limited. Only the provider can decide eligibility and whether to accept a matter.
Source checked . Confirm hours and service availability before traveling.
Nonprofit directory
LawHelpCA legal-aid directory
Look for legal-aid organizations by location and issue. Contact the organization directly to ask about intake and eligibility.
How to access
Use the organization's published contact or application method.
Eligibility and limits
Legal-aid programs set their own income, location and case-type rules. Capacity can be limited. Only the provider can decide eligibility and whether to accept a matter.
Language access
Check the directory and provider for language assistance.
Source checked . Confirm hours and service availability before traveling.
Official court guidance
Official eviction and housing resources
Court self-help, legal-aid and housing-resource links for California eviction matters. A CAR case submission does not file an answer in court or extend a deadline.
How to access
Online; use the linked local provider for assistance.
Eligibility and limits
Provider rules vary. Confirm the court and case type on your papers.
Source checked . Confirm hours and service availability before traveling.
Explore help by county
These guides add local access information. For any other California county, use the official self-help locator. Absence from this pilot does not mean help is unavailable.
Court self-help explains procedure and forms without becoming your lawyer. Legal-aid organizations may offer advice or representation if you qualify and they can accept the matter. A private attorney sets their own fees and scope. CAR helps you explore these separate paths; it does not determine eligibility or assign counsel.
Begin by deciding which service you are seeking: information about a process, help completing paperwork, or an attorney to act for you. That distinction is more useful than treating every search for free help as a search for a free lawyer. Court staff cannot choose a strategy for your particular dispute. Legal-aid programs may screen for income, location, issue and capacity. An application alone does not mean a case has been accepted. When contacting an organization, ask what service is offered, whether it includes representation, how intake works and what to prepare. Confirm language and access arrangements before visiting. You can use the official resources on this page without creating a CAR account. If you decide to browse private attorneys, read the terms they publish and ask them directly about availability. No choice on CAR changes a court deadline or creates an attorney-client relationship.
California Courts publishes eviction information and links to housing assistance, court self-help and legal-aid resources. Local services and eligibility differ. Use the county guide or official locator to find the appropriate provider. Do not wait for a CAR response before checking your court papers and seeking timely assistance.
Eviction paperwork and a request for legal assistance are separate things. Reading an online guide, applying to a nonprofit or submitting a case on CAR does not submit a response to a court. The official California Courts housing-resource page is a starting point for procedural information and local assistance. A court self-help service may explain forms, while a nonprofit may assess whether it can assist with a particular housing issue. Tell the provider which court and type of paper are involved through its own intake process, not through CAR analytics or a public question box. Ask the provider about current capacity and any appointment requirement. This guide does not calculate your deadline, assess a notice or determine a defense. If a source is unavailable, use the statewide self-help locator or contact the court identified on your papers.
Explore legal aid and court self-help first if cost is a concern. If you contact a private attorney, ask about limited-scope work, sliding-scale fees and whether pro-bono matters are considered. A free initial consultation does not mean the entire case is free. Confirm the scope and charges directly.
Affordability has more than one meaning. A person may need free procedural information, a short consultation, help with one part of a matter or full representation. Ask which of these a provider actually offers. Some attorneys may agree to handle only specified tasks; others may consider a reduced fee or unpaid work. None of those arrangements can be assumed from a directory listing. CAR's attorney profiles can display fee arrangements supplied by the attorney. Those statements describe terms to discuss, not guaranteed acceptance or a promise of an outcome. Before engaging anyone, clarify the work covered, what remains your responsibility and any charges beyond the initial conversation. The official free-and-low-cost-help guide also identifies clinics and law-library programs. If one organization cannot help, the statewide directory can help you explore other resources without requiring you to submit a case on CAR.
Check the service area and case types on the provider's own website.
Ask whether an appointment is needed and whether the service includes advice or representation.
Confirm current language, accessibility and remote-service options.
Ask what documents to prepare and how to send them securely.
Do not put names, court papers or sensitive case details into CAR's public help questions.
For criminal charges, ask the court about appointed counsel if you cannot afford an attorney. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. This page is not an emergency service.
Considering a private attorney?
A free consultation is not free representation. Sliding scale means a provider may adjust fees. Pro bono considered means an attorney may consider unpaid work, not that a free place is available. CAR profiles show attorney-supplied terms where available; confirm them directly before engaging anyone.
Submitting a case on CAR is separate from applying for legal aid. Attorneys choose what to review; CAR does not select an attorney for you. Submission does not guarantee a response, free representation, confidentiality or an attorney-client relationship.
Claim your free profile and confirm your fee arrangements, languages and service area. Say whether you consider pro-bono or sliding-scale work without promising a place is available. Update your profile when your terms change. No paid membership is needed to list these details.