About the Orange County Legal Aid Society
The Orange County Legal Aid Society was established in 1956 with a solemn mission: to provide the best possible legal counsel to low-income persons in our community, ensuring that they experience equal justice under law. This objective is enshrined in our motto, Equali-Tees, which embodies the society’s promise to represent all who are in need, regardless of background, ethnicity, or social status.
Over the years, the society has grown to become a vital community resource, staffed by a dedicated team of volunteer and part-time attorneys and administrative personnel committed to providing high-quality legal services. Our mission is not simply to offer surrogate counsel but to empower community members to navigate their own legal challenges. We foster an environment where self-represented litigants can develop confidence in advocating for themselves in the legal system.
Legal assistance has evolved into a range of specializations and targeted services , each tailored to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals. Through a holistic services model, we aim to address the root causes of legal issues while empowering clients to become effective advocates. From elder law to child custodial rights and low-income housing, our comprehensive approach to legal aid ensures a level playing field for those most vulnerable in our society.
We at the Orange County Legal Aid Society uphold our core values as we continue to dedicate our skills and resources in service to the community.
What Services Does the Orange County Legal Aid Provide?
Orange County Legal Aid Society’s services are vast, and cover a wide range of legal issues and needs. In addition to providing representation on limited-scope matters, the organization provides referrals to other attorneys, which offers more opportunities for legal advice. Professional attorneys, staff, and volunteers provide services to individuals and families in need seeking help with issues in the following areas:
• Family Law
• Legal Aid for Veterans
• Tenant and Landlord Law
• Housing Rights
• Violence, Abuse, and Stalking
• Consumer Rights
• Immigration Law
• Bankruptcy
• Civil Enforcement
• Charitable Trusts
• Probate and Estate Planning
• Probate Guardianships and Conservatorships
• PVA – Public Veterans Affairs
The organization’s Family Law Center focuses on two areas: divorce and domestic violence. One of 17 centers nationwide, this is the only one in Orange County. For most working families proof of financial hardship is required for assistance. The Family Law Center also has the added benefit of offering mediation services, as well as community educational classes/workshops on issues such as Divorce Basics, Mediation Services, and Legal Separation Basics.
Who Can Apply and How?
To qualify for assistance from the Orange County Legal Aid Society, a client must meet certain eligibility criteria. These criteria include income, which is set at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, and residency in Orange County, California. In addition, applicants must be facing a civil legal issue that falls within the categories of cases the Legal Aid Society is allowed to address.
Once eligible, applicants complete an intake interview and provide the necessary documentation requested by the Orange County Legal Aid Society. Minimum documentation includes a proof of identification, a proof of residency in Orange County, a proof of income and, if applicable, a copy of the legal document involved with the case. In most cases, a legal document request is essential in determining eligibility and assessing how the organization can help the applicant. The Orange County Legal Aid Society uses the information provided to establish a strategy for helping the applicant who needs assistance.
It is important to understand that completing an intake interview with the Orange County Legal Aid Society does not constitute accepting an application for assistance. The organization receives a very high number of requests for assistance and is unable to help everyone. After reviewing the information provided, the Orange County Legal Aid Society will respond to the applicant with confirmation of their eligibility and information about available resources, if applicable.
Successful Cases and Impact Statistics
While the general impact of the Orange County Legal Aid Society is impressive, deeper analysis shows even more impressive results. One such case study comes from a client served via their Family Law Pro Se Assistance Program (FLPA), which conducts legal assistance clinics (a.k.a. Family Law Clinics) in every State Courthouse throughout Orange County. A FLPA staff attorney represented an indigent individual who sought a family law restraining order against his ex-wife in an Orange County courthouse. The client arrived at the clinic in the hallway of the domestic law court, and after a brief interview, the staff attorney quickly determined that the client was eligible for a restraining order against his ex-wife in that he had been suffering physical and mental abuse from his wife for the past several years. The clinic attorney went to the courtroom, filed the necessary paperwork, gave oral notice to the court of their intention to represent the client and was able to obtain the restraining order against the wife who was inevitably removed from the courthouse by the Sheriff’s Office.
Certainly not all cases are quite that clear cut, however, and some can prove to be a handful. For example, a client called the office on a Monday seeking legal assistance for an adversarial hearing in front of the Orange County Mental Health Court. By Tuesday, an appointment was set up for the client to meet with a pro bono attorney at the office. By Thursday of the same week, the pro bono attorney was able to appear on the mad clients behalf and was able to obtain a modification of the clients involuntary medication orders. Although all clients do not experience such "instant" justice, the Orange County Legal Aid Society’s involvement in the community has proven to be worthwhile and beneficial.
Community Engagement and Collaborations
The Orange County Legal Aid Society collaborates with many other legal organizations, with The Rotary Club of Orlando, and with many churches and civic organizations to provide opportunities for lawyers and law firms to participate in community programs through volunteerism. While there are no mandatory pro bono requirements, the American Bar Association Cease and Desist Letter states "The OCBA is strongly discouraging its members from doing free legal work in the state of Florida."
The society also provides volunteer opportunities for attorneys who may be seeking courtroom experience, or who want to focus on a specific area of law . The society provides opportunities to lawyers who have been suspended or disbarred, and the county affords the legal aid society great independence and discretion.
The Legal Aid Society has approximately 675 attorneys who are on its roster. Volunteers may choose to focus on one or more areas of law that interest them, including civil law, family law, children’s law, guardianship, matrimonial/relationship law, estate planning, wills, probate, or mediation. There are also weekly volunteer sessions, where attorneys team up in small groups and work together on various legal matters.
Goals Ahead and Challenges to Overcome
The OC LAS is constantly evaluating its programs and services to expand its reach into the community. Expand and grow, those are the words that keep coming up in our meetings. OC LAS plans to do just that by adding the following programs over the next few years: In addition, we also think that it is important for the clients to obtain as many legal entitlements as possible, so we are working on creating new projects to help with that. For instance, at our recent Pro Bono Conference we trained attorneys and bank employees on how to assist with the VA Benefit Process.
While we are excited about future opportunities to assist more clients we are keenly aware of our past and current challenges. We are currently struggling with how to expand our footprint with limited staff, many of whom are part-time. We continue to serve on boards and work with a number of community partners to maintain our presence and amplify our mission and goals. In addition, we struggle more than many other organizations with fundraising. As a non-profit, we depend on grants and contributions from generous donors. We have no way of predicting what grant we will or won’t receive from year to year, nor do we control the amount. Our board eagerly has identified the need to increase our fundraising skills and focus on a "Fundraising and Development" project to expand our skill set.
How to Contribute to the Orange County Legal Aid Society
Like most public interest entities, the Orange County Legal Aid Society is always in need of a steady flow of donations, both from individuals and organizations. Donations of unused office supplies, office furniture and computers are one way to support the nonprofit. Tax-deductible financial donations are also welcome with open arms. Individuals can choose to support this organization by attending a fundraiser or donating via its website. The Orange County Legal Aid Society is known for offering rewarding volunteer opportunities for both attorneys and non-attorneys. Prospective volunteer attorneys should have an active status license in the state of California and a minimum of five years experience in litigation or a willingness to accept a case under the guidance of staff attorneys. Non-attorney volunteers can make a real difference through administrative assistance , layout, design and production of newsletters, other special projects, referrals of cases, and fundraising if they have experience in those areas. An attorney mentor program is also available for volunteers who are attorneys. Educational programs are offered for attorneys and non-attorneys. Volunteers can also do important work outside of the office through advocacy efforts such as petitions for legislative change, efforts to increase funding for free legal services, and coalition building with other organizations. The Orange County Legal Aid Society offers a number of pro bono opportunities for persons interested in helping members of the community in need of legal assistance.