State Agency Programs

• The California Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Fresno, Sacramento and Los Angeles. The California Housing and Urban Development agency helps Californians understand their legal homeownership rights and assists Californians in obtaining free housing assistance through state and local housing programs. Tenants can obtain information about California's landlord and tenant laws through HUD's website. Additionally, Californians can learn about the state's eviction and foreclosure laws. The state's Department of Child Support Services can help residents with family law problems and offers free guidance through written brochures and online forms. Parents can establish child support orders and find help modifying or enforcing their existing child support orders.
  
  

California Courts Self-Help

• The California Courts Online Self-Help Center provides public information to help residents understand their legal options and rights to self-representation with free pro se court forms. The self-help center allows residents to access these free court documents as well as guides and brochures in several different languages. The self-help center provides special information by legal topic. The self-help center offers a variety of legal information including help with changing legal names, filing cases in small claims courts, elder law and conservatorship guidance and domestic violence help.
  
  

LawHelpCalifornia.org

• Created through a collaborative effort between national legal pro bono groups and national legal aid clinics, this online database allows California residents to access statewide online legal resources. The easily navigable website allows residents to access legal information about their civil and criminal rights. These legal brochures are also available in many different languages. Californians that need direct legal help can find pro bono groups through the website's lawyer locator directory. Most free legal clinics and attorneys providing private pro bono assistance require proof of limited incomes.
  
  

California State Bar

• California's State Bar can help residents locate private attorneys through its referral system. Many of these attorneys offer limited pro bono legal assistance or free initial consults. The Bar maintains an online public law library that helps Californians find specific legal information to understand the legal implications of their disputes or understand their legal entitlements. Some topical information includes California's landlord-tenant laws, housing laws and anti-discrimination protections in employment and housing.
  
  

California Department of Justice

• California's Office of the Attorney General provides Californians with free legal information and literature about its enforcement programs. The Attorney General's Office enforces consumer protection laws including predatory lending practices and deceptive advertising. The Office helps families suffering from domestic violence find immediate help and maintains crime data information. The Civil Rights Section within the Department of Justice aggressively pursues housing and employment discrimination practices.