Legal Advice and Referral Clinic

(415) 989-1616

If you have general questions about coming to a free legal clinic, please call.

Do you need a confidential consultation with an attorney but cannot afford it? The Justice and Diversity Center co-sponsors three free legal clinics to meet the needs of low-income Bay Area residents. The clinics offer free, limited legal advice and referrals to residents. 

For information in Chinese and Spanish, please refer to the flyers below. 有关中文和西班牙文的信息,请参阅下方的传单. Para obtener información en chino y español, consulte los folletos al final.


Hastings Legal Advice and Referral Clinic

The Legal Advice and Referral Clinic (LARC) is a way for people to find out whether they have a legal issue, get brief advice on issues, learn about the next steps, and get referrals to further help.

Clinic Format and Location
The clinic is currently a hybrid walk-in clinic accessible by zoom, phone, and in-person. The physical location is at UC Hastings’ Cotchett Law Center, 333 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Eligibility
As its priority, the clinic is intended to address the legal needs of low-income individuals however all are welcomed. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, tenants associations, or similar groups are not eligible.

When
The clinic occurs on the third Friday of every month, from 4 - 6 pm. Consultations with attorneys are scheduled within the clinic time.

Areas of Law: The clinic provides consultations in the following areas of law:

  • Tax Law
  • Family Law
  • Housing Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Immigration Law

PLEASE NOTE: To see what legal areas will be addressed at the clinic, please visit this webpage five days before the clinic date.

If you ever have a question on if your legal issue can be addressed, please call the number on the flyer.

How it Works
You may join the clinic by Zoom, phone call, or come in-person.   

To Join by Zoom: 
Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/3BPnrn5 

No password needed.

When you join the clinic by Zoom, you will momentarily be placed in a waiting room and transferred to a breakout or meeting room. An intake volunteer will interview you to complete an intake form in the breakout room. During your consultation, you will meet with the volunteer attorney who will provide your free legal advice. Prior to the consult, the intake volunteer will explain and review the limited scope agreement with you.

To Join by Phone
The process for joining the clinic by phone is similar to the Zoom process. Call (669) 900-6833. When you are connected or joined, enter 854 4615 1357# and then press #. You will be placed on a brief hold before you get connected with an intake volunteer who will assist you with the intake and scheduling of the appointment. You will be asked to stay on the line until your appointment time, or to call back to meet with the volunteer attorney and review the limited scope agreement.

If you want to come In-Person
The clinic will be located in the lower level of the Cotchett Law Center. Upon entering the building, a volunteer will direct you down the stairs (or elevator).  Upon entering the main clinic space, please sit down in the general waiting area until an intake volunteer approaches you for your intake. After the intake, you will be asked to wait until the correct attorney is available. If your case falls outside of the scope of our clinic subject areas, we will not provide a consultation on site but will refer you to the appropriate agency where you may receive legal assistance.

Interpreters
Upon request and based upon availability, an interpreter will be provided for your consultation. If you need an interpreter, please notify us at least one week before the Friday date for the clinic you plan to attend (See the Upcoming Clinic Dates). You can inform us by emailing probono@sfbar.org and providing the following:

  • Your name
  • Your telephone number
  • Your clinic dates
  • Your preferred language  

You may also want to consider asking a relative or friend to interpret for you during the consultation.   

Documents
Gather and organize, in date order, your documents related to your legal needs before your clinic dates. You may be asked to read from your papers. You will not be asked to provide them.

Please look below for future clinic dates.


Upcoming Clinics Dates

Friday, February 17, 4 – 6 p.m.
Friday, March 17, 4 – 6 p.m.
Friday, April 14, 4 – 6 p.m.
Friday, May 19, 4 – 6 p.m.
Friday, June 16, 4 – 6 p.m.

English Flyer
Spanish Flyer
Chinese Flyer



法律咨询和转介办公室 (LARC) 是一个虚拟办公室,供人们了解他们是否有法律问题,获得有关问题的简短建议,了解后续步骤,并获得转介以进一步帮助。

从历史上看,LARC 一直是一个无需预约办公室,通常在每个月的第二个星期六在我们旧金山市中心的位置 (UC Hastings 大学) 进行。 由于持续的大流行,这家法律公室已改组为每月第三个星期五举行的虚拟公室。

在这些公室,低收入客户能够从各个法律领域的经验丰富的律师那里获得法律建议和/或转介。 LARC 的部分工作人员是志愿者,他们主要负责接待客户,以确定人们需要哪些法律领域的建议。 然后,客户可以与我们经验丰富的志愿律师坐在一起,并根据他们的问题获得建议或转介。

对于我们的虚拟公室,客户将能够通过计算机加入 Zoom 或拨打电话到 Zoom。Zoom。 使用 Zoom 后,客户将被安置在虚拟分组讨论室中,然后将立即与律师联系,或安排在周六早上进行电话咨询。磋商将持续 30 分钟。

La Clínica de Consejo Legal y Referencias, en inglés Legal Advice and Referral Clinic (LARC), es una clínica virtual donde clientes pueden ir para averiguar si tienen un problema legal, para obtener breve consejo sobre varios asuntos, aprender próximos pasos, y obtener referencias.

Históricamente, la clínica ha sido un evento que ocurre el segundo sábado de cada mes en nuestra ubicación en el centro de San Francisco (UC Hastings). Debido a la pandemia, la clínica ha sido reestructurada como una clínica virtual que ocurre el tercer viernes de cada mes.

En estas clínicas, clientes de bajos recursos pueden recibir consejo legal y/o referencias de abogados en varias áreas de la ley. LARC es atendido en parte por voluntarios quienes toman el historial de los clientes para determinar en qué área(s) de la ley un cliente quiere consejo. Clientes podrán conectarse con nuestros abogados voluntarios en ese momento y recibir asesoramiento, o referencias si no hay ningún abogado disponible.

Clientes podrán conectarse con nuestros voluntarios usando la plataforma zoom via teléfono o computadora. Clientes estarán puestos en cuartos virtuales, y conectado a un abogado en ese momento o programar una cita para el día siguiente, el sábado por la mañana. Las consultas durarán máximo 30 minutos. Favor de leer el volante para más información. Las fechas de LARC están escritas más abajo.

Bayview LARC

The Legal Advice and Referral Clinic (LARC) is a way for people to find out whether they have a legal issue, get brief advice on issues, learn about the next steps, and get referrals to further help. 

Clinic Format and Location
The clinic is currently an in-person walk-in clinic at the Bayview Hunters Point YMCA, 1601 Lane St, San Francisco, CA 94124.

Eligibility
As its priority, the clinic is intended to address the legal needs of low-income individuals however all are welcomed. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, tenants associations, or similar groups are not eligible.

When: The clinic occurs on the fourth Friday of every month, from 3 - 6 pm.  

Areas of Law: The clinic provides consultations in the following areas of law:

  • Tax Law
  • Family Law
  • Housing Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Immigration Law

PLEASE NOTE: To see what legal areas will be addressed at the clinic, please visit this webpage five days before the clinic date. 

If you ever have a question on if your legal issue can be addressed, please call the number on the flyer. 

How it will work
Doors open at 3pm. After a brief intake interview conducted by one of our trained volunteers, you will receive a 15-20 minute consultation with an attorney about your legal options. If your case falls outside of the scope of our clinic subject areas, we will not provide a consultation on site but will refer you to the appropriate agency where you may receive legal assistance.

Interpreters
Upon request and based upon availability, an interpreter will be provided for your consultation. If you need an interpreter, please notify us at least one week before the Friday date for the clinic you plan to attend (See the Upcoming Clinic Dates). You can inform us by emailing probono@sf.org and providing the following:

  • Your name
  • Your telephone number
  • Your clinic dates
  • Your preferred language  

You may also want to consider asking a relative or friend to interpret for you during the consultation.   

Documents
Gather and organize, in date order, your documents related to your legal needs before your clinic dates. You may be asked to read from your papers. You will not be asked to provide them.

Please look below for future clinic dates


Upcoming Clinics Dates

*Our Bayview LARC dates of 4th Fridays conflict with the holidays in Nov. and Dec. LARC will be back in the Bayview with more lawyers, more areas of the law, and more interpreters and intake volunteers on JANUARY 27.*

Friday, January 27, 3 – 6 p.m.
Friday, February 24, 3 – 6 p.m.
Friday, March 24, 3 – 6 p.m.
Friday, April 28, 3 – 6 p.m.
Friday, May 26, 3 – 6 p.m.
Friday, June 23, 3 – 6 p.m.

Dates are subject to change.

English Flyer
Spanish Flyer
Chinese Flyer

The Women’s Building Clinic

Clinic Format
The clinic is held at the Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street, San Francisco. Clients will receive an in-person or virtual consultation with a volunteer attorney for up to 30 minutes. Spanish interpreters will be provided. Clients are asked to come in-person.

Eligibility
Women who receive services at the Women’s Building and their families are the priority for this clinic. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, tenants associations, or similar groups are not eligible. The clinic is by appointment only. For an appointment call: (415) 431-1180. 

When: The clinic occurs every fourth Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon. 

Areas of Law: The clinic provides consultations in the following areas of law:

  • Employment
  • Family
  • Immigration
  • Landlord-Tenant

How it Works
To get a free consultation, you must call the Women’s Building at (415) 431-1180 prior to the clinic you wish to attend. The deadline to schedule an appointment is the Friday prior to the clinic date.

During the call, a staff person will interview you to complete an intake form and schedule your appointment. You may request an interpreter for your appointment. If you are unable to call in to schedule your appointment, you may email: resourceroom@womensbuilding.org to request an appointment. 

When you arrive for your appointment, you will be screened at the front door by a staff person and directed to a meeting room, where you will meet the volunteer attorney who will provide you a limited scope agreement. The agreement will be explained, reviewed and you will be asked to sign it before the consultation begins.   

Interpreters
Upon request and based upon availability, an interpreter will be provided for your consultation.

Documents
Gather and organize, in date order, your documents related to your legal needs before your clinic date.


Upcoming Clinics Dates

*Our clinic dates for November and December have changed to not interfere with the holidays. In January we will return to our usual fourth Tuesday of every month.*

Tuesday, January 24, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, February 28, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, March 28, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, June 27, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

To schedule an appointment call: (415) 431-1180 or email resourceroom@womensbuilding.org.

Deadline to schedule an appointment is the Friday before the clinic date.

English Flyer
Spanish Flyer


Attorneys with 5 years or more of experience in a specific area of the law are eligible to serve as volunteers with our legal clinics.

Attorney volunteers at our legal clinics provide legal advice, inform clients on court procedures, and provide referrals in 30 minute consultations. Volunteers are able to specify their available volunteer times on a monthly basis. Volunteers are not expected to take any cases, and all interactions with clients are limited scope for the clinic consult only. 

We rely on the expertise of the volunteers to give substantive consultations, and therefore ask that volunteers have at least five years of experience in a specific area before participating in our clinics. An exception to the requirement may be made if the volunteer has access to a mentor with such experience. 

The following areas of law are always needed at our clinics: 

  • Bankruptcy
  • Business/Contracts/Real Estate
  • Civil law
  • Collection Defense
  • Family Law
  • Landlord-Tenant
  • Probate
  • Immigration
  • SSI
  • Personal Injury
  • Criminal 
  • Employment/Labor
  • General Consumer
  • Probate
  • Workers Comp
  • Other Miscellaneous Areas

If you are interested in volunteering and would like to receive regular email updates regarding volunteer opportunities at our legal clinics, please apply here.  If you have questions, email us at probono@sfbar.org