Free Legal Clinics

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Updated: 9/07/07

  Legal Aid Society Tax Clinic - check the calendar of events page; generally held on the last Weds. of the month.
  Civil Temporary Restraining Order (Civil TRO) Clinic
  Conservatorship Clinic
  Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order Clinic
  Unlawful Detainer (Eviction) Clinic - Downtown, East County & South Bay
 University of San Diego Legal Clinics
 Joslyn Senior Center Free Legal Clinics
 Del Mar Community Connections- Legal Clinic for Seniors

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO, INC.

Free Legal Assistance for Low-Income Taxpayers

• Do you have Questions about Your Federal Income Taxes?
• Do You Need Advice and/or Assistance to Resolve Problems or Issues With the IRS?

If You Answered "Yes" to either of these questions, then the LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO, INC. can help!

The Clinic helps Taxpayers with federal individual income tax matters. Normally, we do not assist with California state income tax matters.

Some of the kinds of federal tax matters that the Clinic handles includes but is not limited to:

• IRS Audits
• IRS Collection Notices
• IRS Liens and Garnishments
• IRS Demands to File Tax Returns for Past Years

The Legal Aid Society will be providing free legal help at a special tax clinic. Legal Services are available to persons who meet the Legal Aid Society's low-income criteria.

Date & Time:	Normally held on the last Wednesday of each month, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Check the online calendars for specific dates.
Place:	San Diego County Public Law Library Main Library 1105 Front Street San Diego, CA 92101	Map of 1105 Front St San Diego, CA 92101-3904
	Note: Read our Parking Tips before driving down to the Main Library.

For information on how to make a reservation to attend one of the tax clinics, call Shahin Rahimi at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego at (877) 534-2524 ext. 2602

* Flyer information & graphics provided to the San Diego County Public Law Library by the Legal Aid Society.

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University of San Diego Legal Clinics
619-260-7470

SESSIONS
• Beginning of September to end of November;
• Mid-January to Beginning of April

The University of San Diego Legal Clinics offer free legal services to clients in a variety of areas of law. The legal clinics are able to assist clients speaking English and Spanish.

If you call our office outside of these times, they will only be able to give you a referral.

Through the Legal Clinics Department of the University's School of Law, the University operates eight legal clinics to assist qualified individuals in San Diego. In most cases, services are offered to individuals who fall below the federal poverty level and who otherwise would not have access to legal representation. Their legal clinics are:

• Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
• Small Claims Clinic
• Entrepreneurship Clinic
• Immigration Clinic
• Civil Clinic
• Environmental Law Clinic
• Special Education Clinic
• Mental Health Clinic (Patient Advocacy Clinic)
• Land Development Clinic (Land Use Clinic)

All of their legal clinics provide clients with free legal assistance, while enabling law students to gain confidence and experience through client representation, which includes interviewing and counseling clients, preparing legal documents and correspondence, negotiating and appearing in court. The students perform these tasks under the guidance and supervision of law professors who are members of the State Bar of California. Each clinic has up to ten students with one or more supervising attorneys.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic is one of the Law School's newest legal clinics which began operation in 1999 to assist clients with tax issues. Our Tax Clinic provides free representation to low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. For example, the Tax Clinic can represent individuals facing audits, collection actions, or other proceedings in federal tax court. The Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic will also be conducting information seminars for taxpayers advising them of their rights and responsibilities. These seminars are also available to persons for whom English is not their primary language.

The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic does not prepare tax returns and they are not part of the IRS.

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Small Claims Clinic

The Small Claims Clinic began operations in the spring of 2000. The clinic provides free assistance to individuals filing cases in Small Claims Court. University of San Diego law students, under the supervision of an attorney, can help individuals prepare for their upcoming case. Moreover, if an individual decides to appeal the decision of the Small Claims Court, the Small Claims Clinic can assist people in filing an appeal. The Small Claims Clinic also conducts informational seminars that provide an overview of the process and procedures of Small Claims Court.

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Entrepreneurship Clinic

The Entrepreneurship Clinic is the newest legal clinic which opened in 2001 offering pro bono legal services to individuals who wish to start or expand a small business. The clinic is designed to assist entrepreneurs who could not otherwise afford a lawyer in the following ways: obtaining business permits and licenses, negotiating contracts, trademark and copyright research and registration, advice on the numerous local and national rules and regulations, determining the appropriate form of business entity, and assistance with other legal issues involving small businesses.

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Immigration Clinic

Since the late 1970's, the Immigration Clinic assisted San Diego's growing refugee and immigrant communities, including Southeast Asians, East Africans, Central and South Americans and Mexicans. Students interview, counsel and represent clients with immigration-related problems such as asylum, immigrating family members, naturalization, and deportation. This clinic provides intense training in immigration law and procedures.

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Civil Clinic

The Civil Clinic has been providing free legal services to indigent individuals residing within San Diego County since 1971. These clients meet the Legal Services Corporation guidelines for financial eligibility. Under the supervision of one or more attorneys, law students represent clients in landlord/tenant disputes, Supplemental Security Income and Social Security disability claims, uninsured motorist defense, consumer issues, and with the formation of non-profit corporations.

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Environmental Law Clinic

Since 1982, the Environmental Law Clinic has provided free advice and representation to citizens and environmental groups of all kinds regarding environmental issues before Local and State agencies and before the Courts in support of environmental protection. The Environmental Clinic's aim is to serve as a watchdog over Local and State agencies so that environmental concerns are addressed first. The clinic has been involved with issues relating to toxic waste disposal, retention of coastal access, land use, air and water pollution, and sewage treatment. Eligibility of representation varies case by case, and only in cases where there is no economic benefit to the client we represent.

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Special Education Clinic

The Special Education Clinic provides the parents of special needs children with assistance navigating the city school special education system. The students act as advocates during IEP meetings and also advise parents of their rights under the AB 2726.

Law students work with a government agency, such as the City Attorney's Office, the County Counsel, or with private clients. Students working with government agencies assist with policy issues such as redevelopment programs and code enforcement prosecutions. Under supervision of an attorney, students represent clients at discretionary review hearings, provide mediation and negotiation services between homeowners and government agencies. Students are also placed as interns with government agencies and with private land use attorneys.

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Mental Health Clinic (Patient Advocacy Clinic)

The Mental Health Clinic (Patient Advocacy Clinic) assists in matters relating to inpatient psychiatric patient rights, and assisting patient advocates with administrative hearings. They also help mental health consumers with securing visits, and other related matters. Through the Mental Health Clinic, law students are trained in mental health law while providing legal representation for indigent mental health consumers in Superior Court proceedings. This clinic has a separate telephone number than that of the other legal clinics. Callers can contact the Mental Health Clinic by dialing (619) 543-9998.

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Land Development Clinic (Land Use Clinic)

The Land Development Clinic (Land Use Clinic) provides students with the opportunity to become involved in land use and land development issues. Student have the option of being placed with a government agency such as the San Diego City's Attorrneys Office or the County of San Diego, or students can elect to work with private clients. Students representing private clients assist property owners through the permitting process, represent clients at discretionary review hearings, meet with local community planning groups and negotiate with the city or other governmental agencies. Students representing private clients work under the supervision of the clinic director. The weekly two hour classroom component covers the basic statutory and regulatory framework of land use law and procedures. The course is graded on a 4-tier Pass/Fail basis. Students are exposed to a variety of issues ranging from code enforcement and the permitting process to local and regional planning issues, as well as the Multi-Species Conservation Program.

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The telephone number for all other clinics is (619) 260-7470. All of the legal clinics, including the Mental Health Clinic, are operated through a facility on the University of San Diego campus.

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Joslyn Senior Center
Free Legal Clinics

The Joslyn Senior Center in Escondido offers a free legal clinic from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesdays for:

• seniors (55+ years of age,
• disabled,
• low income*, and
• minorities.
  

LOCATION:

JOSLYN SENIOR CENTER 210 Park Avenue Escondido, CA 92025

Map of 210 E Park Ave Escondido, CA 92025-1811

Participants do not have to be residents of Escondido. An appointment is mandatory and can be made by calling (760) 480-0611. Volunteer attorneys spend about 15 minutes with each participant and help them with civil matters, such as reviewing wills or divorce. The Joslyn Senior Center schedules clinics up to two weeks in advance. Sponsored by The Senior Service Council, Escondido (SSCE).

* income must be below federal poverty guidelines: $8980/a single person, $18,400/a family of four, information based on 2003 federal poverty guidelines. Contact the Joslyn Senior Center to verify eligibility.

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Del Mar Community Connections
Legal Clinic for Seniors

The Del Mar Community Connections' Legal Center provides legal services by appointment once a month on the last Friday of every month from 1- 5 p.m. Appointments are about half hour each, and in order to schedule an appointment to see an attorney, you must be:

• a resident of the City of Del Mar, and
• over 60 years of age.

You MUST CALL (858) 792-7565 for an appointment, and attorneys can advise you on legal issues such as consumer problems, age discrimination, fraud, abuse and neglect, landlord / tenant issues, some family legal issues, social security and public benefit problems, wills, and powers of attorney for health matters.

LOCATION:

Del Mar City Hall Annex (Behind City Hall at 1050 Camino Del Mar) Phone: 858-792-7565

Map of 1050 Camino Del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014-2604

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CONSULT A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN AT (619) 685-6552
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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