An Overview of the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach
The Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach (LAFLB) is a non-profit law firm, formed in 1958 by Judge Joseph Wapner and a group of attorneys and community leaders. Judge Wapner was an Assistant District Attorney with the L.A. District Attorney’s Office, later becoming a Superior Court Judge. He moved to Long Beach after his appointment as a Juvenile Court Judge in 1955. The purpose for forming the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach was to provide free legal assistance to those who could not afford an attorney, primarily the elderly, children and the poor . At its conception, Legal Aid had one attorney and served 2,000 people in its first year.
The foundation covers domestic violence, family law, bankruptcy, indigent guardianships, special education, immigration, and housing cases within the communities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, the Cabrillo area of San Pedro, and the Harbor Gateway Area in Southwest Los Angeles County.
What Services Does the Legal Aid Foundation Offer?
The Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach (LAFLB) offers a broad array of free legal services to empower low-income community members, protect their legal rights, and ensure their access to justice. These services particularly assist vulnerable groups including seniors, people experiencing domestic violence, veterans, and the homeless. The Foundation provides services in numerous areas of the law, including family law. Attorneys assist clients with divorce, spousal support, division of property, child visitation, child custody, spousal support, child support, guardianship, adoption, and domestic violence restraining orders. Clients receive pro bono representation, legal advice and self-help assistance, and educational information. LAFLB also helps clients secure and stabilize their housing through its housing program. From unlawful detainer and eviction defense to public housing and subsidy termination, its attorneys provide full representation, legal advice and counsel, and service navigation. Consumer law services are also prominent in the legal services provided by the Foundation. It assists clients seeking legal help with debt collection harassment, unlawful foreclosure, and predatory lending. The Foundation educates clients on a range of consumer-related issues. Its other areas of work include estate planning, personal injury, probate, bankruptcy, Social Security SSI & SSDI, veterans benefits, immigration, and juvenile delinquency. It also provides representation to youth facing juvenile delinquency charges and legal assistance to their families.
Accessing Services from the Legal Aid Foundation
To access the legal services offered by the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach, individuals can begin by visiting their website or calling their office for information. The Foundation provides assistance to eligible clients in a variety of civil legal matters. To qualify for services, clients typically must meet certain income guidelines, residency requirements, and demonstrate legal need. After an initial contact with the Foundation through their intake process, prospective clients may be asked to come in for a personal consultation, either in person or telephonically.
During the intake process, the Foundation will review the client’s citizenship or immigration status. If the client is documenting a legal status based on a relationship with a U.S. citizen spouse, fiancé(e), child, or parent, they will be encouraged to retain an immigration attorney for assistance with their immigration status application or petition, and may be referred to one of the pro bono services the Foundation works with to find an immigration attorney. If the client cannot document a legal status based on a relationship with a U.S. citizen spouse, fiancé(e), child, or parent, they may be eligible for limited services if they have a credible fear of persecution in their home country.
Once the client’s eligibility for assistance is determined, the Foundation will assess the legal issues they are experiencing. If their case falls within the Foundation’s priority areas, they may be assigned to a Foundation attorney, paralegal, or supported by a group of volunteers who donate their time to provide pro bono legal services. The Foundation prides itself on offering comprehensive, client-centered representation in all matters they handle, and strives to ensure that clients are fully informed about their legal rights and responsibilities early in the process, so they can take an active role in their own case.
The Foundation’s Influence in Long Beach
The Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach aims to not just solve a particular legal issue, but to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools to manage their situation in the future. With this approach, the Foundation has helped immense numbers of Long Beach residents over the years to move forward with their lives positively after they have faced systemic issues and challenges.
One of the Foundation’s clients was a single mother of two who was evicted from the home she had shared with her abusive boyfriend. This eviction sparked a downward financial spiral that made it hard for her to find a new place to live. The Foundation helped the woman garner support and secure housing, while also obtaining a domestic violence restraining order. The client also enrolled in a local CTEC program, which provided training and support so she was eventually able to get a good job to support her children.
Another client came to the Foundation for assistance after he was incarcerated for seven years for theft charges . The Foundation helped him regain his ability to sign up and receive public benefits, as well as secured his social security number, so he could get back on his feet quickly and without missing a beat. In addition to helping individuals, the Foundation is continually fighting to secure change for vulnerable groups in the community based on their needs. For example, the Foundation worked with community members to advocate for the Long Beach Park mobilehome park when the owner attempted to increase the space rents by 25 percent and shut off water and electric lines. The Foundation, along with community advocates, was able to work with the City of Long Beach to ensure the residents were not displaced.
The work of the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach is indispensable to the Long Beach community. From advocating for legislative change to offering direct representation and educational workshops, the Foundation leaves no stone unturned in helping residents.
Ways to Support and Volunteer for the Foundation
The Foundation welcomes volunteers and supporters in both legal and non-legal capacities. Attorneys who wish to litigate through the Foundation, please contact the Director of Legal Services to discuss positions. Law students, retired lawyers, law school alums, paralegals, social workers, and other community members interested in joining Foundation clients for a periodic clinic at the Long Beach Courthouse are also welcomed. Please e-mail [email protected] for more information. Community Service volunteers join Foundation clients at the Long Beach Courthouse for a three hour shift while assisting with intakes, training new volunteers, and helping families navigate domestic violence restraining orders. Volunteers are not left to "sink or swim," but rather work along a shadowing Foundation staff attorney. Please e-mail [email protected] for more information. Supporters include other Law Foundation supporters of all kinds. If you can’t contribute in terms of time but have other offers of support, we can use you. Our volunteer jobs are open to everyone, and we can utilize non-lawyers in many capacities, such as Compliance and Client Satisfaction surveys, clerical work, and monetary donations. Please e-mail [email protected] for more information.
Contact Details and Additional Information
The Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach offers more than just its extensive services to the Long Beach area. The foundation also provides resources and information to those in need. Below is the additional contact information for the foundation:
Mailing/Physical Address
LAFLB
1915 Long Beach Blvd, Suite 215
Long Beach, CA 90806
Phone
Administrative office: 562-590-0800
Advice appointment line: 562-435-3504
Hours of operation
Administrative office
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a . m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: Hours vary by department or program.
Sunday: Closed
Online resources
For more information:
Website: www.LAFLB.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LAFLB
Twitter: @LAFLB
YouTube: LAFLB
LinkedIn: Silverado High School